At a recent lawsuit trying to hold Fox accountable for its lies, specifically Tucker Carlson, the defense was that Fox is entertainment and not required to tell the truth. That alone should eliminate them from the WH press room.
Something needs to be done on a federal level or this will be a constant threat to democracy, made worse by social media. Reinstating the Fairness Doctrine is only the beginning. Otherwise, at some point somebody smarter and way more savvy than Trump will achieve their dictatorial fever dream in America.
After Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal and NY Post turned on Trump I was slightly hopeful that maybe the Murdochs were realizing they were killing the goose that laid their golden egg and would rein in the extremism. All those corporate leaders who have vowed to stop funding extremists need to be pressured to denounce Fox and vow to never advertise there or on any other media outlet that spews lies and hatreds.
Meanwhile the mainstream media seems to be getting back to its old ways of emphasizing conflict and the negatives . The Post’s top headline is “In first full day in office, Biden faces multiple crises”, not “On his first day Biden invokes the Defense Production Act” or “offers a comprehensive plan to defeat the pandemic” or any number of positive choices. The next headline is about how Biden’s LGBTQ protections have angered conservatives, as if that needed to be pointed out. Then comes an article about the National Guard complaining about being put in the Senate Parking garage instead of continuing to protect our Capitol, and one about the GOP trying to delay the impeachment trial not, for example, how the House is preparing its case while in recess. I had to get halfway down the page to get positive headlines — Biden increasing federal food benefits and Biden removing Trump’s Voice of America picks with no mention of Republican outrage. There is also a headline about Fauci feeling “unshackled” but that seems flippant and shallow given that he is facing another 100,000 deaths in the next few weeks.
It’s as if the headline writers are trying to destroy any hope readers have of fixing this mess which will only empower Republicans. How can they not make Biden enacting the Defense Production Act the headline instead of saying what everyone knows — Biden is facing multiple crises. Duh!
A really great, yet bone chilling read, Eric, and in case we were momentarily tempted to relax our guard in a wash of Inauguration day good feeling, it is a salutary and indeed necessary reminder that the hard right wing is by no means in retreat......
Fox “News” is the enemy of the People. I have a conspiracy theory person in my life. She believes that pedophiles have taken over the Public School system and NAMBLA has decided the curriculum should include teaching transgender and gender fluid information to kindergarteners. They are doing this with math problems. WTF! This shit is just plain crazy. Where the hell do they get this info? It’s insane. Yes, she is a Trumper.
The remedy is not in the Fairness Doctrine, as again, Cable is not under the control of the FCC, it is with the FCC itself. Cable news needs some regulation. (Also, remember that the Fairness Doctrine only said Both Sides... and where have we heard that before?)
This is extremely alarming. We know Geraldo Rivera was assimilated long ago but where does Chris Wallace stand in all this. Is he on his way out too? Can the FCC force Fox to put up a banner occasionally indicating that their broadcasts are opinion and for entertainment purposes only. The White House can ban Fox News from press conferences but will they? Have they done so with OAN and Newsmax TV? Democrats have to put their foot down. This decision will continue to divide this country? Stupid me, I honestly thought Fox could have used this election result as a stepping stone to real journalism. That's as dumb as thinking Mitch McConnell will start working across the aisle. We the people need to pressure corporate sponsors of Fox News. Hit them below the belt, their wallet.
You're absolutely right about Fox. As you pointed out in an earlier piece, they're losing ratings. OAN and Newsmax are just right wing fan fiction and Fox needs to keep up. The Obama White House tried to ban Fox and there was an outcry from actual news outlets and the public. Can the Biden White House do it without causing the same and, of course, the hypocritical cries of, "What about unity?"
Also, do you know if the OAN "reporter" that was relegated to the depths of the press room is still there?
This piece addresses a bit part of the problem with the political media. Yesterday's incredibly stupid question about Democrats and "unity" in the White House press briefing came from someone at The New York Times. At that paper, they're supposed to know better. They don't, for a couple of reasons. One is that the questioner and the other correspondents at the White House cover politics--the investigative side is the group that did the great work on the previous maladministration. They're too busy thinking about the superficial.
The other is that this is how Fux Noise drives the narrative, prompting supposed journalists who should know better to be enemies of their own profession. To put it another way, 81 million voters saved the First Amendment for a political media that did not deserve it.
You're so right about Fox, Eric, and it just goes to show that it's simply all about profits, no longer about sincere news gathering... Not that it's really been for Fox at all... But, as you said, there was a small portion of it that tried. It's funny that, in a way, our biggest threat is from an Australian rather than a Russian!
Also, good to hear about Biden purging the VOA — that organization has gone through some truly unnecessary controversy, thanks to Trump and the lackeys he appointed to lead it. I'm also looking forward to seeing what Biden's going to do with the FCC, now that Ajit Pai is gone, thank goodness. He should give the job to former FCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn, not just as a thank you because she's Congressman James Clyburn's daughter, but she was one of the Democratic commissioners who was really outspoken against the Trump-y actions of Pai and made a name for herself totally separate from her father.
Changing gears: don't 'cha just love this CNN headline today, "Prospects of convicting Trump erode as GOP grows vocal against Senate impeachment proceedings"...? I mean, really, guys? The piece was cowritten by Manu Raju, who I used to think was terrific — but in the past year he has gotten so damn cynical. I don't know If CNN ask him to be like that and/or he's just trying to make a bigger name for himself. But he tries to kick up drama all the time now, at the expense of evenhanded journalism.
But you know what's weird? Same day, CNN publishes this: "McConnell privately says he wants Trump gone as Republicans quietly lobby him to convict.". Two competing headlines in the same news organization! smh
When Fox News violated the UK's broadcasting rules, (2017?) a Hannity broadcast and a Carlson broadcast (big surprise there), Ofcom, a UK media watchdog, promulgated the violation through BBC News. Regarding Hannity, Ofcom said they had taken into account "that Fox News is a US news channel, directed at US audiences, which is available in the UK. The people who watch it in the UK are aware that it is a US channel and their expectations are different."
Yes, they are aware it is full of lies. So why aren't so many Americans?
At a recent lawsuit trying to hold Fox accountable for its lies, specifically Tucker Carlson, the defense was that Fox is entertainment and not required to tell the truth. That alone should eliminate them from the WH press room.
Something needs to be done on a federal level or this will be a constant threat to democracy, made worse by social media. Reinstating the Fairness Doctrine is only the beginning. Otherwise, at some point somebody smarter and way more savvy than Trump will achieve their dictatorial fever dream in America.
After Murdoch’s Wall Street Journal and NY Post turned on Trump I was slightly hopeful that maybe the Murdochs were realizing they were killing the goose that laid their golden egg and would rein in the extremism. All those corporate leaders who have vowed to stop funding extremists need to be pressured to denounce Fox and vow to never advertise there or on any other media outlet that spews lies and hatreds.
Meanwhile the mainstream media seems to be getting back to its old ways of emphasizing conflict and the negatives . The Post’s top headline is “In first full day in office, Biden faces multiple crises”, not “On his first day Biden invokes the Defense Production Act” or “offers a comprehensive plan to defeat the pandemic” or any number of positive choices. The next headline is about how Biden’s LGBTQ protections have angered conservatives, as if that needed to be pointed out. Then comes an article about the National Guard complaining about being put in the Senate Parking garage instead of continuing to protect our Capitol, and one about the GOP trying to delay the impeachment trial not, for example, how the House is preparing its case while in recess. I had to get halfway down the page to get positive headlines — Biden increasing federal food benefits and Biden removing Trump’s Voice of America picks with no mention of Republican outrage. There is also a headline about Fauci feeling “unshackled” but that seems flippant and shallow given that he is facing another 100,000 deaths in the next few weeks.
It’s as if the headline writers are trying to destroy any hope readers have of fixing this mess which will only empower Republicans. How can they not make Biden enacting the Defense Production Act the headline instead of saying what everyone knows — Biden is facing multiple crises. Duh!
A really great, yet bone chilling read, Eric, and in case we were momentarily tempted to relax our guard in a wash of Inauguration day good feeling, it is a salutary and indeed necessary reminder that the hard right wing is by no means in retreat......
Stay well, and keep on keeping us aware.
Fox “News” is the enemy of the People. I have a conspiracy theory person in my life. She believes that pedophiles have taken over the Public School system and NAMBLA has decided the curriculum should include teaching transgender and gender fluid information to kindergarteners. They are doing this with math problems. WTF! This shit is just plain crazy. Where the hell do they get this info? It’s insane. Yes, she is a Trumper.
The FCC has no sway over the cable networks, only broadcast. But if they did, I would question the part about <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/broadcasting-false-information”>broadcasting false information that causes substantial public harm</a>.
The remedy is not in the Fairness Doctrine, as again, Cable is not under the control of the FCC, it is with the FCC itself. Cable news needs some regulation. (Also, remember that the Fairness Doctrine only said Both Sides... and where have we heard that before?)
This is extremely alarming. We know Geraldo Rivera was assimilated long ago but where does Chris Wallace stand in all this. Is he on his way out too? Can the FCC force Fox to put up a banner occasionally indicating that their broadcasts are opinion and for entertainment purposes only. The White House can ban Fox News from press conferences but will they? Have they done so with OAN and Newsmax TV? Democrats have to put their foot down. This decision will continue to divide this country? Stupid me, I honestly thought Fox could have used this election result as a stepping stone to real journalism. That's as dumb as thinking Mitch McConnell will start working across the aisle. We the people need to pressure corporate sponsors of Fox News. Hit them below the belt, their wallet.
You're absolutely right about Fox. As you pointed out in an earlier piece, they're losing ratings. OAN and Newsmax are just right wing fan fiction and Fox needs to keep up. The Obama White House tried to ban Fox and there was an outcry from actual news outlets and the public. Can the Biden White House do it without causing the same and, of course, the hypocritical cries of, "What about unity?"
Also, do you know if the OAN "reporter" that was relegated to the depths of the press room is still there?
In the UK, misinformation by the media is met with large fines. Just a thought.
This piece addresses a bit part of the problem with the political media. Yesterday's incredibly stupid question about Democrats and "unity" in the White House press briefing came from someone at The New York Times. At that paper, they're supposed to know better. They don't, for a couple of reasons. One is that the questioner and the other correspondents at the White House cover politics--the investigative side is the group that did the great work on the previous maladministration. They're too busy thinking about the superficial.
The other is that this is how Fux Noise drives the narrative, prompting supposed journalists who should know better to be enemies of their own profession. To put it another way, 81 million voters saved the First Amendment for a political media that did not deserve it.
30,573. Fox pretty much gave credence to them all. The network is nothing but a tabloid.
Watch out for brigading, PressRun is a featured source link on https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/fox-news-is-a-hazard-to-our-democracy-its-time-to-take-the-fight-to-the-murdochs-heres-how/2021/01/22/1821f186-5cbe-11eb-b8bd-ee36b1cd18bf_story.html
You're so right about Fox, Eric, and it just goes to show that it's simply all about profits, no longer about sincere news gathering... Not that it's really been for Fox at all... But, as you said, there was a small portion of it that tried. It's funny that, in a way, our biggest threat is from an Australian rather than a Russian!
Also, good to hear about Biden purging the VOA — that organization has gone through some truly unnecessary controversy, thanks to Trump and the lackeys he appointed to lead it. I'm also looking forward to seeing what Biden's going to do with the FCC, now that Ajit Pai is gone, thank goodness. He should give the job to former FCC commissioner Mignon Clyburn, not just as a thank you because she's Congressman James Clyburn's daughter, but she was one of the Democratic commissioners who was really outspoken against the Trump-y actions of Pai and made a name for herself totally separate from her father.
Changing gears: don't 'cha just love this CNN headline today, "Prospects of convicting Trump erode as GOP grows vocal against Senate impeachment proceedings"...? I mean, really, guys? The piece was cowritten by Manu Raju, who I used to think was terrific — but in the past year he has gotten so damn cynical. I don't know If CNN ask him to be like that and/or he's just trying to make a bigger name for himself. But he tries to kick up drama all the time now, at the expense of evenhanded journalism.
But you know what's weird? Same day, CNN publishes this: "McConnell privately says he wants Trump gone as Republicans quietly lobby him to convict.". Two competing headlines in the same news organization! smh
Where did you go to journalism school Eric Boehlert? You give an opinion without facts and counter facts you are an echo in an echo chamber of hatred.
When Fox News violated the UK's broadcasting rules, (2017?) a Hannity broadcast and a Carlson broadcast (big surprise there), Ofcom, a UK media watchdog, promulgated the violation through BBC News. Regarding Hannity, Ofcom said they had taken into account "that Fox News is a US news channel, directed at US audiences, which is available in the UK. The people who watch it in the UK are aware that it is a US channel and their expectations are different."
Yes, they are aware it is full of lies. So why aren't so many Americans?
I'm sorry but is this actually a serious article.
Fox has its faults however it reported fairly in the Russia and Ukraine situations for trump. Also the Hunter laptop.
CNN and MSNBC have reported many falsehoods the last 4years yet this article does not discuss them.
I'm afraid it is impossible to judge this article and author as nothing more than bias hacks and leftist Propoganda.