Internal Email Reminds FoxNews Hacks Of "Standards" - Supposed to Be "Journalists", "Dispassionate"

[jefferson_dem]

Internal Fox News Email Addresses “Standards” After 9/12 Flap
by Steve Krakauer | 4:10 pm, September 21st, 2009

Mediaite has obtained an email from Fox News Vice President of News and Washington managing editor Bill Sammon to the staff of the D.C. bureau, in the wake of an FNC producer caught pumping up the crowd during the 9/12 tea party broadcast.

The email, with the subject line “standards,” addresses the controversy head-on: “We do not cheerlead for one cause or another,” writes Sammon. Full email after the jump:
Sammon uses the incident to drive home the need to be objective:

We do not rile up a crowd. If a crowd happens to be boisterous when we show it on TV, so be it. If it happens to be quiet, that’s fine, too. It’s not our job to affect the crowd’s behavior one way or the other. Again, we’re journalists, not participants — and certainly not performers.

It’s not like the crowd needed to be riled up – every time features reporter Griff Jenkins mentioned Glenn Beck there were loud cheers. And as TVNewser writes today, the practice is “fairly common.”

But in the wake of this controversial ad, which attacked their competitors for their poor coverage of the protest, the appearance of tampering with the crowd’s mood had to be addressed by Fox News.

Here’s the full email:

From: Sammon, Bill
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 2:25 PM
To: 005 -Washington
Subject: standards

For those of us who have only been at Fox for a relatively short period of time, it’s useful to remind ourselves that, as journalists, we must always be careful to cover the story without becoming part of the story. At news events, we’re supposed to function as dispassionate observers, not active participants. We are there to chronicle the news, not create it.

That means we ask questions in a fair, impartial manner. When approaching interviewees, we identify ourselves, by both name and news organization, up front. We seek out a variety of voices and views. We take note of the scene in order to bring color and context to our viewers.

We do not cheerlead for one cause or another. We do not rile up a crowd. If a crowd happens to be boisterous when we show it on TV, so be it. If it happens to be quiet, that’s fine, too. It’s not our job to affect the crowd’s behavior one way or the other. Again, we’re journalists, not participants — and certainly not performers.

Indeed, any effort to affect the crowd’s behavior only serves to undermine our legitimate journalistic role as detached eyewitnesses. Remember, our viewers are counting on us to be honest brokers when it comes to reporting — not altering –the important events of the day. That is nothing less than a sacred trust. We must always take pains to preserve that trust.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please stop by.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/internal-fox-email-addresses-standards-after-912-flap/

[babylonsister]

1. That's a joke, right? I think he's a tad too late.

:rofl:

[SpiralHawk]

2. Fox 'standards' = Republicon Pharisee Family Values

'nuf said.

[Laf.La.Dem.]

3. Standards??

Fox News = Standards:rofl:

[av8rdave]

4. Wow

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Turbineguy]

5. ".... please stop by..."

to pick up your pink slip.

[hobbit709]

6. They've got to be kidding.

FAUX NEWS has STANDARDS!?!?!?!?!
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[lapfog_1]

7. "it’s useful to remind ourselves that, as journalists, we must always be careful to cover the story

without becoming part of the story."

Words fail... journalists??? part of the story???

Just how sick in the head do you have to be to work at Faux?

[theothersnippywshrub]

8. This is a forgery. Probably written by Borat. While he was in Kenya. n/t

[Cha]

9. It either reads like the Onion or the biggest Orwellian Shite

to come down the path..like he knew this email would read by more than those who know it's written with a ;).

[GrilledCheeses]

19. +1

dead on.

It's comical.

[DKRC]

10. Cool! Email from an alternate reality

where FUX News is a legitimate news organization with real journalists!

:fistbump:

[sellitman]

11. A DUzy from Faux News!!!!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[mascarax]

12. Dear Bill Sammon, have you not seen "Outfoxed"?

It's available.
Think you need to catch up on your workplace!

("ask questions in a fair, impartial manner...do not cheerlead...honest brokers..." HONEST?!)

Too funny.

[polichick]

13. Do those fools really think of themselves as "journalists"??? nt

[hileeopnyn8d]

14. No way

This can't be real.

it’s useful to remind ourselves that, as journalists, we must always be careful to cover the story without becoming part of the story. At news events, we’re supposed to function as dispassionate observers, not active participants. We are there to chronicle the news, not create it.

Bwahahahaha!

We seek out a variety of voices and views. We take note of the scene in order to bring color and context to our viewers.

We do not cheerlead for one cause or another. We do not rile up a crowd.

It’s not our job to affect the crowd’s behavior one way or the other. Again, we’re journalists, not participants — and certainly not performers.

:rofl:

Someone needs to notify Glenn Beck.

[lumberjack_jeff]

15. Here's the original

Here’s the full email:

From: Sammon, Bill
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 2:25 PM
To: 005 -Washington
Subject: standards

For those of us who have only been at Fox for a relatively short period of time, it’s useful to remind ourselves that, as journalists, we must always be careful to cover the story without becoming part of the story. :rofl: At news events, we’re supposed to function as dispassionate observers, :spray: :rofl: not active participants. :rofl: :rofl: We are there to chronicle the news, not create it ;).

That means we ask questions in a fair, impartial manner. :dunce: When approaching interviewees, we identify ourselves, by both name and news organization, up front. We seek out a variety of voices and views. We take note of the scene in order to bring color :rofl: and context to our viewers.

We do not cheerlead for one cause or another. :rofl: :rofl: *gasp* :rofl: We do not rile up a crowd. :+ If a crowd happens to be boisterous when we show it on TV, so be it. If it happens to be quiet, that’s fine, too. It’s not our job to affect the crowd’s behavior one way or the other. Again, we’re journalists, not participants — and certainly not performers.

Indeed, any effort to affect the crowd’s behavior only serves to undermine our legitimate journalistic role as detached eyewitnesses. :7 Remember, our viewers are counting on us to be honest brokers }( when it comes to reporting — not altering –the important events of the day. That is nothing less than a sacred trust. :party: :bounce: We must always take pains :banghead: to preserve that trust.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please stop by. :sarcasm::dunce:

[BlooInBloo]

16. Nice of them to leak false emails so we can all commend them on their dedication.

[Kingofalldems]

17. Bingo--Another trick.

I think Sammon came directly from the Moonie paper if I am not mistaken.

[TomCADem]

18. I Wonder Whether He Ever Watched Glenn Beck

Maybe he is just upset that they got caught red handed.

[Phx_Dem]

20. This sentence negates every bit of bullshit in that memo:

It’s not like the crowd needed to be riled up – every time features reporter Griff Jenkins mentioned Glenn Beck there were loud cheers. And as TVNewser writes today, the practice is “fairly common.”

That sounds like promotion and 'support' to me.

Translation: We don't need to rile them up because they are already riled up just they way we want them to be.

[Zoeisright]

21. Who's this 'we' they keep rabbiting on about?

Doesn't sound like any repuke I have ever heard of.