FOX editorial memos reveal News Channel's inner workings

[GaryC 7]

As if Ted Turner with CNN (Clinton News Network) and MSNBC doesn't do the same with an opposite spin. I find it strange that Fox gets hammered while the left leaning stations get a pass.

So you believe what Fox does is normal and you accept it?

I believe that it is a counter to the left leaning media. It's there for someone that wants an opposing view. I don't deny that Fox leans right. If you want a totally non biased view then your going to wait a long time. It just isn't out there.

That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking if you are ok with your media coming to you that way, with direction from the top of a corporation.

I am honestly interested to know what Americans are willing to put up with. It sounds like you are ok with it to me.

It's the reality of the world. Whether I am "OK" with it or not is moot. But as long as it is happening the next best solution is to have a counter to the other side. Fox leans right, CNN leans left. At least between the two a person is able to get something close to reality.

That's just it - I'm not sure you do. Two polarized positions really don’t amount to “balance” in my book – especially when those positions are packaged in such a way as to editorialise according to the viewpoint of a particular political party.

Short of traveling the world and witnessing first hand every news event this is what we have. We have to learn to filter out the BS.

Sure... but is the only way to do that is through packaged corporate media?

If you have an alternative then I am all ears.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As if Ted Turner with CNN (Clinton News Network) and MSNBC doesn't do the same with an opposite spin. I find it strange that Fox gets hammered while the left leaning stations get a pass.

So you believe what Fox does is normal and you accept it?

I believe that it is a counter to the left leaning media. It's there for someone that wants an opposing view. I don't deny that Fox leans right. If you want a totally non biased view then your going to wait a long time. It just isn't out there.

That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking if you are ok with your media coming to you that way, with direction from the top of a corporation.

I am honestly interested to know what Americans are willing to put up with. It sounds like you are ok with it to me.

It's the reality of the world. Whether I am "OK" with it or not is moot. But as long as it is happening the next best solution is to have a counter to the other side. Fox leans right, CNN leans left. At least between the two a person is able to get something close to reality.

That's just it - I'm not sure you do. Two polarized positions really don’t amount to “balance” in my book – especially when those positions are packaged in such a way as to editorialise according to the viewpoint of a particular political party.

Short of traveling the world and witnessing first hand every news event this is what we have. We have to learn to filter out the BS.

Sure... but is the only way to do that is through packaged corporate media?

If you have an alternative then I am all ears.

I think a lot of people could use some media studies classes

[Sinergy 3]

I watch CNN, i never watch fox, they suck, but i prefer my local news channel over either cnn or fox.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Does this sort of thing feature in the nightly news I wonder....

FCC To Investigate Suppressed Reports

[Sinergy 3]

I use my local news for local bs and they do talk ALOT of national news and world news, but mostly my tv is set on CNN.

i used to watch fox, well fox n friends, but they annoy me so bad i dont watch anymore.

I do wish local news would pick up more important news stories, then i wouldnt have to switch back and forth however, id still prefer cnn over fox anyday.

[Dan J 277]

Ill take NPR over Fox, CNN or any other news service. Who needs tv, its just the news after all.

[Cassie 8]

I try to find all sorts of sources of news reporting from all over the world online, without the constant editorializing, so I can try to form my own dang opinions. As far as American TV sources, if I watch anything, it'll be CNN. Our local news channels are horrible.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ill take NPR over Fox, CNN or any other news service. Who needs tv, its just the news after all.

That's just it. Murdoch has successfully packaged Fox News for the masses - "It Takes The Stains Out" or "Now More Cleaning Power"...only with catchy phrase like "Fair and Balanced" and "The No Spin Zone". Then people soon realize that most of what is on Fox News isn't really news but editorial. When the other networks saw the numbers Fox News was bringing as far as viewership, they did the corporate thing and jumped on the bandwagon.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Ill take NPR over Fox, CNN or any other news service. Who needs tv, its just the news after all.

That's just it. Murdoch has successfully packaged Fox News for the masses - "It Takes The Stains Out" or "Now More Cleaning Power"...only with catchy phrase like "Fair and Balanced" and "The No Spin Zone". Then people soon realize that most of what is on Fox News isn't really news but editorial. When the other networks saw the numbers Fox News was bringing as far as viewership, they did the corporate thing and jumped on the bandwagon.

Admittedly my (great) dislike of Fox News comes from the fact that its one of Rupert Murdoch's media outlets. He's the biggest (though not the only) media oligarch going. A lot of the criticisms that apply to Fox can be applied equally well to CNN or any of the others.

Point is - One of the biggest threats to free journalistic expression (IMHO) is corporatisation. Bias (which is a common accusation levelled at particular outlets) only really comes into play at the end. The end result as it were...

For instance - that link I pointed out above, which suggests that FCC reports showing how locally owned TV provided more news content than the "big media" alternative were suppressed or destroyed from within the FCC itself - isn't something you're likely to see in an evening news report. Where do people find out about this stuff if all they rely on is mainstream corporate media to tell them what's going on?

This isn't something that has a political bent to it, and should be something that everyone should be interested in as it directly impacts programming quality - especially in regards to broadcast news.

Edited June 5, 2007 by erekose

[mawilson 2,133]

This may be a silly question, but:

Being a corporate entity, can't Fox News basically report whatever they want (or whatever the boss says)?

Or is there some "fair and balanced reporting act" that requires they tell the truth?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This may be a silly question, but:

Being a corporate entity, can't Fox News basically report whatever they want (or whatever the boss says)?

Well they can and do. My point is that this often comes at the expense of quality reporting (or rather, "consumer value for money" if we're looking at it in those terms) - which again that FCC thing would seem to indicate.

This isn't new BTW - the exact same argument has been made before about radio programming (which, compared to say 20 years ago is almost exclusively corporate owned), that you have less diversity and creative/editorial freedom under a corporation than you do as an independent.

Edited June 5, 2007 by erekose

[mawilson 2,133]

This may be a silly question, but:

Being a corporate entity, can't Fox News basically report whatever they want (or whatever the boss says)?

Well they can and do. My point is that this often comes at the expense of quality reporting (or rather, "consumer value for money" if we're looking at it in those terms) - which again that FCC thing would seem to indicate.

Basically, can they tell outright lies ("the Easter Bunny was responsible for 9/11") or would they get in trouble for that?

Isn't that the purpose of the FCC? Or do they only regulate the frequencies and the "moral content" of what is being transmitted?

[Alex+R 0]

This may be a silly question, but:

Being a corporate entity, can't Fox News basically report whatever they want (or whatever the boss says)?

Well they can and do. My point is that this often comes at the expense of quality reporting (or rather, "consumer value for money" if we're looking at it in those terms) - which again that FCC thing would seem to indicate.

Basically, can they tell outright lies ("the Easter Bunny was responsible for 9/11") or would they get in trouble for that?

Isn't that the purpose of the FCC? Or do they only regulate the frequencies and the "moral content" of what is being transmitted?

They have to follow all the regular media laws...

[mawilson 2,133]

This may be a silly question, but:

Being a corporate entity, can't Fox News basically report whatever they want (or whatever the boss says)?

Well they can and do. My point is that this often comes at the expense of quality reporting (or rather, "consumer value for money" if we're looking at it in those terms) - which again that FCC thing would seem to indicate.

Basically, can they tell outright lies ("the Easter Bunny was responsible for 9/11") or would they get in trouble for that?

Isn't that the purpose of the FCC? Or do they only regulate the frequencies and the "moral content" of what is being transmitted?

They have to follow all the regular media laws...

Which are...?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

This may be a silly question, but:

Being a corporate entity, can't Fox News basically report whatever they want (or whatever the boss says)?

Well they can and do. My point is that this often comes at the expense of quality reporting (or rather, "consumer value for money" if we're looking at it in those terms) - which again that FCC thing would seem to indicate.

Basically, can they tell outright lies ("the Easter Bunny was responsible for 9/11") or would they get in trouble for that?

Isn't that the purpose of the FCC? Or do they only regulate the frequencies and the "moral content" of what is being transmitted?

They have to follow all the regular media laws...

Which are...?

Good questions, Mark - because when do you draw the line between reporting the news and propaganda? I think the idea was that through diversity of news sources, people could get a pretty good understanding of the facts.