Expose FOX Fraudcasting: It's Your Duty as an American!

[MrScorpio]

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Mon, 07/19/2010 - 7:42am. Guest Commentary
ED TUBBS FOR BUZZFLASH

The tactics Fox News employs to subscribe to some pretense of legitimacy in the 'news' it reports (and that you get to decide) is fairly straight forward. First, Fox and Friends, while not overtly claiming to be news delivery, but opinion and entertainment, will have a 'guest' or host make an assertion, and then Fox News (It's important to bear in mind the difference in the program titles; 'Friends' vs 'News.') will later report that "'sources' have reported that . . ."

The reasons it can get away with this despicable enterprise draw from a few basic exigencies. One, the corporation is highly attuned to the sad circumstance that, to one degree or another, all of us engage feelings of Schadenfreude; taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others; the private, personal delight behind the "he got his" syndrome. The corporation is also keenly aware of the just below the surface (and the just plain overt) racism that yet plagues much of our society, and that that segment (most particularly conservatives) is not only prepared to believe anything negative about the target of its bigotry that will tend to support that bigoted premise, but that seeks out such support, regardless of the outrageousness of the facts or source. Next, exactly as with ABC, CBS, and NBC, Murdoch's corporation knows that Americans, by and large, are just too damned busy to fact check every allegation it issues.

News Corp knows that something's gonna stick. It's the same 'Big Lie' strategy that employs the three truths I just outlined, and that worked so well in Germany.

Is there anything that can be done to counter the efforts by News Corp?

We cannot stop it. After all, they are "just reporting" what they've heard. And until each of us is individually prepared to actively confront our Fox News watching relatives, friends, and associates, actually call them out, let them know in terms certain that we regard them as too stupid, too racist, too grossly ignorant for our company, much like those who counsel the alcoholic that "just one drink isn't going to hurt", we are enablers of the stupidity, the racism, the ignorance.

We have no control over what Fox does. But we have absolute control over how we conduct our own lives. That fact, however, is a source of responsibility that I see too infrequently borne by Americans. Pissing and moaning the victimhood role, shamefully, wears so much easier on our collective shoulders. Contrary to the saw that the truth will set anyone free, the truth, once its seen and accepted as such, can make of mess of our ability to believe what's so much easier to believe. It also coerces the bearing of moral obligations we'd rather not be bothered by.


http://blog.buzzflash.com/contributors/3837

[qb]

1. I recently had a conversation with a Wells Fargo bank teller.

The branch had Faux News on their TV and I educated him on their misinformation and asked him to pass my disapproval along to his supervisor.

[onecent]

3. I have worked as a seasonal employee for the IRS for 7 years now

and they have 80% television set to Faux News........
and during the Bush presidency my husband and I requested a restaurant to change the channel, which they did.

[NJmaverick]

2. K & R!

[tilsammans]

4. I call them out

Whenever family and/or friends start spouting obvious Fox talking points, I inquire, "Where did you hear that? I haven't heard that before." Of course, the source is Fox. And I proceed to advise them that Fox is not a credible source for news.

So far, however, whatever I say has made no difference.

My cousin recently claimed that she watches Fox News "to hear all sides." Say wha'? :puke:

[JoePhilly]

5. Fox News = Bush Administration in Exile

[Jester Messiah]

6. My take on Fox

The 4th largest stakeholder in Fox is a Saudi prince, and Murdoch himself has numerous ties to China. My thinking is that Fox is a propaganda operation being run by foreign interests to keep Americans at each others' throats. The Tea Party is an outgrowth of that propaganda machine. Stunning how well it's working.

[Scuba]

7. Agreed, if you use 'foreign' in the context of being 'not American'...

...I don't believe corporations hold any nationalistic ideals.

[Jester Messiah]

13. Right, and doing so sets a very important context

If, say, a law were to be passed regarding propaganda operations by foreign countries using domestic media. Or if such a law already existed.

[NJCher]

8. Every semester

I show Greenwald's "OutFoxed" in my classes as part of critical thinking. The students love the film and I can see the results all semester long in their classroom participation, writing, etc.

Fortunately I work for an enlightened department that has several copies in our departmental library.


Cher

[tilsammans]

10. The Fox fans refuse to see the film

I've recommended "Outfoxed" to all of them many times, but none has ever seen it.

They can't handle the truth? :shrug:

Good on ya for showing it to your students! :applause:

[Kingofalldems]

9. Someone once said the sole purpose of Fox news is to elect republicans

And BTW Fox should not be allowed as a source on DU.
K and R

[AspenRose]

11. I was thinking about this yesterday...about media reform

People often talk about media reform but I don't know if there's anything anyone can do (or anything anyone is WILLING to do). The genie is out of the bottle.

[immune]

12. Fox News gets okay to misinform public, court ruling

"The attorneys for Fox, owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, argued the First Amendment gives broadcasters the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on the public airwaves.

In its six-page written decision, the Court of Appeals held that the Federal Communications Commission position against news distortion is only a "policy," not a promulgated law, rule, or regulation. Fox aired a report after the ruling saying it was "totally vindicated" by the verdict."

http://www.ceasespin.org/ceasespin_blog/ceasespin_blogger_files/fox_news_gets_okay_to_misinform_public.html