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Al-Graudian Says Fox Is Biased
And when it comes to bias, they're the experts.It was the best birthday present Fox News could have asked for: a juicy on-air punch-up with Bill Clinton. The former president agreed to appear on America's brashest 24-hour news channel a few days ago. Within minutes, the interview had become a slanging match, with Clinton telling interviewer Chris Wallace: "You did Fox's bidding on this show. You did your nice little conservative hit job on me." Clearly agitated, Clinton added: "You've got that little smirk on your face and you think you're so clever." Result! More controversy for the channel; another liberal seemingly Seemingly? floundering after a pounding from one of Rupert Murdoch's anchors. Fox News Channel is 10 years old this week and, though ratings are not as high as they were, there is little doubt that the channel - hated by the Democrats, demonised by leftwing bloggers and worshipped by the right - is a success story. With its in-your-face attitude, melodramatic "breaking news" whooshes and sexy urgency, Fox is America's number one cable news channel, a title it claimed from CNN four years ago. As a result, it is highly profitable: according to the most recent accounts of parent company News Corporation, its operating income is up 25% on last year. Unlike a certain New York newspaper we could mention. What infuriates Fox's critics is the fact that the network - run by Roger Ailes, a one-time strategist to Presidents Nixon, Reagan and the elder George Bush - continually repeats its slogan "fair and balanced" while broadcasting output its critics claim is blatantly pro-Republican. Such critics do appear to have ammunition. For example, what fair-and-balanced on-screen caption did Fox News use a few years back to describe the fact that more than a million people had taken to the streets of London to protest against the Iraq war? "March Madness." I don't get it. What's snarky about that? Meanwhile, the network's Washington bureau is so closely aligned with the Bush administration that, according to someone ... the dreaded unanmed source ... who has worked there, it is known as "White House West". So is the station as biased as its critics claim? MediaGuardian set out to conduct a "fair and balanced" investigation. Which is about like Comrade Stalin conducting a fair and balanced investigation of capitalism. Alas, we were not helped by the fact that one side of the argument - Fox itself - refused to take part in the debate once it was explained that we would also be seeking opinions from outside the organisation. The case for the defence thus falls to radio presenter Nick Ferrari, a Brit who ran a local Fox-affiliate station in New York in the early 90s and now is a presenter on LBC 97.3 in London. "Do they show bias? Yes of course they do - and it's fantastic," says Ferrari. "They show bias in a patriotic way to counter a never-ending sea of dissent, lies and anti-government crap that swims around much of liberal America." Patriotism!! ohmigod!! Britain should follow America's example and allow TV, like newspapers, to deliver the news with a point of view. "What's the danger?" he asks. "Are you saying that people are so damn thick that they watch Fox News and they are automatically going to be brainwashed?" I'd say Mr. Ferrari acquitted himself well. Posted by: Matt 2006-10-02 |
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