Are you a Fox News believer?
In a previous commentary I described how Fox News' focus on ratings at the expense of truth and accuracy amounts to a massive disinformation campaign, misinforming gullible Americans on the crucial issues of our day. This week, our observations were echoed by the White House, who stated, "Let's not pretend they're a news network".
But how can a cable "news" network successfully fool so many people with such blatantly inaccurate, biased reporting? As it turns out, it's really easy.
First, most Fox believers are not sophisticated listeners. In just one example, Fox reported that 80% of their viewers polled after the 2008 Joe Biden-Sarah Palin debates actually favored Palin. Say what?? Since then, I've concluded that most of their dedicated audience may also think the earth is flat …
Second, most Americans, including myself, grew up in the Walter Cronkite/Mike Wallace era when news was real news (just "who what when where and why"), not an entire evening of pure commentary from both the left and the right that is incorrectly perceived as news. Unfortunately most of us are "programmed" to believe what we see and hear on television and read in newspapers.
So, when highly skilled conservative professional propagandists like Roger Ailes, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Laura Ingraham, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Bernie Goldberg, Michelle Malkin, and of course Karl Rove, team up nightly on Fox to misrepresent the facts to support Republican policies, the sad result is a steady erosion of Democracy in America, favoring issues that help maintain the top 10% of wage earners. This system was described in the Citigroup study mentioned in Michael Moore's new movie "Capitalism: A Love Story".
Having said all that, I would still defend the fundamental right of Fox News to distort the news in the name of ratings. Why? It is called "Freedom of Speech". That is an occasionally sad truth about freedom and life in America--and an important take home lesson for immigrants or potential immigrants to this country.
But as long as you know that Fox News is neither fair or balanced any more than conservative talk radio, then feel free to be entertained by Fox. But if your objective is to be truly informed then look elsewhere.
We previously called for a boycott of Fox News sponsors, and we repeat that now. However, an even more effective action is to support Democratic Party candidates in the coming election. In future columns we will show you exactly why.
Comments
You are a typical leftist. Ignoring polling data, research studies, and everything else that undermines your narrow-minded view of the world.
First of all, 50% of FNC viewers label themselves as either 'Democrat' or 'Independent'. If FNC was truly trying to 'program' its viewers to 'support Republican policies', I don't think they would be able to attract some many non-republican viewers, don't you think?
Second of all, there were actual studies done on the level of sophistication of cable news viewers, and guess what? O'Reilly's viewers were most sophisticated.
Fox News targets smart open-minded people. For people like you there is always MSNBC,....or Disney Channel.
This is a very closed-minded, elitist opinion. Because folks favored Palin after the Biden-Palin debate they are "unsophisticated?" Basically you are saying that people who watch Fox News are stupid. Which I assume makes you oh so intelligent. Arrogance will be the downfall of the left.
Let's see, if the Republicans are for the top 10%, then I'd guess the Democrats are for the next 10%. I say this because they've had 50 years to help the poor not be poor and seem to have failed miserably. Unless of course that was the plan all along. But then now the plan is to make everyone poor so that takes care of the problem of the poor. Which, of course leaves you elitist morons in charge. News flash idiot, don't count on it. Now, turn off the Cartoon Channel and get a grip.
Fox news targets open-minded people? HA
Actually, News Watcher, you're the narrow-minded one ignoring polling data: Obama was elected. More people (far more people) voted for him, the Democratic candidate, than voted for the Republican candidate. Your claim that 50% of Fox viewers aren't Republicans is based on precisely the sort of dubious data that Fox loves to serve up. An August 6, 2008, Rasmussen Reports poll found: "Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Fox News viewers say they are likely to vote for John McCain" and "Only nine percent of those who watch Fox News say they will vote for Obama." Fox News partnered with Rasmussen Reports for polling during the 2008 elections on numerous state polls. Somehow those numbers don't seem to fit with the national averages. Hmmm.
Well, all news, in fact, all TC industry is about the ratings. It is how the system works. While Beck can be theatrical and emotional, he can not be accused of not caring about the country and the untoward direction it is taking. MSNBC is sarcastic and oh so with it and can not be accused of not caring about the success of FOX news.
"how Fox News' focus on ratings at the expense of truth and accuracy"
Tell me when the tingling on your leg stops.
You are the gullible idiot that can't cope with the facts. A few examples:
Obama's former green jobs czar radical views.
Acorn - assisting people with Tax evasion.
Obama on Afghanistan - We have a strategy, now we don't.
Maybe you were too busy watching MSNBC.
Chris Matthews on "wiffle ball".
Keith Olberman and that sarcastic moron lady patting each other on the back instead of covering news.
How about some facts and objective journalism instead of this narrow minded spewing of nonsense. Keep believing the things you write and you'll be hanging out with your buddies from the NY Times that just got pink slips.
FOX News is rubbish. If you want good news reporting try NPR or the Financial Times.
What Obama staffers are saying about FOX has been fully evident to anyone who understands echo chambers. FOX feeds a spurious story into the system, such as a former Nixon staffer wondering aloud, "Does Obama have an enemies list?" The suggestion is that Obama, like Nixon, has some secret hit list. He is actually very public and straightforward in his criticisms. But this "question" is picked up by other news sources and amplified as if there is some legitimate controversy. We have seen the tactic with big tobacco and global warming. The impression that there is a controversy implies that the two sides have somewhat equal weight, or at least that both have supporting evidence. Most often, now, other news networks are just being used to amplify false controversies.
What is wrong with being rich? I've come to this country for 4 years, and what I have seen is just the lazy people who never work, and cry out that the government hasn't helped them enough. I ran away from a communist country, thus I don't want to see the socialist take over this country. By the way, you liberals are responsible for the deaths of people who have killed by communist + socialist.
That your lies about FOX can travel half way around the world before truth puts on its shoes is the bottom line. The Dan Rathers never invent "new" huh? Go back to the beginning of this country and its actual history and you'll find truth slick Willie.
I AM EUROPEEN, THANK GOD YOU HAVE FOX NEWS, BECAUSE THE REST THEY ARE THE LAM'S OF THE BIG O, WAKEUP YOU IDIOT 'S YOUR GREAT COUNTRY HAS BEEN TAKING BY LEFTWIN LOON.
NPR IS ONLY GOOD FOR CHAVEZ AND CASTRO THEIR LEADERS.
Pure tripe. How can anyone believe this biased garbage?
Watch the 8 o'clock line up on Fox each night and you will see debate. O'Reilly ALWAYS invites people of opposite opinion to debate. Watch MSNBC at 8 each night and you will find that Mr. Silvertongue NEVER debates and never has anyone with opposing opinion. That's because Ogerman and the 9 o'clock woman either cannot debate or know that they will lose the debate. The only thing left wing nuts can do to discredit Fox is stand safely behind the wall of self-appointed superiority and throw insults. Debate, if you can, or shut up.
There is no rehab for stupid.
I guess writing for the Albuquerque Immigration Examiner would qualify you for a "Liberal" label. Because FOX is popular among the "mainstream conservative" does not make it any less accurate than the "liberal" New York Times or Washington Post. "Fair and Balanced".....
I am a progressive and I understand that Fox is mostly a right wing channel. So, as I read your piece in mostly agreement I stumbled on this....
First you said.."..team up nightly on Fox to misrepresent the facts to support Republican policies, the sad result is a steady erosion of Democracy in America,..."
Then you said, "We previously called for a boycott of Fox News sponsors, and we echo that now. However, an even more effective action is to support Democratic Party candidates in the coming election."
I read that multiple times thinking that maybe this piece was satire after all, but came to the sad conclusion that you had actually shot holes in your whole piece by writing that last paragraph.
Just stop...think...really think...did you mean to say this? If so, you are EXACTLY like what you claim Fox to be, but just on the liberal side. Therefore, you're EXACTLY like Fox. Should I now boycott you?
Please people, use LOGIC..honestly sometimes I see more logic on the
Last post cut me off... should have ended with...
Please people, use LOGIC..honestly sometimes I see more logic on the right.
I don't watch much TV news, but when I do, I watch Fox News because I aint sufistikated like mister Wilson is, an' ah don' unnerstan the stuff on that sufistikated tv like them NBC guys. I here that a lotta 'muricans like me watch that Fox news...I dint know there were so many stupid 'muricans who arn smart like mister wilson...he musta gone to a real good skool to get so smart and not dum like the rest of us. I think that smart peeple like Mr. wilson gonna bring us all together...cuz he's so smart and we're so dumb. It just hurts bein so dumb and I'm glad we got smart peeple like Mr. Wilson to help us no how dumb we are....
"Everyone knows that Rick is an industry joke, he shows that he's a hack everyday. And he doesn't have to worry about working at FOX because we only hire talent who have the ability to generate ratings."
quote from fox news spokesperson. while i agree sanchez(and 99% of all anchors/analyst/ and commentators) are/is a hack but even fox news admits that all they care about.
This part is for News Watcher. O'reilly is just one part of fox news. A study can be found to back any point you want. there are many studies that say ppl who watch the daily show and colbert report having a better understanding of what going on with government than cable news viewers, and that fox news viewers are the dumbest. Dont put to much into polls, studies, and news networks. All tv news network misinformed their viewers. judging by your name its obvious you watch news. I just hope you practice moderation in watching cable news.
Not sophisticated? Give us a break! I think the American people want more than what NBC, ABC and MSNBC offer them. I believe reporters should actually question politicians, not just accept at face value what they dish out to you, and they do this better at Fox.
I'm more entertained (and perturbed) by what the Progressives are trying to do to this country.
BTW, I'm an Independent.
That's an unfortunate misunderstanding of data, Wilson. Stop trying to be clever, and actually put some thought into issues. Drawing a conclusion about the intelligence of a station's viewers because those viewers naturally agreed with the candidate who's views more closely matched their own, is like saying, "I'm stunned to find out that 80% of Chicagoans prefer Chicago-style pizza over New York style pizza. Because of that, I've concluded that they also must think fast food is fine dining, too." Just because somebody's viewpoints (whether that someone be a network or a viewer) differ from your own is not a reflection of their intelligence. It's called "bias" and everyone has them. From reading your article, it's clear that bias is something you are very comfortable with. And that's cool. It doesn't mean your intelligence is lacking. Nor is mine for disagreeing with you. It just means I pay more attention. :)
"...professional propagandists like Roger Ailes, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Laura Ingraham, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Bernie Goldberg, Michelle Malkin, and of course Karl Rove..."
Surely you jest. What the hell do you call that racist socialist marxist radical muslim in the White House?
Yeah, please Mr. Wilson, please tell me why I should support the democratic party candidates.
One more thing... are you saying that Fox is the only news channel out there that is concerned about RATINGS??? If you believe that ratings isn't the #1 concern of ANY news organization (viewership/readers/circulation), you're living in an alternate reality. Think that through... How many thousands of conversations have taken place between a reporter and an editor/producer, where the boss says, "Wilson... that's a terrible story. No one is interested in _______. Find something else to report."
Do you REALLY think that an editor or producer would ever EVER say, "That's the most boring news item I've ever heard, and if we run it, all of our viewers will change the channel... but damn it, it's the TRUTH, so run with it!" Give me a break!
Most people know that FOX news is like a WWF comedy channel.
The media is the big liar and coverup with non-stories to distract the watchers from the WH lies, half truths and bankrupting the US while trying to build a new Socialist backwater!
Considering the left's complete lack of effort to discuss or debate the matters as brought on by Fox news, as they'd rather attack the messenger and those who watch. Keith Olberman is a prime example of such a blatant disregard of discussion- as he will not bother to share his time with anyone who disagrees with him. (Even The View and Real Time with Bill Maher at least attempts to bring in a conservative viewpoint, although those are also often rather lopsided, they at least make an effort.)
Considering the 1500+ page Health Care boondoggle, ACORN giving tax evasion advice, the lack of truthful reporting on Tea Parties (some networks call them "teabaggers", a very derogatory sexual phrase), the willingness of the White House and the left to attack the network which brings these things to light... I do not find it difficult at all to see that more viewers actually want healthy debate, so much so that they have more viewers in each time slot than all other cable news networks combined. And the left rankles at that.
Even J. Stephen Wilson doesn't wish that Fox News be given an honest and deep look into those stories carried by Fox. He'd rather indict those who view the channel as "gullible", and Fox News itself as "blatantly inaccurate" and "biased". I do believe, Mr. Wilson, that your own objectivity has suffered. You, sir, are no Walter Cronkite or Mike Wallace. You do not defend the fundamental rights for free speech- but those pool reporters insisting that Fox News be allowed to interview Kenneth Feinberg are truly the ones which do.
you left wing morons are just that - READ a HISTORY BOOK or at least read the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. morons - every last one of you.
FOX News are the only ones that have the guts to tell the real stories about what is going on. They are fair and honest.
It is amazing that your views cannot be challenged by anyone. Whoever disagrees with you is ignorant and stupid. Fortunately, this fiasco will be winding down in 2010 and then obliterated in 2012. Simply amazing!
Well said! Fox News is for nation of sheep! Even here in the Philippines we know Fox News is for morons and scripted by pentagon and rightwing warmongers. A good rule of thumb for me is this; if it is a corporate, profit centered source, don't trust it!
Right... Walter Cronkite, who *pretended* to objectively report on Vietnam while we now know he was lobbying behind the scenes as an anti-war activist. How objective and unbiased do you think his reporting really was?
Or more recently, how do you explain the reports that we were losing in Iraq--losing, losing, losing, losing, always losing, always on the verge of falling apart--until suddenly we won. Wait, how does that happen? You can't turn over years of failure in a few months. Unless the years of failure were...perhaps somewhat less than perfectly objective reporting, maybe?
I wouldn't argue that Fox is "fair and balanced" all by themselves. Buy they do fairly balance the liberal spin from CNN and MSNBC. So, more power to them.
Nice article. All of it truth. And the followers of that "news" show are just sheep, manipulated, sad, pathetic little sheep.
The biggest lie Faux News ever pulled on humanity was to make them believe they were a news service. They are the media wing of a political party.
But it is a lost cause. Intellect has gone down the drain and all over the world you have this ongoing movement towards "bizarro" politics+news. Go to Spain, France, England, Sweden...All the ethics of news reporting are almost gone. Like religion nowadays you can simply "make it up" to fit your purpose or ideas.
And Francois must be drunk or NOT European because there is no more disliked news outlet in the world than Fox News. To the rest of the world Fox News = Bush, the most hated President in the history of the US followed closely by Nixon.
When it comes to FUD, nobody wins a Republican.
"at the expense of truth and accuracy"..."blatantly inaccurate, biased reporting". These are just words until you give examples of the criticisms you make. I am really tired of the childish personal attacks and vague, undocumented accusations.
Thank you! That is the most supercilious, arrogant and fatuous commentary I have read in a long time. Also one of most misinformed pieces of twisted thinking. Wow! If I believe Sarah Palin won the debate, I'm not "sophisticated," huh? Well, guess I'm a rube...but after reading this tripe, I'm sure that I'm a rube whose intellect, education leval, and world expierience is at least equal to that of this poor misinformed writer.
America is a capitalist democracy, and FoxNews is a business. Before FoxNews existed, Republicans often complained that the media was too liberal. Where many saw only complaints and ranting, Rupert Murdoch saw a business opportunity. The result of his insight is a tremendously profitable investment.
The prevalence of conservative op-ed material on the network is due to audience demand. The success of any business is based on giving the audience what they want.
Last year Ruper Murdoch held a fund-raiser for Hillary Clinton. This was an embarrassment for some of his employees but he made no excuses. After all, his goal is to profit from the business, not start believing it.
Some may feel that Rupert Murdoch is cynical to profit from the demand for conservative entertainment while using his influence to promote liberal politicians. The fact is business is business.
If you don't like FoxNews, you should probably just not watch it. That's pretty much the way capita
Sounds like the author got his talking points from the DNC, who doesn't like FoxNews because they report stories that expose the corruption and incompetence of our politicians. They also slammed Bush and many other Republicans in the last dozen years that they felt were either acting unethically or stupidly, so this BS about Fox being an arm of the RNC is just political spin designed to fog over our Administration's failures and shortcomings. I notice that many of those that are critical of Fox evidently never watch it; they evidently are just reading the talking points that they have been spoon fed by people that see Fox as a threat to their agenda, which evidently isn't life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
At least Fox News reports all of the news!
Yup, they believe the world is flat and Saddam had WMDs, that's how sheeple are. They want to pretend Obama is responsible for the collapse of the markets and financial system. How can you reason with anyone who is so exceedingly stupid...or dishonest? It's like talking to the kitchen table. Apparently that piece of furniture is another reliable source of information for them.
"How can you reason with anyone who is so exceedingly stupid...or dishonest?"
Yeah, it's like talking to the president and his czars.
I just don't understand why Fox seems to have the only reporters left that aren't afraid to ask the tough questions. I thought all reporters did that to dig out the truth on a story. All the other news outlets appear to be repeating a prepared script. None of them ever come up with any new news except for Fox. Maybe that's why Fox News is the most popular news channel on TV. Everybody watches them.
Yes, I'm a believer. Those on the far left think they are smart and because they believe they are intellectually superior they further believe those on the right are stupid; that makes them arrogant and worse, gives them a false sense of righteousness.
The arrogance from the likes of Oberman, Mahrer and this writer drip like yellow slim. They (erroneously) believe they are on a noble mission to save the stupid people on the right by forcing socialism on all of us. Those on the left tend to be young, naive and idealistic instead of realistic, pragmatic and wise like conservatives. Almost all those on the left have not served in the military to defend the freedoms they enjoy so much, worse many on the left (like John Kerry) actually believe that those who now serve are 'suckers'. (He just served for Presidential resume padding).
And lastly, most of those on the left are followers, not leaders like the successful people on the right who run industry, who the left wingers work for and whose money they want and bitterly envy. Lastly, the hard headed left believe the federal government is mummy and daddy and we should all be like a fawning child, on bent knee at the foot of big government (more of that follower problem they have.) They forget that America was built by rugged individualists, pioneers, explorers and leaders –not whiners and weenies looking to suckle on some of that "redistributed wealth" from the pocket of others while living in the remorseful shadow of what they could have been –if they only had courage to be one of those rugged individualists. There was a time before far left wingers when saying "he's an American, rugged individualist" was redundant.
Neither FoxNews nor MSNBC are real news organizations.
Ted Turner stated in a program I was watching that he knew, yes, knew that if a conservative source of news ever made it to the cable network it would be a big success. He went on to say that if he had the power there would be no conservative cable news that he believed they were better served having to watch CNN. Long ago I stopped watching CNN because I felt manipulated & 1/2 full. Fox is 100% filling and I fell that I am getting a better picture of what is going on. Not so with the otheres They reported too much by omission.
"So, when highly skilled conservative professional propagandists like Roger Ailes, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Laura Ingraham, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Bernie Goldberg, Michelle Malkin, and of course Karl Rove, team up nightly on Fox to misrepresent the facts ..."
Roger Ailes & Lou Dobbs do not appear on FOX.
You are an obvious dork. Do you even recognize how seriously ideologically blinded you are to reality? I've read a lot of crazy lefty swill, but yours is over the top.
Here are 4 simple Observations:
(1) Fox in conservative
(2) MSNBC is liberal
(3) J. Stephen Wilson thinks that anybody who disagrees with him is an idiot
(4) J. Stephen Wilson is an idiot
(5) I dont like Sarah Palin, but I'm not so arrogant and stupid to consider 80% of the audience stupid for disagreeing with me.
Following the discussion from Switzerland, I can only say that in the European view Fox is not a news network but a political organization with clear anti-governmental goals. So in our point of view the administration is right to exclude them. Which is, by the way, exactly the thing the Bush administration did all the time with liberal media.
And since we do have REAL news coverage and REAL journalists, let me tell you: Fox is never right, here the network is viewed as a teller of blatant lies.
You know, REAL journalism is fact-based. That's what we find in MSNBC, but never in Fox. Maybe you should reed and watch more European news - to get a sence for REAL journalism.
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