Elizabeth Ailes sells Putnam County newspapers

Elizabeth Ailes, wife of former Fox News chief Roger Ailes, announced on Tuesday that she’s selling two newspapers in Putnam County, New York.

Ailes, the owner and publisher of the Putnam County News & Recorder and the Putnam County Courier, is selling the papers to Editor-in-Chief Douglas Cunningham for an undisclosed sum.

In an unbylined report, the Putnam County News & Recorder said the transaction was “a capstone to what had already been a highly successful 20-year career in broadcasting and cable television” for Elizabeth Ailes.

The story, which also cited Elizabeth Ailes’ local philanthropy, made no reference to the highly publicized sexual harassment accusations that caused Roger Ailes to step down as chief of Fox News earlier this year.

The newspapers’ office buildings were not included in the transaction.

Also on Tuesday, another woman filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Roger Ailes. Lidia Curanaj, a reporter with Fox 5 in New York, filed a 28-page discrimination suit that alleged the former Fox News chairman “asked her to stand up and turn around during a one-on-one interview” and expressed his approval.

Benjamin Mullin is the managing editor of Poynter.org. He previously reported for Poynter as a staff writer, Google Journalism Fellow and Naughton Fellow, covering journalism innovation, business practices and ethics. He’s also reported for USA TODAY College and The Sacramento Bee, and he was editor in chief of The Orion, Chico State’s student-run newspaper. An Air Force brat who grew up around Northern California, he’s still adjusting to the Florida sunshine.