It is time for Fox News to start reporting the news rather than making it. Has Fox News transformed itself into the oppositional party of the White House? One day’s worth of listening confirms this theory to me.
Check out the email directive from Fox News Managing Editor Bill Sammon after the raw video of the Fox cheerleader made the rounds:
(bold highlighting by Eric Boelhert)
From Mediaite:From: Sammon, Bill
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 2:25 PM
To: 005 -Washington
Subject: standardsFor 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.
It will be interesting to see if those working for Fox News follow the directives of their managing editor or if his directive was all for show. CYA as it were.
Those who consider themselves Republican might want to start asking themselves if this is how they want to be seen from the outside world. Most Independents I know are running in the other direction as fast as they can.
OMG! Too much funny stuff here! MediaMatters?? [smirk]. Keith Ogreman?? [snort] Al Gore?? [double-smirk] The video is hilarious! “most independents you know” are probably as far left as you, are! And most independents I know are watching Fox News now because they’re mad they were lied to by the other channels, who acted as cheerleaders during the election process. Yes, cheerleaders, right down to the “tingly feelings” up Matthew’s leg! Anybody can call themselves an independent….heck anybody can be an independent, but you ARE a very far left independent (as I am a very far right “independent”). And please understand that at least Fox has a little integrity left to even see an email like this. No such integrity exists at CNN, PMSNBC, ABC, CBS, or NBC. Irony is dead? More like journalism is dead.
The video clip with Al Gore was from the same camera, and so does anyone have the original feed from Fox. I’ll believe the edit when I see it on the Fox broadcast live, and not another possible edit by another organization. Just bringing up the point that anyone can edit a video to suit their needs.
@Second-Alamo
Al Gore….I’m STILL laughing!
I like the one where the woman in the green shirt is whipping up the crowd for the cameras. Quick, think up an excuse for that one before I post it in its entirety.
Its very difficult to hold a discussion with anyone who cuts themselves off from the mainstream, is proud of it, and defends sources that only tell a person what they want to hear.
but most of the programming on Fox News is Entertainment, not news…. Hannity, Beck, O’Reilly, etc
Same as Oprah, Maury and Jerry Springer. Just because the network names includes News does not make it so.
Wow. That’s SCARY.
Even scarier when people watch Fox and believe it’s Gospel truth.
Pat.Herve,
I think you hit the nail on the head though. Fox “NEWS”….Fair and Balanced? At least John Stewart admits he is a “fake” news show.
Really, still laughing at Al Gore? Why? Do you think that people who fight to save our environment for future generations do it to make the “big bucks” ? You are confusing big oil and coal with non profits. The operative word being NON PROFIT! NRDC execs don’t take multi million dollar bonus’s, they don’t get big bucks at all. They do it because they believe in something bigger than themselves.
Sounds altruistic to me. I am working on my next post about Michael Moore since Al Gore was so entertaining.
What a surprise! antiFOX is at it again… Do you want a quick suggestion that would save you a ton of time Moon? When people come to this site just re-direct them to http://www.msnbc.com. Will save you a ton of time cherry picking all of your topics from them, people can just go straight to the source.
Also, I find it so FUNNY that you would pick this clip from MSLSD considering they were the once that cleverly ‘edited’ clips of town hall protesters with guns then said how they were all white and talked about racism. It’s all right here for ya:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/busted-msnbc-caught-dishonestly-editing-town-hall-gun-footage/
Now was this a joke? If so it was a good one, if not… wow.
Which is worse? Someone getting the crowd cheering or deliberately editing a clip of a black man with an AR-15 so that it comes off as a white guy with a gun to further your ‘racist’ ideas? Just wondering how you feel about it… would love to know.
Well, actually, yes. Two years before he got on the global-warming soapbox, Al Gore started Generation Investment Management, whose purpose is to “find, fund and accelerate green business.” How clever: He starts a business where billions of investment capital $$$$ are invested to go “green.” He markets the “go green” mantra like there’s no tomorrow (and uses his private jet to spread the word). Gore has made millions thanks to his aggressive marketing efforts. He justifies his exhorbitant home energy usage and his private jet usage by bragging about the “carbon offsets” he buys, probably from his own company offshoots. The rest of us will just be stuck with higher taxes.
He’s lining his pockets at our expense. Sure gives new meaning to “going green.”
Hey, I’m all for doing what’s reasonable to help out the environment. Heck, my buddy Newt even sat on a couch with Miss Botox and talked about it. But like everything else, libs like Gore are just looking to perform an ultimate power grab in the name of fixing some problem. Do I believe a word that comes out of Gore’s mouth? Good God no! Say, I hear Deeds had a good day!
That’ll be one BIG post! 🙂
I have no issues with environmental stewardship per se. I’ve got CFL’s all over my house (although I believe they create a hazardous waste nightmare in the long run, they are saving on electricity). And if I had the option, and if it didn’t take four hours out of my day, I would definitely love to zone out or read on a train to work every day like so many in other cities with better infrastructure enjoy.
What I do object to is the blatant hypocrisy and conflict of interest of an Al Gore. The green revolution has been a financial windfall for him, and cap and trade will be the gift that keeps on giving for him.
That’s like rinsing out the bottles you recycle. You are still using energy. We rob Peter to pay Paul.
I do believe Al Gore donates most of his green $$ to Alliance for Climate Protection.
Does it bother anyone to see these glaring mirepresentations? It enrages me, regardless of who the victim is. I don’t want my news filtered edited for me. I want plain old raw news. If I am too dumb to understand it I am sure someone will let me straight.
Where do you get that plain old raw news? Has it ever existed? What’s the alternative? MSNBC? Any of the news outlets that simply ignored Van Jones? The reporters who refused to challenge this President on his past associations and his work as an attorney for ACORN, suing lending institutions for not providing loans to those who could otherwise never qualify?
When you find it, let me know. I’ll buy stock in the company.
Alliance for Climate Protection was founded by Al Gore, who sits on the board of directors, so his money basically goes around in circles. He’s aggressively marketing for investments in “green” initiatives using the Alliance as his marketing arm. Pretty cool, huh? Keeps the money right in his pocket.
As I have said, I had a problem with Reverend Wright. As far as the other jokers go, why does it matter? All of my business associates and avocational associates have not all been sterling characters.
How many of GWB’s old buddies were drunkards, Cocaine snorters? it doesn’t matter. Frankly, anyone perfect enough for one’s political enemies would never have the street smarts to run a country.
As for Al Gore, do you honestly feel he dips in and helps himself? That really isn’t how boards work.
I don’t have the time or energy to let people I disagree with politically bother me. Pick a person…how about Al Sharpton–I have always felt he was a race baiter and that the playing field was never level. On the other hand, I spend very little time thinking about him. He is just another example of why I dislike politics.
Sure I do. Great to have your nonprofit do all the marketing for your investment firm. His “donations” are just reinvestments.
So glad you won’t stress over the higher taxes of cap and trade, while Gore’s investments enjoy a windfall.
sound bite journalism – the news used to report the news, now they just show a sound bite, usually taken out of context.
The only place I can see that you can get plain old unfiltered/unedited news is CSPAN.
And even their call in shows are not without a little bias, I have noticed.