Bias war

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:30 am

Now this could shape up to be interesting:

"The DRUDGE REPORT has learned that FOX NEWS executives are lining up a parade of employees who formerly worked at CNN & MSNBC and have been downloading information on how editorial decisions are made at these networks, including the agenda for how stories are supposed to be covered.

A senior FOX NEWS executive tells DRUDGE: "We have enough ammunition to nail both MSNBC & CNN." Sources say FOX is prepared to go public with these accounts if necessary."

http://www.drudgereport.com/foxf.htm

Will Robinson · Post by **Will Robinson** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 7:33 am

woodchip wrote:...Sources say FOX is prepared to go public with these accounts if necessary."

If necessary?!? As if they have some other function besides reporting the news?
I'm not surprised at the allegation nor do I doubt it is true but what would cause them to not report it?
A quid pro quo.... you don't expose us we won't expose you?!?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 9:18 am

That is exactly what I was thinking will. It would be foolish for FOX to do something like that.

Avder · Post by **Avder** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:05 am

I'd like to see how editorial decisions are made at all three of those networks. Fox has some highly suspect things to account for as well.

Ford Prefect · Post by **Ford Prefect** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:43 am

And this would be considered new information to who? And talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
How deep would you have to have your head in the sand to think that any of those networks were close to unbiased in their reporting. Oh! Maybe I missed something and the Drudge report is a satirical site.

Will Robinson · Post by **Will Robinson** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 3:40 pm

I'd have to say that the press' inability to remain neutral and objective is one of the biggest impediments to government reaching it's potential to serve the citizenry because it enables liars and thieves to hold the reins of power. Rather than expose anyone who would screw us the press buys into the notion that they are simply there to tell us which orafice we should take it in. /rant

SSC BlueFlames · Post by **SSC BlueFlames** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 7:53 pm

Something tells me that this was triggered by a bit that appeared on Countdown last night. The number three story was mostly about an upcoming (with about zero marketing budget) movie called Outfoxed, about Rupert Murdoch's hand in the news media. Keith Olberman (Countdown's host) hinted at some indescretions that he experienced while working at Fox News some years back, and the movie is supposed to have interviews with nine current and former Fox News employees. (The transcript of the July 9th show isn't up yet, but it probably will be available here on Monday.)

Looking at the source, I wouldn't be too sure about the reality of the report. I don't doubt that Fox News has information on its competitors about how editorial decisions are made, but I also don't think that they'd be stupid enough to use its outting as a threat. There would be an enormous backlash, and Murdoch would end up as much a loser as Ted Turner. Of course, if this disruption lets some new non-Murdoch, non-Turner, non-MS news networks into the mix, the television-viewing population at large could benefit.

Anyway, my response to the first salvo* in this battle... Tell me something I don't already know.

[small]* -- Outfoxed and whatever Fox News is planning on saying, roughly translated to "Fox News is conservative and everyone else is liberal!!!11!"[/small]

woodchip · Post by **woodchip** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:54 am

Will Robinson wrote:I'd have to say that the press' inability to remain neutral and objective is one of the biggest impediments to government reaching it's potential to serve the citizenry because it enables liars and thieves to hold the reins of power. Rather than expose anyone who would screw us the press buys into the notion that they are simply there to tell us which orafice we should take it in. /rant

Lets remember in about two months McCain/Feingold kicks in and the newsies are going to be in hog heaven.

snoopy · Post by **snoopy** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 1:27 pm

I had a class called Historiography (fascinating class, way too much work)- all history is subjective, there is no way around that. The problem is, modern media seems to not be trying as hard to get rid of as much subjectivity as possible.