It's Roger Ailes and Neil Cavuto the Wall Street Journal should fear

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/8815

It's Roger Ailes and Neil Cavuto the Wall Street Journal should fear
by Eric Boehlert | Jul 19 2007


Amidst Rupert Murdoch's full-court charm offensive to woo the trustees who control Dow Jones & Co. and its business journalism jewel, The Wall Street Journal, the media mogul's parent company, News Corp., took time out last week to announce that the Fox Business Network will begin broadcasting into 30 million cable television homes this October.

Days later, word leaked that Murdoch had finally reached an agreement in principle to purchase the Journal for $5 billion. The launching of FBN and the possible purchase of the Journal are inexorably linked; the latter would not have been pursued without the former. Murdoch wants to marry the Journal with the FBN to create a business news juggernaut, perhaps one day even adding "Journal" into the name of the all-business news network.

There's been lots of informed media chatter surrounding Murdoch's possible purchase of the Wall Street daily and whether the Australian-born press baron can be trusted to keep his political views and commercial considerations out of the Journal's print pages. And for good reason: It's hard to find many news properties that Murdoch has acquired and improved, journalistically. It's rather easy though, to find examples of news outlets he dumbed-down. (Most people don't even remember it, but before Murdoch bought the New York Post in the 1970s -- complete with his pledge not to alter it -- the daily was a great American tabloid. Now it's a right-wing gossip rag with an OK sports section.)

What's been missing from the stream of Murdoch-centered analysis, though, is a detailed discussion about the negative fallout the Journal faces from being so closely aligned with Fox News. And specifically, what's going to happen to the newspaper's integrity when it's used as a high-profile marketing tool to help boost the Fox Business Network, and, indirectly, Fox News.

Naturally, a partnership with the esteemed Wall Street Journal would give the fledgling FBN instant cachet. But what, in turn, would that partnership do to the Journal? I assume in time Journal reporters will appear on FBN, to discuss breaking news. And what about a blockbuster business story that crosses over into the mainstream news realm, will Journal reporters be forced to appear on Fox News as well? Will the Journal's Page 1 sleuths be sitting down on-air with trash talkers John Gibson and Bill O'Reilly?

There's no reason to think the new Fox Business Network will shed the telltale dishonesty that's been Fox News' trademark for years. After all, the new cable venture is being developed by Fox News boss and former Republican strategist Roger Ailes, and will be anchored by the proudly biased Neil Cavuto, who currently hosts a daily program on Fox News, Your World with Neil Cavuto. Both men have been instrumental in putting their stamp on the unique brand of faux journalism practiced at Fox News, which famously served as a cheerleading forum for the war with Iraq and where following last year's midterm elections, internal FNC marching orders were issued to anchors and reporters to, "be on the lookout for any statements from the Iraqi insurgents, who must be thrilled at the prospect of a Dem-controlled Congress."

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[HughBeaumont]

1. I don't get how someone can look at a loathsome asshole like Neil Cavuto . . .

and take what he says as gospel. It's astounding. This insufferable bastard can't even bullshit convincingly enough, let alone create the appearance of objectivity with any kind of success.

[babylonsister]

2. Me neither, though I know a few people who would swear by him.

I just got sent a Cal Thomas article from a 'friend' I deleted. I sent her a clip from a 'very conservative lawyer' who just happened to be on Bill Moyers' show. :rofl: Her reaction should be interesting. The last message she sent, when confronted with the thought of impeachment, was, "I'm sorry if you've been disappointed for 7 years, I haven't; he's OUR president." There's really no talking to people like that.

[HughBeaumont]

3. You gotta look at the 28%ers with pity. Or not.

Have fun with it. Ask her to name ONE correct thing he's done and then take a drink for each scripted talking point she lists ("He's made us safer", etc).

I'm thinking drunk in 15 minutes??

[babylonsister]

6. Yea, that might not be such a great idea!

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :rofl: But if we get into it again, I will ask her your question, because we know there is no answer to that what the answer is.
What's really weird is this woman used to be liberal, she's a retired art teacher, divorced, lived with my uncle for years, has a gay brother, all kinds of things that go against her current position. Maybe her age (in her mid-late 70s) and 9/11 scared her.:shrug: But she's not budging!

[indepat]

4. Gather you like Neil better than I

[babylonsister]

5. Why 'gather' that? I didn't write the article, I'm just the messenger. nt

[indepat]

7. Pardon the gaffe: I certainly dislike Neil as much, if not more, than the writer.