Fox News: Unfair and imbalanced?
Critics say so. But a media watchdog says the cable channel's news is more even-handed than other networks
News anchor Shepard Smith of the show "Fox Report"
(Corbis/Jennifer Taylor)
President Obama gave an interview to Fox News correspondent Major Garrett in China on Wednesday, signaling what may be the end of a White House feud with the cable news channel. Obama administration critics have said Fox News isn't a true news outlet but a bullhorn for right-wing opinion. But the Center for Media and Public Affairs, a watchdog with conservative funding, says Fox's evening news is more balanced than CBS, NBC, and ABC. Is Fox's news coverage hopelessly biased, or is it more even-handed than its critics say? (Watch MSNBC's Rachel Maddow lash out at Fox News)
Fox offers balance. The others are Obama shills: It's true that Fox News gives President Obama "his worst press," says Center for Media and Public Affairs director and former Fox News contributor S. Robert Lichter in Forbes, but it's also the most balanced. Sounds contradictory, but it's not. During the campaign, CBS, NBC, and ABC were are all "pro-Obama" and anti-McCain, while Fox News was "was tough on both--and most balanced overall."
"Fox News: Fair And Balanced?"
Take that with a grain of salt: The Center for Media and Public Affairs is "a right wing front group," says the Village Voice's Roy Edroso in his Alicublog, which is something to remember when pondering its conclusions. And how can ABC, NBC, and CBS be Obama lapdogs if, as S. Robert Lichter points out, they have been nearly as critical of the president since he took office as Fox's evening news?
"Shorter S. Robert Lichter"
Leftists are in denial: The howling from the left is predictable, says Tom Blumer in News Busters. And dismissing the CMPA as "conservatively biased (because SourceWatch says so)" is no argument — but it's all liberals can do because the group's scorekeeping methodology "appears to be relatively immune from partisan slant." Fox News critics could watch the footage themselves to "poke holes" in the CMPA's conclusion that Fox News really is "fair and balanced," but "they won't; whining is so much easier."
"Leftist blood-curdling scream alert: CMPA reports that Fox IS fair and balanced"
Fox cheerleaders are the ones in denial: Fox News has repeatedly made a mockery of its claim that it's "fair and balanced," says Christine Schwen in Media Matters for America. Even Fox News senior vice president Bill Shine has said the channel is the "voice of opposition" to the Obama White House. So Fox News personalities and cheerleaders can drop the front — the secret is out.
"News Corp. agrees: Fox News is 'conservative'"
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SEE THE WEEK'S LATEST COVERAGE OF FOX NEWS:
• Did Fox News vanquish Anita Dunn?
• A White House truce with Fox News
• Obama's war with Fox News
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24 Comments
Posted by rodney, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 10:24 am But the Center for Media and Public Affairs, a watchdog with conservative funding, says Fox's evening news is more balanced than CBS, NBC, and ABC.HAHAHAHHA, are you serious?? Don't you think it is hilarious that an article written about how impartial Foxnews is, is funded by the rightwing zealots? Hahaha, how dumb do they think the public is?!?!?
Posted by MarcusDolby, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 10:45 am Center for Media Public Affairs aren't funded by rightwing zealots, they are funded by conservatives. Big difference! Not everyone is on the fringe like you. I listen to multiple websites/channels and take everything with a huge grain of salt. One must be skeptical of all media outlets, regardless of size or popularity or how many awards they've won.
Posted by homunq, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 10:53 am The study was a simple tally of positive and negative comments from reporters and nonpartisan experts on Obama and McCain during the campaign. There are three reasons to discount it. First, it covers only half an hour out of Fox Noise's 24 hours of propaganda. Second, it completely discounts the fact that Fox gives more airtime to Republican spokesfolk they're not nonpartisan. Most importantly, it pays no account to reality. Unhinged comments that Obama was born in Kenya count the same as many Nobelists endorsing Obama's science policy.
Posted by hardcashe, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 11:06 am Center for Media and Public Affairs deliver's their 'Fair and Balanced' analysis on Fox News being 'Fair and Balanced' in the person of Center for Media and Public Affairs director and former Fox News contributor, S. Robert Lichter. Why don't liberals come up with equivocal names for political action groups that pose as public trust centers to confuse the public?
Posted by voiceofraisin, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 12:07 pm Noise. That's all that comes from the media these days. On the one side you have Fox News that rails against Obama at nearly every turn, and on the other side you have the sycophantic network news agencies that are so far up Obama's backside they need headlamps. News agencies are profit machines that demand cash flow in order to keep broadcasting. Once you realize that it's all for show and the almighty dollar, you might start making an effort to come to your own conclusions, because whether it's Beck or Olbermann or Blitzer, it's all hooey.
Posted by Randall Thorpe, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 12:16 pm Fox is no worse than the toxic dump over at CNN. Nancy Grace, Joy Behar, Jane Mitchell, Larry King, Rick Sanchez, John King. Yuk!
Posted by BWMorlan, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 2:26 pm Within limits of good taste, the best friend the PEOPLE have is the faction within the press that does not trust or faun over the powers in power. Too bad for both sides that right now that means that ObamaFox is the lever that moves our political world.
Posted by tomas, Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 3:35 pm FOX always shows two points of opposing views. They believe that their viewers are smart enough to make up their own minds. The other networks should try it, instead of 'selling' their opinions as news.
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