Fox News calls itself “fair and balanced.” But in the words of our greatest living
newsman, Walter Cronkite, Fox has always intended to be “beyond conservative,
a far-right wing organization.”
Cronkite was interviewed as part of a disturbing new documentary called
“OutFoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism.” Through additional interviews
with former Fox journalists—and extensive use of archival footage—Fox is
proven to be virtually “G.O.P. TV.”
On its self-proclaimed “signature news show,” for example, five Republican
guests are interviewed for each Democrat, and five conservatives for every
liberal.
All the Fox news programs get daily marching orders from the top, specifying
the day’s stories and slant [see sidebar]. Says Cronkite: “I’ve never heard of any
network, or any other legitimate news organization doing that.”
And so George Bush is defended and John Kerry demeaned. Bad news from
Iraq is minimized, while the patriotism of war opponents is questioned. Divisive
social issues, from abortion to gay rights, are continually emphasized.
This conservative ideology is effectively being packaged in Fox’s “high-tech
tabloid” style, where commentators and reporters are interchangeable, sarcasm
and hyperbole commonplace, and fear mongering is the order of the day.
Ultimately, Fox doesn’t really do the news; they are state of the art mass
propagandists. That’s also why we’re petitioning the Federal
Trade Commission this week—to deny Fox permission to use the slogan “fair
and balanced.”
It’s a simple question of false advertising.
Side bar:
The Party Line
Recent excerpts from the daily instructions
given to Fox News reporters and producers by
senior management:
“The so-called 9/11 commission has been
meeting. Do not turn this into Watergate.”
(3/23/04)
“Today is likely to be the apex of the so-called
9/11 commission hearings. Remember that
while there are obvious political implications
for Bush, the commission is looking at eight
years of the Clinton Administration versus eight
months . . . for Bush.”
(3/24/04)
“Do not fall into the easy trap of mourning the
loss of U.S. lives [in Iraq] and asking out loud
why are we there.”
(4/4/04)
“Ribbons or medals? Which did John Kerry
throw away after he returned from Vietnam?
His perceived disrespect for the military could
be more damaging to the candidate than
questions about his actions in uniform.”
(4/26/04)
“Also, let’s refer to the US marines we see in the
foreground as ‘sharpshooters,’ not ‘snipers,’
which carries a negative connotation.”
(4/28/04)
“The President and VP are MEETING with the
9/11 commission. They are NOT testifying . . . ”
(4/29/04)
“The President goes to Michigan [today],
accompanied by a powerful campaign asset,
the first lady.”
(5/3/04)
