Fox News contributor pitches reverse mortgages, against its policies

Eric Hanonaki of Media Matters for America reports that Fox News contributor Wayne Rogers is also a spokesman for a reverse-mortgage company, against the network’s policies.

Hanonaki writes, “Fox has frequently turned to questionable voices like Rogers for financial analysis. Fox last month was forced to fire analyst Tobin Smith for receiving compensation to promote the stock of Petrosonic Energy, a violation of network policy. Charles Payne, a contributor and frequent guest host for Fox News and Fox Business, was similarly compensated to endorse the now worthless stocks of at least three companies. In 2012, Fox News and Fox Business hosted John Thomas Financial CEO Thomas Belesis at least 24 times, with Fox News host Neil Cavuto calling him a ‘friend,’ and someone with ‘a good track record’ who ‘I’d vote for’; Belesis was later charged with charged with defrauding investors and physically threatening associates.

“Rogers appears in a commercial for Senior Home Loans (SHL), where he’s identified as a ‘Paid TV Spokesperson,’ ‘TV Financial Expert,’ and an actor from MASH. He’s also prominently featured on the company’s website.

“An April 27, 2012, press release from SHL announced Rogers’ hiring as a spokesperson by noting his Fox News affiliation in the first sentence: ‘Wayne Rogers, well known professional actor, Broadway Producer, news contributor to the Fox Network (cashin) coupled with over forty years of experience in investments has signed on to be the spokes person for a national reverse mortgage ad campaign representing Senior Home Loans, a division of Continental Home Loans.’

“Rogers regularly appears as financial analyst on Fox Business, and on Fox News’ weekend business programming.”

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