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News is biased. It is impossible to avoid this. Someone decides what news to focus on, how to display, and more importantly, how to contextualize it. No example demonstrates this more strongly than FOX News.
It is uncertain how FOX News will respond to politics after the Bush administration. This fledgling news station of twelve years has enjoyed much of its prosperity and ratings through its coverage and promotion of the current Republican executive branch. In many ways, FOX News offers what most news did not: a conservative talking point on domestic and foreign issues. However, on a more deeper level, they capitalized on commercialized news more so than any news station in U.S history.
If one examines carefully the journalistic values of FOX News, they will find that there is less promotion and advocacy for conservative issues, than Republican issues. The distinction here is in terms of political fluidity. The Republican Party’s platform has changed dramatically in the past eight years, whereas traditional conservative values of small government and laissez faire economics remain the same. This point is more fully developed in commentaries by Conservative Girl, who regularly writes in the Commentary section for YouDecide2008.com.
Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” has become the dynamic liberal equivalent to FOX News, although it only broadcasts 2.5 hours a week. Recently The Daily Show took on FOX News directly, raising critical questions and displaying FOX’s coverage of the Bush and Clinton presidencies, FOX New’s overwhelming bias.
Certainly there are biases from other news networks, but the intensity present in FOX News is unparalleled. This bias is not toward conservatism, it is toward an administration. In a country where the media has historically challenged the government and become a behind-the-scenes check-and-balance, this development carries with it worrisome implications. Conservative news coverage should be present in the U.S media– but a blanket check for an administration, arguably, should not.
Update on May 8, 2008
Once again, the Daily Show in its unique in-and-outside-the-media position, gave severe and specific critiques of FOX News coverage, showing multiple clips of how poorly they covered the Democratic primaries in Indiana and North Carolina. After critiquing different networks such as CNN for their poor coverage, Jon Stewart turns to FOX, 4.5 minutes into the clip:
Again, pretty striking footage for what is supposed to be general and important national political coverage.
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You mean absurd bias like NBC News rooting openly for Obama? Like Chris Matthews saying he has a “chill up his leg” when Obama speaks? I think NBC News/MSNBC has been more than paralleled with any biased alleged towards Fox News. In fact, MSNBC has been openly rooting for Democrats completely out in the open. Beyond that, they’ve been openly rooting for Obama over Clinton.
Wait and see if a Democrat wins in 2008, then you will have outlets like MSNBC openly carrying water for that administration.
The bottom line really is that “news” outlets are more like “political” outlets, and it cuts mostly liberal.
Fox News just offers balanced reporting which makes it look biased compared to the far-left reporting of the other networks. For example, if they examine the Bush administration’s view on an issue and don’t call them “liars”, then they’re called biased because they presented a truly fair report.
In fact, if a news network offered truly bias-free reporting, Americans wouldn’t know what it was. Then again, I don’t believe it’s ever possible for bias-free reporting. News anchors and reporters are merely human and, as a result, will always give off a level of bias, intentional or not.
That being said, I’m betting Fox News will continue to prosper and win hands-down in the ratings regardless of who becomes the next president.
It is interesting to consider whether or not FOX News has helped to liberalize other networks by monopolizing the draw for conservatives. That said, if you compare the last two recent presidential ‘media hunts,’ FOX News is quite different.
NBC and other networks were openly critical of Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal, and were accused of being overly so at times. In contrast, the Bush Administration has enjoyed a healthy amount of distance from media sources until two years ago (see a recent NYTimes acknowledgment about sitting on a news story about Paul Bremer in Iraq, for instance).
Even as the president suffers his lowest ratings — far lower than Clinton ever reached, (and the lost of more high officials due to scandals than any administration this century) FOX News has created a media gala for him as shown in the clip above.
The examples shown by the Daily Show merit deeper discussions.
I think there are larger issues at play than network bias. I think that Fox news and the Daily show both showed the other networks that the real ratings weren’t in reporting - they’re in info-tainment.
These days every network features larger than life anchors sensationalizing news at every opportunity. And I mean really sensationalizing it. It seems silly to discuss whether bias exists, when to call most of it reporting is basically a joke. When news is so sensationalized and the anchors are so unprofessional, discussion of their bias becomes frustrating.
Today’s news involves yelling, score cards, over-the-top personalities as guests, un-necessary conflict, wagging fingers. Titles like Crossfire and Hardball and Verdict. The Colbert Report is only popular because Steven Colbert almost seems like a plausible news anchor on today’s networks. The Daily Show started as a glorified spin off from an SNL sequence, but it’s only been brought up because it seems so much like an actual news show when compared to what’s out there today.
It’s incredibly frightening to think that Olbermann, Carlson, Matthews, Beck, or any of the insane anchors on TV right now could actually be effecting political opinions of our country. To think that these networks actually moderate presidential debates - it’s horrifying. These people aren’t new reporters, they’re little more than dancing monkeys. In a very real way I think our former educators are becoming our enemies. Let’s not take any of them too seriously.
Wow, Nate, way to stick up for FOX News! ~.* To be fair, you musn’t deny some level of Republican bias on FOX if you can point out the MSNBC Obama friendliness.
I trust CNN and CSPAN through and through (although CSPAN usually puts me to sleep).
The Daily Show and Colbert Report: HILARIOUS stuff, but I realized how little actual “news” they report when I started to watch the actual news.
I DVR and watch it all. Except Chris Matthews. Not because he’s got an Obama fetish (”chill” up his leg?), but because he’s annoying, almost as bad as Bill O’ Reily or Lou Dobbs. ALMOST. Keith Olderman’s good stuff, though, he covers stories I don’t think I would hear about otherwise.
I agree with Nate, NBC/MSNBC and CNN as well are heavy supporters of Obama, evidenced in employees campaign contributions documented on the internet. And the bias shows. Fox News was the best source of news during 9/11 and the weeks after, and the beginning of the “shock and awe” of Iraq. I watch a little of them all now, and you can see who favors who easily by the coverage they show of each candidate, let alone their commentaries. Exerpts from speeches and appearances are hand picked to support their own opinion. This even follows suit on shows like The View.
I watch a bit of everything but mostly get news online. In fact, for election news I made this little site, some of you may have seen it:
You Decide 2008 News
It pulls everything together from several sources.
Come on people! These are businesses! Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes saw a businiess opportunity to exploit an underseved market. When appoximately 50% of the country votes Republican yet all the major news networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC) are liberal, it’s not hard to see how a network that leans right would become successful. Stop being jealous and go watch Comedy Central.
*ROFL* Yes, Nate, I think I’ve heard of you! And I believe you own the tag line “fair and balanced”! Thanks!
Stalin, you’re right. But I am arguing that FOX News is distorting conservatism. They are more in favor of the administration than conservative values.
The cover the administration in a more positive light than the rest of the networks, but it is certainly not overwhelming.
I have never really paid alot of attention to elections and heavy news reporting such as FOXNEWS, CNN or MSNBC, but as of the past four months have grown to love FOXNEWS. They have the most balanced news on the candidates and I think a fair assetment of what is going on in the country. I sure don’t get this type of news in my daily paper or local news channel - and I watch the local FOX Station. I love Bill O’Reilly and Hannity & Colmes. I like Greta too but after 2-3 shows I get to where I need something else. At least I don’t have a reporter saying they get all tingling up the legs when they hear Obama - barf, barf,barf!
I find the subtext of this article simultaneously intriguing and disturbing.
The Daily Show may well be the liberal equivalent of FOX News. However, The Daily Show fully acknowledges being a comedy show, embracing their info-tainment status; FOX News drills the viewer with the tagline “Fair and Balanced,” giving them the false illusion of unbiased reporting.
This is all the more interesting in light of the Pew Research Center’s poll of audience knowledge levels based on preferred media outlet. Viewers watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report were regularly the most informed, while those watching Fox News were regularly the least informed:
http://people-press.org/r.....portID=319
As far as the “liberal bias” of other mainstream media sources, I’d have to vigorously disagree. Media Matters for America (a liberal watchdog group) maintains a shockingly long list of instances of conservative bias on these networks. For example, here the one for NBC:
http://mediamatters.org/i.....s/tags/nbc
Mike,
You really make me laugh. First is was people who question global warming are idiots and now people that watch Fox News are idiots. Please tell me you did not site a liberal watch dog group as proof of a “conservative” bias in media!
I sure did, the same way you might cite a conservative watch dog group as “proof” of liberal bias in the mainstream media. My whole point is not that there really *is* conservative bias. Rather, if there are groups on each side contending an opposite bias, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. If anything, I’d argue they’re biased towards sensationalism rather than any given political agenda - if it bleeds, it leads.
Wow, you really have to tone it down with your straw man method of debate. I never said that people who watch Fox are idiots; I quoted a study showing that they’re misinformed.
Mike,
When you are stating opinion I have no problems with you referencing liberal websites, but when you are using it for data purposes, it’s quite suspect. I don’t need to tone anything down, I try to put a little personality in my comments rather than writing as if it were in a text book.
No, toning it down wouldn’t hurt, you can come off like a jerk sometimes (not nec. on this article, but other blogs on this site).
In order to clarify, the handles “Mike” and “Michael” represent different people (I have received some emails regarding this).
So, Michelle, I am not sure if you are referring to my article, or Mike’s comments in your last response.
Michelle,
Why don’t you find something else to do with your time? I can’t think of one congruent or germane comment you’ve made on this site.
I don’t think I’m trying to impress anyone here. The point of blogging (or whatever you call this) is to view people’s opinions and put your own out there. Although you “can’t think” of any, I’ve put out my views on issues in an educated, nonoffensive manner, but as a young mother and recent college grad I may be a little busy to where I don’t spend too much time on this site.
Please don’t pretend to know me or what I do with my time. If you ever look at WHEN my comments are posted, it’s late at night, after a full day of work, mothering, and applying for new career avenues. I am who I convey myself to be; an Obama supporter who is busy, but still opinionated and actively seeking information.
Your comment only furthers what I was saying - you “add your flair” by being presumptous and making statements that convey you as brash, not as someone I would bother to take seriously.
clinton is not on the top but if she was…….. would obama ……still be playing this game….. are they playing this so that the rep.will have nothing 2 talk about because it has already been done or said?????
I laughed after reading your commentary. Michael, when it comes to news sources, why are you afraid of a difference of opinion, why does it scare you so much? You’re so openly liberal and biased yourself that you fail to see in its full context that every other broadcast or print news organization rules with an iron fist. But still, your liberal news organizations fail in ratings, profits and their own news anchors covet what Fox news offers their anchors. I certainly don’t deny that Fox is bias, hallelujah!!! Finally something to counter balance all the ridiculous crap that the other news channels broadcast. I really don’t think that you should be worrying as to how Fox News will do when Bush is out of office, it seems to me that their ratings speak for themselves. Your fear mongering will harm them none. Oh and in case you haven’t heard, John McCain will be the next President, so Fox News will continue to sit pretty!
Stalin you speak to my point on ratings and numbers. Someone must be watching it and like what they see. And thank you for bringing up the fact that 50% of America votes republican, but if you watched those “other” networks you would think that America was dominated by the far left crazies. As for Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes seeing Fox News as a business opportunity, it was pure brilliance on there behalf. Just like the new Fox Business Channel (that I love!) they saw an untapped market (in respect to a republican bias) and went for it, and succeeded! This is what makes them business tycoons, and they should be respected for it.
Michael I’m proud to admit that I start my day with Money for Breakfast with the new Fox Business network, then I have a side of Fox and Friends First, when I’m in the car I listen to Fox News on satellite radio, usually your favorite Italian twinky eating man Neil Cavuto, then some Happy Hour on the FBN, and I end my day with Greta Van Susteren’s On The Record. Say what you will, you can’t shake me!
Stalin, no worries man, your my favorite republican “jerk” on the site.
Aw, CG, I thought I was. *LOL*
Actually, have you noticed that in the last couple of weeks, the Fox News website is almost bashing McCain and glorifying Obama? One day last week they even had an article on there about Obama’s basketball skills as if it were newsworthy. No offense to Obama, but who cares about his high school basketball skills?
Michelle,
You say you are not offensive yet you called me a jerk. I’m confused. I’m not one to judge the value of my comments on the site, but I have had some good feedback from people so I will continue to “add my flair”. I’m not going to get into a personal argument with you. Good luck to you.
CG and Babs,
Thanks for the support.
I enjoy both of your commentaries as well.
Ya’ know, Conservative Gal, I find it more than just a little ironic that you rail against my inability to see the truth due to my “openly liberal bias” in light of your name.
I’m not sure why you ascribe the mainstream media to me personally (i.e. “your liberal news organizations”)…I don’t own them, nor do I feel they represent my policies. I find the mainstream media to be conservative and I’m liberally biased. You find the mainstream media to be liberal and you’re conservatively biased. Just because you don’t like liberals doesn’t make your bias any more objective.
I really recommend you check out the Pew study I linked to earlier - Fox News viewers are misinformed viewers. Just because they have higher ratings doesn’t make them a better news source…As a law student, I don’t expect I have to explain to you what “Argumentum ad populum” is.
Mike,
CG was addressing Michael, the author of this article and the “Professors Corner”. Did the Pew study say anything about Fox News watchers paying attention to detail? I’ll let you apologize to CG.
Well who feels like the donkey’s behind here Mike? I was addressing Michael, the author of this commentary to whom I have a continuing rapport. But you did bring up something of interest to me, “I find the mainstream media to be conservative and I’m liberally biased.” This is an indicator of just how far to the left you lean. It’s ok though, as a conservative I find that Fox News panders to the left on some occasions. Babs is correct on saying that Fox News as of late has pandered to Obama. I have been watching for long enough to learn (5+ years) this is typical Fox behavior in an election year. O’Reilly is the biggest on pandering to a candidate during a political year in hopes to land an interview. He did this in ‘04 in hopes to get Kerry to sit down with him. Since Obama is a big “pansy” and too scared to answer questions that are rooted in truth, take for example Obama pulling out of the N.C debate, this behavior is not shocking. But Fox News is still on the quest to get the interview. I mean come on, he could sit down with Alan Colmes and agree to terms of the interview. If that man doesn’t have a fluffy speech written for him he fumbles the ball.
Babs, you know your one of my favorite Republichicks
And you’re one of mine, CG. Could have used you on here today, one extremist has tried his best to crucify me for not kissing Obama’s behind. Those people wear me out. =)
My bad, CG, having the most common name in the western world does get irksome at times. Nonetheless, replace the “I’s” and “me’s” in my previous post with “He’s” and “him’s”, and the gist of it still stands…Fox News viewers are generally uninformed.
If by “big pansy” you mean someone who thinks, say, debating Iraq policy is more important that debates about flag pins, then I don’t think we’re using the same dictionary.
Where on the site was that babs, my husband (nate) didn’t inform me.
Mike,
There are some major flaws with the Pew report that you are so eager to cite. First of all, they lump networks in with individual programs on a particular network. For example, they list Bill O’Reilly viewers, but list Fox News viewers separately. Did they leave out the O’Reilly viewers from the Fox News total? Also, if you look at the numbers for Jon Stewart/Colbert compared to O’Reilly, Jon Stewart/Colbert have a larger percentage of uninformed viewers than O’Reilly. In fact, O’Reilly has the lowest number of uninformed viewers than any other source they tested. The study was conducted to determine how societies knowlege of news has changed over time and what effect 24 hours networks and the internet have had. The study is not a reliable source for you to say that Fox News watchers are misimformed.
Conservative Girl- my argument has been from the very beginning of this commentary that FOX News is not slanted towards conservatives, but rather neo-conservatives, which is an entirely different matter. You have been openly critical of this current administration, so I am surprised at your defense of this stance. Although President Bush is not a Straussian neophyte, many of his important administrators are, and they reflect the neo-conservative agenda that has deeply hurt the Republican and conservative base.
I also feel FOX News produces some very poor reporting– and I do not think the other major networks are far behind in their deficiencies.
The clips from the Daily Show above had some very specific charges all derived from FOX News broadcasts. They deserve a look, and a reflection.
Stalin,
Just to clear up, I said you can come off “like a jerk”. I don’t really know you so I can’t say what type of person you are other than the impressions your comments leave on me, and I was simply speaking honestly. I agree that “personal arguements” are a waste of time, and it’s not like all your postings are brash so I do take in your opinions.
When you say I should “find something else to do with [my] time” becuase I haven’t made “one congruent or germane comment” on this site, you are asking for a retort and I gave you one. I will leave it at that.
To comment on the blogged topic:
I actually found myself watching FOX News over the last two days just to get away from primary coverage. CNN and MNSBC just won’t stop talking about it! My overall opinion on FOX News:
They are all the same.
Some of the characters are not likeable (i.e. Lou Dobbs, Bill O’Reily, Chris Matthews) to the point of if I watch them I think less of the entire network.
Some reporting is ridiculous, in one form or another, on any given network depending on the story. Hell, some reproting is downright spin-crazy or fear-mongering. Depends on what’s hot.
Bias are out there, but it all depends on what the flavor of the week is and what channel you are watching. I think, however, it gives people reasons to a) watch all and either choose your bias or keep up on them all, or b) commit to none and *gasp* get your news from NPR or the internet.
I personally like to do all. I listen to NPR on the road, flip through the networks on my days at home while I’m keeping up with housework and my son, and check the internet at night.
This argument is futile. If you are a liberal you are not going to like Fox News. If you are a conservative you are not going to like most of the other news outlets. I’m not going to sit here and defend why I prefer Fox News over other networks. It’s amazing, conservatives have just one major news network to turn to and you can’t even let us enjoy that. Back the hell off, stop telling us we are misinformed or that Fox News has bad reporting, etc. Go watch NBC, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, Jon Stewart and the rest of the major liberal news networks and let us be!
Hey Stalin, did you know that the Entertainment company that holds controlling interest in CBS is one of Obama’s major contributors? You’d have never guessed that, would you? *LOL*
Stalin, I would push your point further. It is unfortunate that FOX is the only conservative point, since it can then direct and influence conservativism in a very powerful way (slanting it towards the neo-cons).
Michael,
While Fox is the only television outlet, many conservatives turn to talk radio to get their fix. I can only speak for myself, but I use the TV, radio, internet, and conservative books to keep abreast of topics. While FNC is influential I don’t think they have a monopoly on conservatism.
No, they don’t, but as a public television network, they do. And I think their incredibly influential niche has ripples throughout the other levels of media (e.g., many FOX television broadcasters have radio shows, their large consumer base becomes a draw for conservative book writers, etc.).
As yourself this– where are the Barry Goldwaters of yesteryear?
BRAVO Stalin,
I am so sick of having to defend FOX News to liberals. It’s what I prefer to watch, that’s it. Conservative talk radio does dominate the air waves, and when the liberal bent tries to get a piece of the market it fails miserably(Air America).
Plus it is an added bonus that there are beautiful conservative men and women who deliver the news. I still hold the view that most outspoken liberal women tend to be ugly, you think it has anything to do with the fact that there so bitter? I bet it does. Feminists shave those legs!