If fox news went under suddenly

[Iahotdog]

I think about 75% of the countries problems would disappear. I can't believe that 40% of the country are dumb enough to believe the bullshit they spew.

[pennylane100]

1. I did not realize it was that high.

[ProudLib72]

2. Or they might just take up harder drugs, like InfoWars nt

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Infowars: The bath salts of 'news'

Bad trip any way you look at it.

[appalachiablue]

4. Agree, why don't more people on the left see & do smthg. to counter it.

The usual claims why nada should be done are problematic.

[CrispyQ]

22. Fox is the evil spawn of hate radio.

The dems/left have ignored hate radio for over three decades & still do. I don't get it either & it infuriates me.

[appalachiablue]

24. Same here. Down thread there are comments that another outfit

would just fill the void if Fox went down. A new one to me. So apparently Nothing can be done about the Behemoth. Curious and awful.

[Blaukraut]

5. Better solution: A silent takeover of Fox News and gradual change in programming

Slooowly moving into the realm of real news, but it has to be so gradual as to not lose viewers. Instead, they are systematically reprogrammed.

[diane in sf]

6. I like your idea, that's what it would take, surreptitious reprogramming.

[pangaia]

11. it is how the sick right took over the country over a period of some 35-40 years.

[Different Drummer]

7. Agree with you--on both statements. n/t

[Upthevibe]

8. I have this fantasy on any given day...

IMHO, they have been instrumental in getting us where we are now....

[underpants]

9. Something would immediately fill the void.

Too much money to be made. If you want to know the root of the news for profit era look no further than 60 Minutes - it was the first news program to turn a profit. It's been nothing but tits car crashes and if it bleeds it leads since then.

[politicaljunkie41910]

10. My thoughts exactly; you've got a readymade audience devoid of any appetite for facts and real news.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

[Duppers]

18. No. You've not watched their reporting on

- Pharmaceutical companies
- Auto manufacturers
- defective medical devices
- Pope Francis
- zoos
- dementia and Alzheimer's
- They just covered Betsy DeVos's racket in privatizing schools.

DUers have posted about these programs, only a few of which have been criticism. Could you be thinking of the RW shitshow 20/20?

Some of their reporting has been fluff but a good portion is worth watching.

Edited to add that you must disagree with the Peabody Awards Committee:

Peabody jurors also announced an Institutional Award to “60 Minutes,” one of the nation’s most enduring media institutions celebrating 50 years on the air. Since its debut, the CBS News “magazine for television” has become nothing less than a touchstone in American life, regularly pursuing investigations that lead to legal action, catalyze social change, and illuminate dark government secrets. A previous recipient of more than 20 Peabody Awards, “60 Minutes” consistently delivers hard-hitting, exclusive, thoroughly reported stories that help the American citizenry better understand phenomena as varied as Watergate, Abu Ghraib, symphonic orchestras in the Congo, and cocaine smuggling by the CIA."
4/24/2018

http://peabodyawards.com/stories/story/news-radio-podcast-and-public-service-winners-named

[VOX]

20. Yep. Plenty of nutcase bilionaires (i.e. the Mercers, etc.) who would bankroll 24/7 disinformation.

You're 100% correct, sadly enough.

[Liberty Belle]

12. No, now you have Sinclair Broadcasting that is even worse and owns lots of stations.

They force their news anchors to read White House propaganda and give local affiliates no option to refuse. While Fox News national is bad, some of the local affiliates are better (San Diego's being an example). Sinclair is as bad as it gets, and they've been seeking a merger that would them into 70% of U.S. markets.

[Pepsidog]

13. Yes and Sinclair is bringing its Fox like act to local stations.

Just imagine what your local station will look like under Sinclair. Local news, sports and weather tinged with a healthy dose of that special kind of evil right-wing conspiracy, nutjob thought.

[stevenleser]

17. Also note The Blaze and NewsMax would happily step in. They are trying to take market share

away from Fox even now.

[VOX]

21. Weaponized disinformation. State-run media. "Freedom is Slavery."

Our country's democracy is being tested like never before. And it's not going to be resolved overnight. There is a staggering amount of money backing fascism even as I type this.

[Blue Owl]

14. Would that it were so

[Turbineguy]

15. Sounds about right.

They could just take the money and go home.

If they only didn't hate the U.S. so much.

[BobTheSubgenius]

16. An on-air "personality" of Clearchannel once suggested to his listeners that cyclists...

... were deserving of physical harm. His suggestion was for motorists or their passengers to throw their empty bottles at cyclists as they pass. them.

A smug and near-giddy teenage girl phoned in, all proud and happy that her father had run a cyclist off the road on their way to church that day. I kid you not.

[Duppers]

19. 40% of the country's IQ is less than 95.

[brooklynite]

23. You're wrong...

It's easy to blame Fox News for it's message, but all it really does is reinforce the beliefs of it's audience. Fox is already under competition by One America News and Newsmax; someone would step in to fill the gap.