Fair and Balanced? Bull!

Civicsman · 08-17-2010, 07:41 PM

In today's "you had to be brain dead not to know it all along" department.
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Fox News and Wall Street Journal parent company News Corp donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association in June, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported.

The media conglomerate, controlled by Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch, took advantage of the unlimited donations corporations can give to governors' associations (from Bloomberg BusinessWeek):

The Republicans' biggest corporate donor was New York-based News Corp. Teri Everett, a spokeswoman, said the company "actively supports organizations that advocate a pro-job, low tax, economic growth agenda."

"News Corporation believes in the power of free markets, and the RGA's pro-business agenda supports our priorities at this most critical time for our economy," a company spokesman told Smith.

The executive director of the Democratic Governors Association said, "By contributing $1 million to the Republican Governors Association, Fox has crossed a bright line. Fox can no longer pretend that it is a 'fair and balanced' news organization when Rupert Murdoch greenlights a million dollar contribution to defeat Democratic governors."

"Time and time again, Fox News has defended itself against accusations that it is nothing more than a tool of the Republican Party. We know now that the reality is so much worse: they're bankrolling the GOP. FOX's news division is ignoring the fact that its own parent company made a direct and unprecedented partisan contribution to defeat Democrats. This is hypocrisy at its worst, and is a sad day for all of us who believe that an independent and impartial media is vital to our democracy.

"Not only does this contribution severely compromise Fox's news reporting, but it even breaks Fox's own promise to its shareholders that it won't give money to benefit officeholders.

"While it might be naive to think this will ever happen, we can only hope that Fox will own up to the activities and that its stable of opinion hosts like Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly will do the right thing and call on their company to return the contribution."

The national press secretary of the Democratic National Committee said, "'Fair and balanced' has been rendered utterly meaningless. Any pretense that may have existed about the ties between Fox News and the Republican Party has been ripped violently away.

"No Republican who appears on Fox can be seen as answering to an independent press and all should appear with a disclaimer for who they truly are -- the favored candidate of the corporate-friendly network. No Fox News's political coverage can be seen as impartial and all of it should have a disclaimer for what it truly is -- partisan propaganda."

KSagal · 08-17-2010, 11:14 PM

Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't GE own NBC? Wasn't the chairman of GE appointed to President Obama's council because of his support during the campaign? Why no mention of this?

I know the usual idealogs who will refute this, but what about NBC push polls in favor of Obama Care?

ABC reported that even though the documents used to prove lies about George Bush were shown to be fake, and admitted they were fake, yet still reported that the lies were true anyway. Caught red handed, and still lied.

The owner of a company that owns a news corporation being political? I am sure that Ted Turner would find that preposterous!

Civicsman · 08-18-2010, 01:45 PM

Quote:

The owner of a company that owns a news corporation being political? I am sure that Ted Turner would find that preposterous! KSagal 8-17-2010

Quote:

Does pointing to the wrong actions of another justify doing the wrong thing? KSagal 8-12-2010

I guess the answer to the latter post might depend on who is doing the asking.

Personally, I am satisfied that the "fair and balanced" phrase of the Fox Conservative Entertainment Channel is now demonstrated to be nothing more than a marketing ploy. No one can ever claim again (legitimately) that Fox is anything more than a propaganda outlet.

emrnyc · 08-18-2010, 05:40 PM

If you don't like it ..... Change the channel....
It's still a Free Country.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Civicsman

I guess the answer to the latter post might depend on who is doing the asking.

Personally, I am satisfied that the "fair and balanced" phrase of the Fox Conservative Entertainment Channel is now demonstrated to be nothing more than a marketing ploy. No one can ever claim again (legitimately) that Fox is anything more than a propaganda outlet.

KSagal · 08-18-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Civicsman

I guess the answer to the latter post might depend on who is doing the asking.

Personally, I am satisfied that the "fair and balanced" phrase of the Fox Conservative Entertainment Channel is now demonstrated to be nothing more than a marketing ploy. No one can ever claim again (legitimately) that Fox is anything more than a propaganda outlet.

You posted many times that you dislike their news channel, and have said so for years. This is just one more chance for you bloviate about your prejudice.

Pointing out other political characters who also own news channels is not pointing to wrong behavior to justify it. I do not see this as wrong behavior.

I do find it shallow and disingenuous for you to claim to be so outraged when you find it at Fox, when it has been equally clear at news stations you like and refuse to denigrate for years. I do not claim it to be wrong, only you and only when those whom you do not like do it.

Civicsman · 08-18-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

You posted many times that you dislike their news channel, and have said so for years. This is just one more chance for you bloviate about your prejudice.

News Corp itself said the company "actively supports organizations that advocate a pro-job, low tax, economic growth agenda."

Bye bye "Fair and Balanced". They can say it. We know it's BS.

KSagal · 08-18-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Civicsman

News Corp itself said the company "actively supports organizations that advocate a pro-job, low tax, economic growth agenda."

Bye bye "Fair and Balanced". They can say it. We know it's BS.

Perhaps the millions and millions of viewers can make their own choice? Those millions of viewers have come from some where. Many may think they came from the other cable news networks who are hemorrhaging viewers.

Civicsman · 08-18-2010, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Perhaps the millions and millions of viewers can make their own choice?

I don't care whether half the world watches Fox. Who among them is ignorant enough to claim now that Fox is "fair and balanced".

KSagal · 08-18-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Civicsman

I don't care whether half the world watches Fox. Who among them is ignorant enough to claim now that Fox is "fair and balanced".

Six months ago, you would call any viewer who called Fox 'fair and balanced' ignorant, and that has not changed.

You are acting as if you have found some great epiphany. Anyone who reads your posts know it is more of the same. Surely nothing fair or balanced going on here...

Civicsman · 08-18-2010, 09:17 PM

Quote:

You are acting as if you have found some great epiphany.

Not at all, Karl. You just keep missing the point. For many people it has been obvious for years that Fox was the mouthpiece for a political activist.

The question is whether YOU (and your brethern) have had an epiphany.

For you, at least, it appears not. Do you still believe Fox is "fair and balanced?

08-17-2010, 07:41 PM	#1
Civicsman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Freedonia! Posts: 1,703	Fair and Balanced? Bull! In today's "you had to be brain dead not to know it all along" department. ------------------------------------------------------ Fox News and Wall Street Journal parent company News Corp donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association in June, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported. The media conglomerate, controlled by Chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch, took advantage of the unlimited donations corporations can give to governors' associations (from Bloomberg BusinessWeek): The Republicans' biggest corporate donor was New York-based News Corp. Teri Everett, a spokeswoman, said the company "actively supports organizations that advocate a pro-job, low tax, economic growth agenda." "News Corporation believes in the power of free markets, and the RGA's pro-business agenda supports our priorities at this most critical time for our economy," a company spokesman told Smith. The executive director of the Democratic Governors Association said, "By contributing $1 million to the Republican Governors Association, Fox has crossed a bright line. Fox can no longer pretend that it is a 'fair and balanced' news organization when Rupert Murdoch greenlights a million dollar contribution to defeat Democratic governors." "Time and time again, Fox News has defended itself against accusations that it is nothing more than a tool of the Republican Party. We know now that the reality is so much worse: they're bankrolling the GOP. FOX's news division is ignoring the fact that its own parent company made a direct and unprecedented partisan contribution to defeat Democrats. This is hypocrisy at its worst, and is a sad day for all of us who believe that an independent and impartial media is vital to our democracy. "Not only does this contribution severely compromise Fox's news reporting, but it even breaks Fox's own promise to its shareholders that it won't give money to benefit officeholders. "While it might be naive to think this will ever happen, we can only hope that Fox will own up to the activities and that its stable of opinion hosts like Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly will do the right thing and call on their company to return the contribution." The national press secretary of the Democratic National Committee said, "'Fair and balanced' has been rendered utterly meaningless. Any pretense that may have existed about the ties between Fox News and the Republican Party has been ripped violently away. "No Republican who appears on Fox can be seen as answering to an independent press and all should appear with a disclaimer for who they truly are -- the favored candidate of the corporate-friendly network. No Fox News's political coverage can be seen as impartial and all of it should have a disclaimer for what it truly is -- partisan propaganda."

08-17-2010, 11:14 PM	#2
KSagal Glides a lot, talks more... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Pelham, NH, USA. Posts: 10,356	Correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't GE own NBC? Wasn't the chairman of GE appointed to President Obama's council because of his support during the campaign? Why no mention of this? I know the usual idealogs who will refute this, but what about NBC push polls in favor of Obama Care? ABC reported that even though the documents used to prove lies about George Bush were shown to be fake, and admitted they were fake, yet still reported that the lies were true anyway. Caught red handed, and still lied. The owner of a company that owns a news corporation being political? I am sure that Ted Turner would find that preposterous! __________________ Karl Ian Sagal To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. "Well done is better than well said." (Ben Franklin) Bene factum melior bene dictum Proud past President of SEG America and member of the First Premier Segway Enthusiasts Group and subsequent ones as well.

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