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February 09, 2008
Guest Blogger Supports Fox News
Neil Derrough, former president of the CBS Television Stations Division writes a thoughtful defense of FOX News, which follows.
The post asking for ”useful discourse” prompts me to question if what he really wants is to just ignore a clear matter of fact. Many associated with administrations have had meaningful jobs in the media for years. Granted, Rove is a former member of the present administration and that may touch a nerve. But it certainly doesn’t disqualify him from offering his insight any more than the Clinton administration’s Balgala or Carville offering theirs. But I submit, Rove is not what most troubles the legion of Fox News critics. The problem for most who protest so vigorously is that Fox News is there at all.
Let’s say that Fox News is more right than left. Would most agree that CNN and MSNBC are more left than right? That would depend on who was asked. I suspect the so-called mainstream media would say they are neutral. That too would draw an outcry from a sizable number of people. The hard question is, what shapes the opinions of Fox News? In my view it’s the commentators.
In your Media Curmudgeon post you singled out O’Reilly, you left out Hannity. In that they are the most highly rated cable commentators, they have an enormous bearing on the public’s and the media’s opinion of Fox News. However MSNBC offers up Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman. Any knowledgeable observer wouldn’t have them leaning right. It’s fair to say that all of these guys are in the opinion business. That’s a legitimate part of journalism. Therefore, no foul. MSNBC however, did have Matthews and Olberman moderate debates. That was a giant foul and a blemish for NBC News.
CNN is a harder case. They do have Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck. However, it doesn’t seem to me they shape to any great extent how people feel about CNN as much as the subtle but real left-leaning news presentation. This presentational left-leaning subtlety is at the heart the questions many have about the mainstream media in general.
The case against Fox News is an empty bag. Crying out because another news organization offers another option for news viewing is just nonsense. I don’t agree with everything Fox News does, but I do disagree with the concentrated effort to marginalize all that it does.
It has been substantiated that when an effort is made to analyze the news content of these organizations, not their commentators, a far less emotional conclusion is reached.
Posted by Charles Warner at February 9, 2008 10:02 PM
Comments
Media Curmudgeon ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mediacurmudgeon.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 11, 2008 02:22 PM writes:
Justin Frank writes:
"I have the simplest of questions: What is a commentator? Are they people who commentate? And what is the difference between commentate and comment?
That's just for starters.
An interesting post to be sure, especially since I've had similar experiences dealing with Middle East questions: A person favoring a two-state solution is seen by Israeli hardliners as being pro-palestinian. etc.
But Rove should be in jail. That is what makes it all so frustrating.
And Fox is not a news channel. There is no question about it. But then again, the NYT is also a private News publication that Abbe Hoffman said had "all the news that's shit to print."
I don't care, ultimately. I just wish there were more places for alternative views than Keith Olberman, Air America radio, and Jon Stewart.
The rest are anywhere from right to far right."
digibandit at February 10, 2008 11:38 PM writes:
At last - a balanced and reasonable and non-partisan response to the issue at hand.
thanks
dave nelson
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