Media Matters releases video destroying network's defense of its straight news programming October 20, 2009 11:23 am ET Washington, D.C. - Today, after Fox News responded to White House criticism with the demonstrably false defense that, unlike the network's "editorial" programs, its "news" programs are straight and objective, Media Matters for America released a video demonstrating that Fox News' dayside programming unquestionably echoes the tones, themes, and content of its evening opinion programming. In fact, the parallels are so clear that the network's daytime anchors often seem to be taking direct marching orders from their colleagues like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. WATCH VIDEO HERE: http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRx5ethd8JU BACKGROUND: Fox News has responded to White House criticisms of its network by claiming that while its "editorial" programs are filled with "vibrant opinion," its news hours are straight and objective. However, Fox News' purportedly straight news programs often echo its "editorial" programs and feature smears, falsehoods, doctored and deceptive editing, and GOP talking points. Examples include: * Hemmer advances smear that Jennings knew of "statutory rape" and "never reported it." During the October 1 edition of America's Newsroom, co-host Bill Hemmer joined his network's smears against Department of Education official Kevin Jennings by claiming that Jennings knew of a "statutory rape" case involving a student but "never reported it." In fact, as Media Matters has confirmed, the student in question was of legal age of consent at the time he was counseled by Jennings. * Baier smears Jennings as failing to report "sexual abuse." On October 1, host Bret Baier joined Fox News' witch hunt against Jennings, claiming that "Education Secretary Arne Duncan is standing behind his so-called safe schools czar after revelations that Kevin Jennings did not report a case of sexual abuse he encountered as a schoolteacher." * Kelly on Sotomayor comment: "sounds to a lot of people like reverse racism." On May 26, Megyn Kelly joined conservative commentators such as Rush Limbaugh by stating that then-Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's "wise Latina" remark "sounds to a lot of people like reverse racism, basically. Like she's saying that Latina judges are obviously better than white male judges, and that that's her assumption, and people get worried about putting a person like that on the U.S. Supreme Court." Kelly later added, "I've looked at the entire speech that she was offering to see if that was taken out of context, and I have to tell you ... it wasn't." In fact, Sotomayor was specifically discussing the importance of diversity in adjudicating race and sex discrimination cases; several conservative legal figures have made similar comments. * America's Newsroom promotes tea party organizing info on-air and online. America's Newsroom encouraged viewers to get involved with April 15 "tea party" protests across the country, which Fox News had described as primarily a response to President Obama's fiscal policies. The program frequently hosted tea party organizers and posted on-screen organizing information such as protest dates and locations. America's Newsroom also repeatedly directed viewers to its website, which featured a list of tea party protests. * America's Newsroom promotes czar hysteria with ominous music. On September 7, Kelly teased a segment on whether the so-called "mainstream media" was ignoring "questionable backgrounds of some of the other 30-some-odd czars" in the Obama administration while ominous music played in the background. * "Death book" distortions abound on Fox News Sunday. On the August 23 edition of Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace hosted former Bush administration aide Jim Towey to discuss his Wall Street Journal op-ed, "The Death Book for Veterans," and in doing so promoted numerous distortions about an end-of-life educational booklet used by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). In addition to forwarding the smear that the booklet is a "death book," Wallace promoted Towey's distortion that the booklet encourages veterans to "pull the plug" -- it doesn't; Wallace and Towey both suggested that the Bush administration suspended use of the booklet -- it didn't; and Wallace claimed that a VHA document requires doctors to direct veterans to the booklet -- it doesn't. Media Matters president Eric Burns recently explained on Countdown with Keith Olbermann: "I think that what we have all thought of as a conservative news organization has really morphed itself this year into a 24/7 political operation with a very specific goal. And that is to destroy this presidency, and destroy any sort of progressive policy agenda that the American people voted for in November." http://mediamatters.org/press/releases/200910200009
You know, you listen to this ongoing debate, Fox is balanced, no, Fox is biased, the mainstream media is leftist, no, it's more balanced than Fox, etc., etc., and then you listen to a foreign head of state speak, or you read foreign papers, or you travel, and suddenly you realize that we Americans are basically arguing "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin". Our media is, all of it, taken in context, conservative.
That's largely true. In the run-up to the Iraq invasion, EVERY single US TV broadcast and cable news channel was in the tank for the Bush Administration. That's why Phil Donahue was fired at MSNBC: he was not a hawk on Iraq. Virtually every mainstream newspaper also backed the Iraq war, including the "liberal" New York Times. When it comes to American imperialism, the MSM is very conservative almost universally. MSNBC finally woke up sometime around 2004 and realized there was a large left-leaning segment of the US that wasn't being served and they made a smart decision. CNN still acts like a neurotic kid that can't decide if he wants to be a liberal, a moderate or Fox-lite. They are literally all over the place with their editorial stances. But Fox is what it always was: a mouthpiece for the GOP pretending to be 'fair and balanced'. Fox News: Never is Fair, Never is Balanced.
Washington, D.C. - Today, after Fox News responded to White House criticism with the demonstrably false defense that, unlike the network's "editorial" programs, its "news" programs are straight and objective, Media Matters for America released a video demonstrating that Fox News' dayside programming unquestionably echoes the tones, themes, and content of its evening opinion programming. In fact, the parallels are so clear that the network's daytime anchors often seem to be taking direct marching orders from their colleagues like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. WATCH VIDEO HERE: http:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRx5ethd8JU <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YRx5ethd8JU&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YRx5ethd8JU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Fox Noise Producer Shown Aggravating Crowd Before Fox Live Shot of Klan Rally <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BzqGJy2hmsc&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BzqGJy2hmsc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> It's not unusual for a producer to fire up the crowd, said Ryan Witt in Examiner.com, for "an entertainment-based television show or sporting event." But it's "considered inappropriate for a news broadcast," as Fox News acknowledged by saying that its producer was "inexperienced" and had been disciplined for her actions at the Tea Party protest. At first glance, Heidi Noonanâs "'pump up the volume' gestures to the crowd seem innocuous," said Zeke Turner in Mediaite. "But when you consider FNCâs whole 'Fair and Balanced' credo, the interaction between producer and crowd is completely out of bounds." (watch Howard Kurtz discussing the Noonan incident) But this isn't just a Fox problemânewspapers are just as guilty when they alter photographs or otherwise provide "an augmented or altered version of the truth."
How childish. The administration has to resort to arguing with news networks. Sad situation. Who the hell is in charge up there anyway.
All the administration did was shine a spotlight on a cockroach and watch it run for cover. Then the cockroach sends out slugs like you to make excuses for it. If the situation is so 'childish' and 'sad', it wouldn't be working. Fox News is being exposed like the emperor who wore no clothes but still expected to be praised for his fabulous wardrobe. Can't wash off this stink, dittohead.
It is unfortunate, but these personalities make 60 to 80 times a year more than the president of the US and can have the air waves 24hr/7. They have the power to change public opinion, even for a minority and alter perception and agenda of public policy.
So, Americans have become so stupid that they need a news network to tell them how to think in your view? i don't buy it.