Fox News has finally been called out for what they are -- an opinion network masquerading as straight news. Even their alleged news segments are intended to influence viewers toward a conservative viewpoint.
Fox has always claimed to be a real news network, but they have never really made any attempt to act like one. Roger Ailes, Fox News president, is a Republican media consultant who worked for Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush the elder. The station has consistently attacked Barack Obama and before him Bill Clinton, but they fawned over George W. Bush for eight years. For a real investigation of all the shenanigans these guys pull, I recommend the documentary Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism. There are also many other available sources. The evidence is overwhelming.
I only watch Fox News on rare occasions, just to see what they are up to. One of my favorite examples of their work happened during the primaries, while Hillary Clinton was campaigning in New Hampshire. The "news" anchor asked the reporter covering Clinton a question along the lines of: "Some people are saying that a Hillary Clinton presidency would be an embarrassment to the United States, and that's because of Bill Clinton. Are you hearing anything like that?" The reporter, to her credit, seemed surprised by the question, but the point is, that was not really a question. It was a suggestion planted in the minds of the Fox faithful, in the guise of a question, on a "regular news" segment, by a "news anchor." You don't have to watch very long to realize that something is wrong.
If you know me at all, you can guess that I think it's great that someone has finally told the truth about what Fox News represents. I find it funny, but also a little sad, that Fox News has chosen to respond by insisting that they really are a news network, not an opinion network. That Fox News is fair and balanced is one of the biggest lies ever lied, and everyone at Fox who is now defending the network is a big fat liar. They know. At least Rush Limbaugh has the courage to be honest about what he does for a living.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
John Stuart regularly does a wonderful job of pointing this out on The Daily Show. I can see why people watch FOX, because it's outrageous and entertaining that way, but no one should believe a word of it.
ReplyDeleteI have just the last two weeks started watching The Daily Show on the Internet when I can. Lucas likes it too. It's interesting to me that Stewart is one of the most insightful commentators on TV. I think the comedy format allows him some freedom that a news format would not allow.
ReplyDelete