The AP’s David Bauder profiles Fox News White House correspondent Ed Henry. The forrmer CNN correpondent is keenly aware of the different pressures he faces since he jumped ship.
More than anyone, he understands how the natural adversarial role of reporting on the highest level of government has become complicated in recent years by the rise in partisan media and online critics who parse every word reporters and anchors say.
“It definitely puts pressure on all of us,” Henry said, “and if you step out and ask tough questions, you’re somehow seen as a partisan now , even if it’s a substantive question and even if it’s a fair question.”
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He also has no problem admitting that he doesn’t always agree with some of the things the commentators on the network say, as with the situation in Benghazi:
Benghazi has proven an interesting case study. Henry rejects the notion that he works off Fox marching orders in discussing the issue, but said, “I wouldn’t lie to you. I see that we’re covering Benghazi a lot, and I think that should be something that we’re asking about.”
He said other news outlets have under-covered the story, since four Americans were killed and there’s still some mystery about what the administration knew and when they knew about the attack.
“We’ve had the proper emphasis,” he said. “But I would not be so deluded to say that some of our shows, some of our commentators, have covered it more than it needed to be covered.”
Bauder also talks to former ABC White House correspondent Sam Donaldson, who says that Henry “is one of the best” on the beat:
As a young reporter, Henry said he looked up to former White House correspondents like Sam Donaldson, famed for shouting questions at President Ronald Reagan. “Now if you shout a question at Obama, you’re somehow seen as a bad guy,” he said. “I think some people have been cowed.”