Fox's blunder/Brushing aside a staffer's hoax - Strib editorial

[question everything]

startribune.com

Editorial: Fox's blunder/Brushing aside a staffer's hoax
Published October 8, 2004

One can only imagine how Fox News might cover the story if another network (say, CBS) had published a faked, President Bush-mocking report by a top correspondent -- then brushed it aside as an innocent prank.

After all, the alleged anti-Bush bias of other major media is a recurring theme at Fox. Indeed, it's the justification for Fox's proclaimed mission of providing "fair and balanced" coverage -- and a ready rejoinder when challenged for routinely displaying a right-wing, pro-Bush favoritism of its own.

But it wasn't a terribly serious matter at Fox when Carl Cameron, chief political correspondent, phonied up a story after last week's presidential debate in which John Kerry's was "quoted" as flaunting his great manicure and sex appeal to women.

(snip)

The problem with Cameron's stunt is that it gives the appearance, at least, of a disparaging attitude toward a presidential candidate he still covers. Serious journalists are more circumspect -- and when they voice a personal opinion that compromises their coverage, they can expect to face serious consequences.

(snip)

The handwringing and spitballing over Rather continue, including on foxnews.com, which on Monday published a column speculating that he will soon be "hung out to dry" by CBS. But Fox's own recent embarrassment is passing almost without notice in other media or public discussion. Perhaps that's because it didn't really come as a surprise.


http://www.startribune.com/stories/561/5021786.html

[RobertSeattle]

1. I can just see the RWers reading this

"Huh --- Rush, Hannity, Hume, O'Reilly, Savage didn't mention this - what are they talking about?"

[zbdent]

2. Reading? RWers? More like someone reading it to them.

And the reader is making less than minimum wage . . .

[alarcojon]

3. FOX gets to have it both ways

They get to masquerade as a real news organization, because they have the financial backing to at least look legit. But they don't get held to the same standards, because everyone knows they're biased.

I hope the incoming Kerry administration black-balls FOX from their press conferences. You should have to have some journalistic credentials to attend these.

[Brooklyn Michael]

4. Shutting out FOX

What a relief it will be to have a White House that actually doesn't fear addressing the press and knows the value of having open channels between it and the public. However, I wouldn't mind seeing a Kerry adminstration giving FOX a stiff arm, the way Shrub does to everyone BUT FOX....

[StlMo]

5. Fox gets caught lying and calls it a joke.

Fox might be a joke, but it's not funny.