FAUX News really is worse than I thought.

[starscape]

I'm really just venting here. I've managed to pretty much avoid Fox news because I'm aware of their slant, and I don't want to suddenly happen upon a Bill O'Reilly segement or, God forbid, Ann Coulter or Sean Hannity. So I pretty much leave it alone.

But I checked out the web site yesterday and it really is worse than I thought. I always assumed that they slanted their message by being selective in their coverage. That is, stories critical of Bush or the right would either be buried down low in the news page, or omitted entirely. For sure, this does happen, but their manipulation of the news is worse than I thought. The entire content is biased.

Yesterday, on their website, under the VIDEO section the feature was titled "Wesley Clark is telling stories again.." There are so many things wrong with that! First of all, it's not in the opinion section. Second, it's not attributed to any source except the news site itself, in a headline for chrissakes… third, it implies not only is Clark a liar, but a repeated liar (with the word "again")… ughh...

So that got my attention. Then I read the story about Bush speaking at the UN.. it really read almost exactly as I would expect a press release from the White House to read! And I work in P.R., so I recognize the not-so-subtle use of language to convey clear message points. This, again, was in the news section! How do they get away with this? And how do any self-respecting journalists work for them?

A quick glance at the political headlines today. Notice the one about Kennedy:

Judges Overturn Panel Ruling to Postpone California Recall
Kennedy Faces Backlash Over Iraq Remarks
State-Level Terror Database Seems Suspicious to Critics
Kathleen Gingrich Dies at 77
Texas Senate Tentatively Approves New Congressional Map

Those don't look so bad at first, but knowing how the Bush piece was written, I know what's lurking inside. And the headline about Wesley Clark floors me. Can you imagine if CNN tagged one of their pieces, "Iraq record shows Bush is telling stories again.." ye Gods…

This is a major news outlet! How disturbing is that? Why do so many tune in?

Thanks for letting me vent. Feel free to air any of your own FAUX News frustrations...

[radwriter0555]

1. I just can't care about fascist GOP owned whore media spewers...

and recommend the same for everyone else.

[glarius]

2. The trouble is lots of gullible people listen and BELIEVE

So just saying you recommend DUers not to watch solves nothing...DUers are not the ones to be convinced....it's the rest of the public....IMO

[Supply Side Jesus]

4. care or not

i think we can all agree on the revulsion of said network. I'm glad i wasn't alone when I first noticed the networks leanings. I use to ask my dad why he would watch such a obvious joke for a news network, he would say "J, you're hallucinating." Now he doesn't watch it either. I guess their is hope!

[southpaw]

10. Welcome, Supply Side Jesus...

Your cuticles are PERFECT!

[TheDonkey]

3. I don't watch it... ever. I urge others to do the same.

[glarius]

5. It's not DU'ers that need to be cautioned...it's the gullible public who

watch and BELIEVE what's on Fox!!!

[starscape]

6. I agree, but...

I kind of want to know what they're up to, knowing that they have the largest viewing share of all the news networks. That disturbs me greatly.

At least I'm conscious about it - In fact, if I watch, I am going to try to remember any sponsors I see and make a mental note not to support them or their products. That will be my personal little protest ;)

I do regret giving them hits on their web site. I think I'll cut that out.

[WoodrowFan]

7. LArgest Share

I recently read somewhere (no link, sorry) that Faux has the largest audience but more poeple watch CNN> Faux viewers tune in and leave it on. People who turn on the TV to see the news quickly, then turn it off tend to watch CNN. Interesting, if true.

[RobertSeattle]

8. Anyone notice that any adjective in front of "Judges: was dropped

If the CA Judges had ruled for postponing, the caption I'm almost certain would have been "Liberal Judges postpone..." but when Judges rule in favor of a GOP cause any adjective is dropped, it's just "Judges".

[starscape]

9. it's manipulative wordplay

Exactly right! They know they can change meaning and tone with just subtle wordplay. The headline writers know what they are doing.

There are very clear distinctions you have to make in journalism (at least at reputable outlets) between news and opinion sections, and that includes headlines, which are the one thing everybody reads even if they don't read the story.

The one about Bush yesterday was something like, "Bush stresses need for unity" and in the story, it even said that European countries were "coming around" (to supporting the US).. egads..

[Ivory_Tower]

11. A couple of years ago

A hurricane was approaching Cancun. Cancun, of course, is a popular resort area for young Americans, lots of drinking and partying (from what I hear -- I've never gone there....drat! :)). Hurricane parties are also a well-known phenomenon, where people hunker down and drink during during the storm.

So the government of Mexico issued a warning, telling people to use common sense, that hurricanes are dangerous, they shouldn't be drinking during the storm, and all that.

The Associated Press ran a story about the approaching storm, about eight paragraphs long. It mostly discussed the path of the storm, the strength of the storm, etc. It devoted no more than a couple of lines in the middle to the government warning people in Cancun to avoid drinking heavily during the hurricane.

The Fox News website carried the AP story verbatim. Their headline?

"Mexicans told to stay sober during hurricane."

Is it just me or is that a misleading headline? I've told two right-wingers about this and their response was "I don't see the problem."

btw, I don't think I've ever gone back to that web site.

[starscape]

12. that is bad...

That's a slap in the face. It's like doing an in-depth story about unemployment in Mexico and headlining it, "Mexicans told to get to work.."

Okay that's an imperfect example. How about a story about education - "Mexicans told to smarten up.." The possibilities are endless. How offensive.