Glenn Beck’s Gold Deal Raising Questions at Fox

[L. Coyote]

Glenn Beck’s Gold Deal Raising Questions at Fox
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/14/business/media/14beck.html
By BILL CARTER
Published: December 13, 2009


Glenn Beck of Fox News often promotes gold as a hedge against economic collapse.

Most of those have concerned whether Mr. Beck, who often hails the virtue of buying gold on his Fox show (as a hedge against a coming economic collapse), had been identified as a “paid spokesman” for a company named Goldline International, which sells gold coins.

Joel Cheatwood, the senior vice president of development for Fox News, said the network’s legal department had recently sent a letter to Mr. Beck’s representatives “seeking clarification” about his work for Goldline.

“They sent back word that he is not a paid spokesman,” Mr. Cheatwood said.....

Fox News released a statement outlining its official policy about such issues: “Fox News prohibits any on-air talent from endorsing products or serving as a product spokesperson.”

Fox News stressed that it was not aware that Mr. Beck was listed on the Internet as a paid spokesman. ....................

[wtmusic]

1. If he's also invested in gold the SEC should be involved. nt

[otohara]

2. They All Do It

including Rhodes, Schultz, thom hartmann....

Beck goes overboard, but then I imagine he has the most to gain.

[Kolesar]

3. Jon Stewart reamed him good last week

"It may have been the letter from Fox News — or maybe a stinging piece last week about Mr. Beck’s gold associations on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” — that led to the change in the “paid spokesman” designation."

That video segment can be found at http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-10-2009/beck---not-so-mellow-gold

[wtmusic]

5. Hilarious.

Stewart and Colbert will save the country. :D

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. a conflict of interests he'll have to be fired

[fl_dem]

6. I wish

However the righ wing so often takes the stance of hands over ears. eyes closed while saying la la la la when it comes to their "own".

[HughMoran]

7. I have a lot of faith in a guy named "Cheatwood" to get to the bottom of things at "Faux"

:eyes:

[gratuitous]

8. Yeah, sure it's raising questions

Like, "How can I use my position to score a sweet endorsement deal, too?" The idea that anyone at Fox could be subject to standard ethical inquiries is laughable on its face.

[UTUSN]

9. Being "not aware" is the definition of "asking questions"?!1 n/t

[TheCoxwain]

10. Fox is hedging too .. note words-“Fox News prohibits any on-air talent" - well Beck is no 'TALENT'

[L. Coyote]

12. perfectly parsed LOL

[KharmaTrain]

11. Cheatwood...Name Says It All

This dude has a real shady reputation. He "pioneered" the "if it bleeds, it leads" type of teevee senstationalism that turned News (especially in local markets) into pre-packaged freak shows. It also blurred the line between reporting and stroking advertisers...for example, doing a favorable review on a restaurant that kicked back a few bucks to the station. We'll get the "we looked into it and there's nothing to see here" verdict shortly.

What's interesting here is if it can be proven that Dreck's conflict of interest and teevee show affects the price of gold...it's not the first time someone has tried to manipulate that market through fear mongering.