Fairly Unbalanced - ConWebWatch on the relationship between Brent Bozo's MRC and Fox News

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The Media Research Center has a special relationship with Fox News Channel. In the face of overwhelming evidence of its conservative slant, it unquestioningly repeats Fox News' motto that it's "fair and balanced." In return, Fox News regularly gives the MRC a forum to repeat its claims of a liberal media bias.

The practical result of this is all kinds of mutual back-scratching, such as a March 27 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review interview (reprinted at FrontPageMag.com) in which MRC founder and president L. Brent Bozell III spoke lovingly about Fox News, insisting that it's "obsessive" about offering balanced coverage.

Another benefit: Fox News' purported "obsession" with "fair and balanced" coverage doesn't apply to MRC appearances on Fox News. Of the 21 appearances on the channel by MRC employees in the first three months of 2007 -- the only TV appearances it lists on its website for that time period are those on Fox News -- 11 were solo appearances with no other guests, and three more included guests who held similar conservative views to that of the MRC representative. Only five appearances were made in a format that included the opportunity for questioning by ideological opposites or a contradictory opinion to be forwarded -- four by other guests and a solo appearance on "Hannity & Colmes" where liberal co-host Alan Colmes had a chance to ask questions. Two appearances were opposite a guest who was a journalist.

In many of those solo appearances, as well as the ones with like-minded allies, the MRC representative was not significantly challenged by the Fox News host; indeed, the host's role seemed to be as set-up person to allow the MRC rep to spout the company line. For instance, in a Feb. 18 appearance on "Fox & Friends" by Dan Gainor, director of the MRC's Business & Media Institute, purportedly to discuss a series of concerts organized by former Vice President Al Gore to raise awareness about global warming, co-host Gretchen Carlson started this way: "So, here's the deal. Al Gore is getting all this press coverage on these great concerts he's putting together -- I mean, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Mayer, all be there (sic). But you're saying the media's kind of missing something." In response, Gainor launched into an anti-Gore rant: "Oh, the media have been in the tank for Al Gore for -- ever since his movie came out."

http://conwebwatch.tripod.com/stories/2007/mrcfoxtv.html