Fox news

I have noted that there is a lot of kneejerk reactions when Fox news is brought up. Mostly disgust and sarcasm, and then there is the kneejerk in the opposite direction, in other words, for Fox news but this is the rarer of the two reactions. I have also noted that Fox news neilson ratings are through the roof compared to just about every other cable station. Kind of interesting that there is such a clamor against Fox and yet they top the ratings don't you think.
I believe that most of the News we get here in the states is slanted and extremely biased and while Fox obviously has its opinion shows that are very conservative to just right of moderate I believe there actual news is fairly even handed. I wouldn't bet my life on it though as politics has seemed to poison everything these days, particularly the news. Take for instance the NY Times. They refused to publish the emails from "climate gate" stating the emails were only meant for personal consumption but had no compunction in publishing Sarah Palins private emails.
Anyways, to the point. I wish to know how many of you watch fox and your opinion of its basic news service and not its opinion shows.
There will be a poll that you can vote on so that you won't have to expose yourself if you don't wish to.

Remember, be nice.
Sarcasm need not apply.

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Originally Posted by JMS

IFox news neilson ratings are through the roof compared to just about every other cable station.

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Ratings is not a guarantee of quality though. For instance, our Red Tops (tabloid newspapers) here in the UK will have bigger circulation numbers than any of the broadsheets. And what's the recurring theme of our Red Tops? Breasts. The 'Page 3 Girl' is a British institution. Yep, breasts are big news apparently. Every day. And consequently ratings/circulation figures are high.

What about the news though?

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Originally Posted by majurey

The 'Page 3 Girl' is a British institution. Yep, breasts are big news apparently. Every day. And consequently ratings/circulation figures are high.

What about the news though?

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Nothing wrong with breasts. Far from it.
But I agree it's not news :)

Fox news is so far to the right that I don't consider it news at all. Admittedly both sides of the Fox debate can offer ample evidence to support their claims: This isn't the place for it, but I could give you many, many examples of Fox's withholding of information that didn't support their agenda. One only has to look at Rupert Murdoch, the man who owns the network (and other right-leaning media, such as the Wall Street Journal), and his history of tabloid "journalism" to see a clear bias toward sensationalism, especially that which works, ultimately, in favor of big business. In my opinion, Fox News is to real journalism what McDonald's is to gourmet dinning.

For the record, I'm a registered Republican and have been since I first registered to vote 47 years ago, though I freely admit that I'm not too happy with the Republican Party today.

When I watch Fox, it strikes me as a bit unsophisticatet.However, they are pushing trough important news, that the PC press would much rather not mention.(Fort hood, Climagate etc..)

I really wish we had a conservative newschannel in Norway!
The press here is ALL what you americans would consider far, far left
wing.And frankly you would be correct.:)


Kristoffer.

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Originally Posted by JMS

I have noted that there is a lot of kneejerk reactions when Fox news is brought up. Mostly disgust and sarcasm, and then there is the kneejerk in the opposite direction, in other words, for Fox news but this is the rarer of the two reactions. I have also noted that Fox news neilson ratings are through the roof compared to just about every other cable station. Kind of interesting that there is such a clamor against Fox and yet they top the ratings don't you think.
I believe that most of the News we get here in the states is slanted and extremely biased and while Fox obviously has its opinion shows that are very conservative to just right of moderate I believe there actual news is fairly even handed. I wouldn't bet my life on it though as politics has seemed to poison everything these days, particularly the news. Take for instance the NY Times. They refused to publish the emails from "climate gate" stating the emails were only meant for personal consumption but had no compunction in publishing Sarah Palins private emails.
Anyways, to the point. I wish to know how many of you watch fox and your opinion of its basic news service and not its opinion shows.
There will be a poll that you can vote on so that you won't have to expose yourself if you don't wish to.

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Well I believe that since Palin was an elected official and was using her Yahoo! email account for governmental purposes, those emails were public records. That's what the defense argued and I'm sure the news stations used it as well when publishing.

As for Fox, I can't stand to watch it because it's factually incorrect way too often for a news show. So often, in fact, that there has been a news memo published to the internets from Fox officials threatening to take disciplinary action against on-screen "mistakes". They get maps wrong, pie charts wrong, geography wrong, political affiliations wrong. Everybody makes mistakes but Fox just does it waaaay too much.

I'll usually check the BBC or CNN's website during the week, and watch about 30 minutes of the Today Show. If there's a news story I want to watch on TV I'll go with either NBC or CNN.

EDIT: TV ratings prove popularity and not quality. American Idol is like the highest rated TV show and boy bands are some of the highest rated musicians. McDonald's is a popular restaurant and Wal-Mart is a popular store. Fox has killed some of the best TV shows ever because of low ratings which speaks volumes about who their audience is. :P

FOX News is very good at providing support for those who agree with the hardcore right wing spin FOX News consistantly demonstrates. It is like those who worship at only the church of whatever they believe. It serves the purpose of helping them to feel right and gives them ammunition against those who disagree. If you have formed your opinions and intend to stand by them, it makes perfect sense to wear the blinders provided by attending only to those with whom you agree.

Mark, you ask this question as if your attitudes lie in some murky grey area. Your attempts at running jive by those who know better have lost their edge.

when i do get to watch news, i do watch fox. it is one of the few networks that will have comments from both sides of the aisle. i know that they are bias for the "right" they admit that. on the other hand the the "new york times and washington post" swear they are fair and are not, very often not even publishing stories against any liberal. we could agrue all day about who is more fair. one side note even as far right as hannity is, he still has guests on from both sides. i used to be a republican, i now consider myself a conservative first and foremost because of the party chiefs moving far away from conservative views.
this should prove to be a very good thread.

Liberals make up 65% of the people who watch Fox. I don't always agree with all the guys on Fox but to say that one needs to ignore them because they are not "real" news is self serving. Acorn was not even covered by the majority of the "real" news channels along with many other things. They did bash Bush when he was president. What gripes me about liberal political hacks is that when one of "theirs" gets caught with their hand in the cookie jar they have excuses why they should keep their office. In contrast when a Republican get caught they want to hang him from the nearest tree.

I am a Conservative who believes the when one steals, cheats on his wife, or lies that is what was done... he or she has stolen, cheated on his wife and lied....throw them out!


Later,
Richard

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Originally Posted by riooso

I am a Conservative who believes the when one steals, cheats on his wife, or lies that is what was done... he or she has stolen, cheated on his wife and lied....throw them out!

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There would be no one left to mind the store . :eek:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

There would be no one left to mind the store . :eek:

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Then so be it! We need people in office that have worked for a living and had to make it on their own. Our founding fathers thought that politicians were the scourge of the earth and should be watched at all times. They stated in the Constitution that the power of the government came from the people not the government, something that the present people in power are about to learn! Arrogant As.....wipes!

Take Care,
Richard

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

There would be no one left to mind the store . :eek:

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well said as most are crooks anymore. both sides of the aisle.:D

Please see companion poll at http://straightrazorpalace.com/conve...-nbc-news.html

I tend to follow the Hoglahoo Always Reporting (HAR) network.

That hoglahoo is always right in the middle of whatever is going on, and his accurate and unbiased reporting is uncanny!

So, fox news? I couldn't be bothered :p On my television, I get CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and the local government station for news, but I rarely watch any of them.

Once in a great while I will go to the news to see if something from HAR is going to show up (car ran off road by another idiot driver, run on buffet forces restaurant to close early, etc) but other than that I get my news from SRP

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I tend to follow the Hoglahoo Always Reporting (HAR) network .... hoglahoo is always right

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Wouldn't that make it the "HAR HAR" network?

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... other than that I get my news from SRP

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Well then, have I got news for you --- I actually read something on SRP which I believe was WRONG! I hate to be the one to break THAT news to you.

The only true fair and balanced news network: The Onion - America's Finest News Source

There have been periodic revolutions in the news media. One could point to the rise of the anchorman, feature stories a la 60 Minutes, the 24-hour news cycle, the rise of infotainment (or "opinion" shows on a supposed news network), etc.

Without (or before) turning this into too much of a Fox-slamming post, let me say where I'm coming from. For the last 13 years or so, I've only had sporadic access to TVs. I didn't have one in my dorm room in college. There was one in my first apartment (shared with 3 other people), but I watched little other than occasionally flipping to CNN to catch the headlines. I didn't have one in the first house I shared. I don't have one now.

That's not to say that I never watched television. The one in the kitchen at my parents' house was often on when I'd visit. Many of my friends had the TV running when we'd get together, and it seems there's usually one somewhere in the background in many pubs.

However, without tuning in consistently, I was almost always shocked each time at how something had changed. Imagine seeing a young child only several times a year - "wow, he's really grown". Except, in this case, it was almost always, "ugh, what the hell is that?!" I don't know if Fox started it first, but I find the push towards WHOOSHing transitional graphics (i.e. waving flags and explosions) and whatnot between stories almost as infuriating as seeing veins bulging on a talking head. Nevermind the way content might be slanted, it's the other constant attempts to sway the viewer's emotions back and forth that really p*sses me off. Why does the news need to tell us how to feel about something?

Other problems I have with the news in general, or Fox specifically:

1. Most issues are NOT simple. Reducing any dialogue to a heated argument, shout-you-down format means that viewers lose site of the fact that anything could be nuanced. Instead, they're simply grinning and cheering clever, often mean-spirited retorts. This is a dumbing-down.

2. Mixing basic news services with opinion shows on the same network, then ensuring continuity between the two based on similar topics, graphics (i.e. the ticker at the bottom), etc. only serves to further blur the already blurry distinction. This is dishonest (and a dumbing-down).

3. I saw blatant partisanship on Fox first. Might have been an opinion show, the news service, or some bastard offspring, but I could watch for three seconds and tell you that it was grossly manipulative, then another three and see that it was clearly, hugely right-wing. Talking heads were snarling about Democrats and liberals ages before I heard the likes of Maddow or Olberman mention anything specific about Republicans or conservatives. I believe Fox is so consistent about this that the balance between the two is still out of balance - even stacking Fox up alone against the 3 or 4 other major networks.

4. The sudden advent and meteoric rise of the young, glamorous, ultra-conservative hotties. Puhleeze. I don't blame them personally for grabbing a mealticket and riding it for all it's worth, but the less they look like the love child of Margaret Thatcher and William F. Buckley, the less I believe a word they say.

I could go on, but I happened to eat a large quantity of bacon today, and this line of thinking can't be healthy. In conclusion, I feel the news media in America is so far removed from the way it ought to function in a healthy democracy that any attempt to defend any of it is laughable. That said, Fox is by far the worst offender of the bunch, so I have no problem using it as the scapegoat for most of my complaints.

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Originally Posted by northpaw

...WHOOSHing transitional graphics (i.e. waving flags and explosions) and whatnot between stories...

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Adam,

Attachment 34118

That is a very thoughtful post

Attachment 34119

And I thank you for it :)

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Originally Posted by icedog

Mark, you ask this question as if your attitudes lie in some murky grey area. Your attempts at running jive by those who know better have lost their edge.

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Murky? How so? Tell me what it is you are referring to so that I can unmurkify my thoughts and attitudes for you.

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Adam,

That is a very thoughtful post

And I thank you for it :)

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Very funny! Is there a groaning emoticon somewhere...

Fox News: We alter Reality, you are sold a preconceived narrative.


Hulu - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Sean Hannity Apologizes to Jon

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I believe that most of the News we get here in the states is slanted and extremely biased and while Fox obviously has its opinion shows that are very conservative to just right of moderate I believe there actual news is fairly even handed.

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There was a good episode of either Daily Show or Colbert that mentioned this. They were responding to one of the "opinion" guys making that same argument.

So they ran a clip of Fox News "Opinion guys" making some absurd claim that was completely unfounded and obviously wrong.

...


Then they ran about two dozen clips of their "News" guys doing reports on how "Some are saying..." or "Some are accusing..." etc.

Made the News/Opinion distinction pretty laughable.

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Originally Posted by IanS

Fox News: We alter Reality, you are sold a preconceived notion.


Hulu - The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Sean Hannity Apologizes to Jon

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This reflects on Sean Hannity who does not have a news program but rather an opinion program.

My question concerned the actual news.

Edited above post to address that while you were posting.

I was also WATCHING Fox (flipping channel, stopped on story) news the first time (I'm aware of) where they labeled a disgraced Republican with a D.

I looked at the screen, squinted, did a "wut", then went online and looked for a correction or apology.


They've since done that at least once more (In the NEWS segment) that I've heard of, and I've yet to hear of a correction or apology.

Someone mentioned that they make more factual errors than any other network. I don't watch them, so I can't make that claim myself. But, based on that error alone; well, they're either totally incompetent, or they are underhanded with absolutely no respect for their audience. I mean how do you even MAKE that mistake. Or if it's intentional, how do you even expect to get away with that?


As for news, I read the papers mostly. Yes I'm an old fart that way.

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Originally Posted by IanS

I was also WATCHING Fox (flipping channel, stopped on story) news the first time (I'm aware of) where they labeled a disgraced Republican with a D.

I looked at the screen, squinted, did a "wut", then went online and looked for a correction or apology.


They've since done that at least once more (In the NEWS segment) that I've heard of, and I've yet to hear of a correction or apology.

Someone mentioned that they make more factual errors than any other network. I don't watch them, so I can't make that claim myself. But, based on that error alone; well, they're either totally incompetent, or they are underhanded with absolutely no respect for their audience. I mean how do you even MAKE that mistake. Or if it's intentional, how do you even expect to get away with that?


As for news, I read the papers mostly. Yes I'm an old fart that way.

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Based on this then you have a poor opinion of most if not all news sources in America.
I haven't seen FOX news on TV for probably 3 years now but I do peak at there website frequently. If what you mention is a regular occurrence then I am with you 100% but as I hinted at in starting this thread I do not trust any news source but as far as I can see Fox does an overall fair job with the news.

The major media has such a socialist bias and blatantly ignores even huge stories that you couldn't miss it if you couldn't miss a bowling ball in a bath tub. Fortunately there is a balance, and FOX IS the balance. There is no cable out here where I'm at and I don't care to spend money on Dish but I have seen it and would watch it if I had it, I have to work to pay for my razors. :)

Bingo, JMS. 24hr news networks have two options.

1. Sell a position.
2. Become a tabloid.

Because 24 hours that are actually news would fail. One hour of news is depressing enough.

MSNBC -> Liberal
Fox -> Republican
CNN -> Tabloid

Even if they do just report the news without inflecting their bias on it, they all blatantly demonstrate bias by focusing on certain stories more than they deserve. Basically watching any news network, I get the impression they are trying to sell me something. Which I don't get when I read the news.

George Bush was made in TEXAS! And you know those Texans make good stuff!

I couldn't resist.

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Originally Posted by IanS

Bingo, JMS. 24hr news networks have two options.


George Bush was made in TEXAS! And you know those Texans make good stuff!

I couldn't resist.

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please, please DO NOT say anything about AL GORE being from Tennessee, we are embarrassed and apologize for the "inconvenience" of letting him out of the state.

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Originally Posted by riooso

Then so be it! We need people in office that have worked for a living and had to make it on their own. Our founding fathers thought that politicians were the scourge of the earth and should be watched at all times. They stated in the Constitution that the power of the government came from the people not the government, something that the present people in power are about to learn! Arrogant As.....wipes!

Take Care,
Richard

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While I know some of them came from humble beginnings am I mistaken in thinking that all of them are at least millionaires ? What does a millionaire know about worrying about keeping their health insurance and paying the mortgage ? By and large I don't feel that these people represent the common working person in this country. President Calvin Coolidge said, "The business of America is business." That is who I think gets to call the shots. Money talks and BS walks.

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Originally Posted by 59caddy

please, please DO NOT say anything about AL GORE being from Tennessee, we are embarrassed and apologize for the "inconvenience" of letting him out of the state.

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We don't hold that against you Scott. :)

Glen Beck rocks, if you don't believe me, ask Anita Hill

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Originally Posted by Navaja

Glen Beck rocks, if you don't believe me, ask Anita Hill

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

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Originally Posted by majurey

Ratings is not a guarantee of quality though.

What about the news though?

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Are you saying Laurie Dhue is not quality?;):D


Is she still on FOX?

Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, et al., have gotten quite wealtlhy by stroking and misdirecting the public's frustration and anger. The more outrageous the claims of these peddlers of misinformation, the more money they make. Read about their lifestyles and tell me they're not interested in the money. Living among the "rich and famous," there is no way they can actually relate to the people they claim to represent.

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Originally Posted by sffone

Glenn Beck, Ann Coulter, et al., have gotten quite wealtlhy by stroking and misdirecting the public's frustration and anger. The more outrageous the claims of these peddlers of misinformation, the more money they make. Read about their lifestyles and tell me they're not interested in the money. Living among the "rich and famous," there is no way they can actually relate to the people they claim to represent.

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True or not this is a subject for another thread. In fact, if someone doesn't start that thread soon I might have to myself:beer2:

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Originally Posted by sffone

Read about their lifestyles and tell me they're not interested in the money. Living among the "rich and famous," there is no way they can actually relate to the people they claim to represent.

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I doubt they would deny being interested in money. They are probably quite proud (and rightly so) that they have "made it big". I think the people they represent are those who also see nothing wrong with "making it big" and would rather the government leave them alone so they can pursue their own goals unhindered.

That used to be the "American Dream", as opposed to getting yourself accepted into some grievance group and expecting a hand-out, or thinking that is or should be everyone's goal and being surprised, sometimes even offended, when the rubes don't vote that way.

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Originally Posted by TexasBob

I doubt they would deny being interested in money. They are probably quite proud (and rightly so) that they have "made it big". I think the people they represent are those who also see nothing wrong with "making it big" and would rather the government leave them alone so they can pursue their own goals unhindered.

That used to be the "American Dream", as opposed to getting yourself accepted into some grievance group and expecting a hand-out, or thinking that is or should be everyone's goal and being surprised, sometimes even offended, when the rubes don't vote that way.

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TexasBob, since you make your point very clearly I nominate you to start that thread.
Will anyone second my nomination?

- - - - Second.

"If you do not read the papers you are uninformed, if you do read the papers you are misinformed." Twain

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Originally Posted by TexasBob

I doubt they would deny being interested in money. They are probably quite proud (and rightly so) that they have "made it big". I think the people they represent are those who also see nothing wrong with "making it big" and would rather the government leave them alone so they can pursue their own goals unhindered.

That used to be the "American Dream", as opposed to getting yourself accepted into some grievance group and expecting a hand-out, or thinking that is or should be everyone's goal and being surprised, sometimes even offended, when the rubes don't vote that way.

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There's nothing wrong with wanting to make money. That wasn't my point. My point was that people like Beck make a lot of money from getting other people worked up and agitated (and the record is pretty clear on that score). Therefore, agitation, in and of itself become the driving motivation and real political discourse falls to the wayside because people too often get caught up in the inflammatory rhetoric and don't fully examine the issues.