Fox News is not a news organization

[Teresa]

Geo:

I have hesitated to jump in on this but here goes. IMHO Fox is definitely a news organization. So are CNN, MSNBC, Huffington, and every other right, center and left wing media organization. News is information about events. All of them share information and all have a fundemental bias.
Everyone has their point of view and prefer to have their opinions reenforced. That is human nature. So people watch/read/listen to what makes them comfortable.
My belief system tilts far to the right. Thus I favor Fox as it tends to be right as well. But I like Anderson Cooper and prefer Morning Joe most mornings to Fox & Friends. And I like Chris Mathews and really love his books athough I disagree with most of his politics. Stewart is funny most of the time but I don't care for Colbert. I cannot stand Olberman.
I love O'Reilly. I like Hannity personally but think he shills for the Republican party even when they are wrong. But I have never viewed his show as "news" but a video form of an op-ed page. Hannity vs. Bob Beckel is must see TV on Mondays, if only for the entertainment. Same goes for Beck. Beck gets off on controversy and it has made him alot of money. To each his own.

Idlewind thanks for your thoughtful, respectful, insightful postl. I mostly agree with your analysis of news organizations and various types of programs they offer. perhaps all news organizations do have a slant but they really shouldn't be so blatantly obvious. Why is it that Fox News is the ONLY one that has such an obvious slant to the far right - and their kind of programming can be inflammatory, obviously geared to satisfy the "news" needs of just a certain group of Americans? I think this is what many here have a problem with.

people say NPR is "liberal". Many appreciate the fact that NPR consistent presents programs which are highly professional, offering excellent coverage and reporting (without the drama), timely and thought provoking, covering science, education and issues from around the globe, and never ever resorting to inflammatory programming. just educational with an intent to broaden our understanding of the world, cultures, events, history, issues, etc. all in an interesting but very friendly kind of program designed to encourage input and perspective from all sides - respectfully. I guess PBS is liberal too.

so, yes, News organizations definitely put out their own slant and their own philosophy - and we can clearly see which one works for us. Fox has worked to brand itself as fair and accurate - and that is the kicker for many - its just absurd. seems contradictory to me to say you are fair and accurate when you are pushing one rather extreme agenda.

 

[idlewind]

Idlewind thanks for your thoughtful, respectful, insightful postl. I mostly agree with your analysis of news organizations and various types of programs they offer. perhaps all news organizations do have a slant but they really shouldn't be so blatantly obvious. Why is it that Fox News is the ONLY one that has such an obvious slant to the far right - and their kind of programming can be inflammatory, obviously geared to satisfy the "news" needs of just a certain group of Americans? I think this is what many here have a problem with.

people say NPR is "liberal". Many appreciate the fact that NPR consistent presents programs which are highly professional, offering excellent coverage and reporting (without the drama), timely and thought provoking, covering science, education and issues from around the globe, and never ever resorting to inflammatory programming. just educational with an intent to broaden our understanding of the world, cultures, events, history, issues, etc. all in an interesting but very friendly kind of program designed to encourage input and perspective from all sides - respectfully. I guess PBS is liberal too.

so, yes, News organizations definitely put out their own slant and their own philosophy - and we can clearly see which one works for us. Fox has worked to brand itself as fair and accurate - and that is the kicker for many - its just absurd. seems contradictory to me to say you are fair and accurate when you are pushing one rather extreme agenda.

Fox is no more inflamatory than MSNBC. NPR and PBS lean liberal but like Fox like to present themselves and fair and balanced. Traditionally the Christian Science Monitor has the reputation of being fair but some will challenge that.
I would submit that Fox has better ratings for two reasons: 1 based on polls the majority in this country tend to be right of center and 2) Fox is the only major news organization that leans right of center.
The bottom line is that if you want to be well rounded you need to review material from several different sources. I watch Morning Joe alot and sometimes would like to throw something at the TV but the discourse causes me to think and investigate. I do not get that from Fox as a rule because I tend to agree with them.

 

[Teresa]

Fox is no more inflamatory than MSNBC. NPR and PBS lean liberal but like Fox like to present themselves and fair and balanced. Traditionally the Christian Science Monitor has the reputation of being fair but some will challenge that.
I would submit that Fox has better ratings for two reasons: 1 based on polls the majority in this country tend to be right of center and 2) Fox is the only major news organization that leans right of center.
The bottom line is that if you want to be well rounded you need to review material from several different sources. I watch Morning Joe alot and sometimes would like to throw something at the TV but the discourse causes me to think and investigate. I do not get that from Fox as a rule because I tend to agree with them.

I don't watch MSNBC so I can't really comment on who is more inflammatory. NPR and PBS are no where near like Fox in how they do things - in any regard - at least in my opinion. They do not claim to be anything they are not - at least I've never noticed this. I think we all agree that several sources are in order to be well informed - from TV, internet, radio, etc.. Lots of folks like BBC America these days... However, I still submit that the entire reason for this thread is that some people do not appreciate the kind of programming offered by Fox. It can be anywhere from high drama/entertaining to just plain insulting. and surely there are some good reports in between but I am not interested in the least - not even for the entertainment value. At some point you gotta stop being disgusted and find those outlets that meet your own requirements for fair and balanced.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I would not mind the right-leaning point of view so much if it was delivered in a civil manner. I simply don't want all that negative talk (energy) in my space. The few times I have attempted to listen to Fox...I just can't get past the lack of civil discourse.

MSNBC may be liberal and slanted, but at least the commentary is for the most part polite and articulate...at least more so than the Fox. And, certainly Joe Scarborough (who used to be our Representative) is anything but liberal, but he is civil and well spoken; Pat Buchanan is certainly no liberal, but again he is well spoken and the points he brings up are not my political preference, but I respect him for hanging in there and being able to articulate a point of view without demeaning a whole group of people. Bill O'Reilly has actually written a book or two that I enjoyed reading...I just can't stand his smirk and voice--I watch/listen to Keith O once in awhile just because I love the way he uses the language--

 

[idlewind]

I would not mind the right-leaning point of view so much if it was delivered in a civil manner. I simply don't want all that negative talk (energy) in my space. The few times I have attempted to listen to Fox...I just can't get past the lack of civil discourse.

MSNBC may be liberal and slanted, but at least the commentary is for the most part polite and articulate...at least more so than the Fox. And, certainly Joe Scarborough (who used to be our Representative) is anything but liberal, but he is civil and well spoken; Pat Buchanan is certainly no liberal, but again he is well spoken and the points he brings up are not my political preference, but I respect him for hanging in there and being able to articulate a point of view without demeaning a whole group of people. Bill O'Reilly has actually written a book or two that I enjoyed reading...I just can't stand his smirk and voice--I watch/listen to Keith O once in awhile just because I love the way he uses the language--

I think the bottom line is to each his/her on. Ain't it great to live in America where we have so many options and so many voices?

 

[Teresa]

I would not mind the right-leaning point of view so much if it was delivered in a civil manner. I simply don't want all that negative talk (energy) in my space. The few times I have attempted to listen to Fox...I just can't get past the lack of civil discourse.

MSNBC may be liberal and slanted, but at least the commentary is for the most part polite and articulate...at least more so than the Fox. And, certainly Joe Scarborough (who used to be our Representative) is anything but liberal, but he is civil and well spoken; Pat Buchanan is certainly no liberal, but again he is well spoken and the points he brings up are not my political preference, but I respect him for hanging in there and being able to articulate a point of view without demeaning a whole group of people. Bill O'Reilly has actually written a book or two that I enjoyed reading...I just can't stand his smirk and voice--I watch/listen to Keith O once in awhile just because I love the way he uses the language--

bottom line. thanks.

its attitude.

 

[GoodWitch58]

I think the bottom line is to each his/her on. Ain't it great to live in America where we have so many options and so many voices?

Yes, and a TV/computer that has an "Off" button!

 

[Jdarg]

PBS and NPR are 2 news outlets that to me, are so much more than news. There are no better sources for those of us who are curious about the world- other countries, cultures, events, all presented in a way that I feel like I am getting a mostly honest picture, instead of a view through the "American lens" of what American news sources and political groups consider to be normal, moral, correct, and American-like. The "rah rah go USA " stuff has become an acceptable way to judge people/places/thing/governments, etc. that aren't "American enough", and it has spilled over in to journalism. Fox of course is the worst at this type of journalism, but the others aren't so great either, and they do let the judging creep into the reporting, instead of just telling the story without the undercurrent of judging.

It is so pleasant to listen to an interview on NPR with someone from a far away place or watch a well-produced PBS documentary, both without the source constantly hyping themselves every 5 seconds.

I guess NPR and PBS are considered liberal because their audience is an intellectually curious group? If this is the liberal elite that is criticized by conservatives, bring it on.

 

[GoodWitch58]

PBS and NPR are 2 news outlets that to me, are so much more than news. There are no better sources for those of us who are curious about the world- other countries, cultures, events, all presented in a way that I feel like I am getting a mostly honest picture, instead of a view through the "American lens" of what American news sources and political groups consider to be normal, moral, correct, and American-like. The "rah rah go USA " stuff has become an acceptable way to judge people/places/thing/governments, etc. that aren't "American enough", and it has spilled over in to journalism. Fox of course is the worst at this type of journalism, but the others aren't so great either, and they do let the judging creep into the reporting, instead of just telling the story without the undercurrent of judging.

It is so pleasant to listen to an interview on NPR with someone from a far away place or watch a well-produced PBS documentary, both without the source constantly hyping themselves every 5 seconds.

I guess NPR and PBS are considered liberal because their audience is an intellectually curious group? If this is the liberal elite that is criticized by conservatives, bring it on.

I agree. And, the fact that there are no dumbed-down commercials, is icing on the cake.

 

[Andy A]

To many, intellectual and liberal elite are not necessarily synonymous.