Sarah Palin joins Fox News as political commentator

Sarah Palin has signed a multi-year contract as a political commentator with Fox News,fulfilling predictions that she would pursue a career in TV after stepping down as the Governor of Alaska.

“I am thrilled to be joining the great talent and management team at Fox News. It’s wonderful to be part of a place that so values fair and balanced news,” Palin said in a statement posted on the cable news channel’s website.

According to Fox News,the 2008 Republican vice- presidential candidate will not have her own show but she will contribute to various news programmes and present an occasional series,Real American Stories’,involving ordinary American heroes.

“Governor Palin has captivated everyone on both sides of the political spectrum and we are excited to add her dynamic voice to the Fox News lineup,” the channel’s Executive Vice-President of Programming,Bill Shine,said.

However,the size of her contract with the popular cable channel,owned by Rupert Murdoch,hasn’t been disclosed. Palin made a surprise resignation as Alaskan Governor in July,17 months before the end of her first term in office. Her resignation came barely a year after she became overnight celebrity as John McCain’s running mate for the Republicans in the 2008 presidential election.

She remains an immensely divisive figure,but has a million followers on social networking site Facebook. Her book about the vice-presidential campaign,’Going Rogue’,was a bestseller that earned a rumoured advance of USD 7 million from Harper Collins.