UPDATED: Gee, there might be a larger cultural problem inside Fox News?
November 19, 2009 2:14 pm ET by Eric Boehlert
Another news cycle, another example of the serious 'news' people at Fox concocting their own reality. (See here and here.)
And people still pretend Fox News is a serious outlet? Media Matters has been pointing out the truth for months now, but lots of Beltway media folks insist on pretending that somewhere, deep inside Fox News, in some undisclosed secret location, there exists a 'serious news' team that's doing the due diligence and pumping out top-notch journalism. Sorry folks, but it's a myth that Fox News doesn't load up its 'news' product with partisan, GOP spin. But it's a myth both Fox News and the press love to perpetuate.
Here's the latest example from the Chicago Tribune's Mark Silva, who lays on the naiveté extra-heavy. i.e. His sources tell him Fox News execs are really, really upset about the latest transgression and darn it, this time somebody's actually going to be disciplined!! ("Heads may roll"!)
Sorry, but I have to chuckle. I chuckle at the idea that Fox News big whigs care about journalism standards or ethics. And I chuckle reading reporters like Silva who happily play along: OMG, Fox is going to discipline someone for an egregious breach of standards? I guess my question is, why start now? I mean seriously, if Fox News started handing out demerits every time someone in front of, or behind, the camera trampled on journalism's code of ethics, Murdoch's cable channel would have to start out-sourcing to Bangalore because they'd have nobody left on staff to do the job.
But don't tell reporters like Silva, who want very much to play along with the charade that the latest bout of video misinformation was dramatic and different and serious. Really? Because the truth is staffers at Fox News have been monkeying around with videotapes all year. And the staff at Fox News has been shoveling out lies, smears, and misinformation all year. Why on earth would the latest flap be considered any different?
The point being, Fox News' latest deception was utterly routine. It's what they do. It's the culture. If Fox News takes journalism seriously and is going to discipline somebody for the latest embarrassment, than why didn't they reprimand somebody for this, or this, or this, or this?
UPDATED: The Fox News culture starts at the top with News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch. Recently he's been spreading a wealth of falsehoods about his embattled 'news' channel.
UPDATED: Fox News apologizes. But which heads are going to "roll"? Don't hold your breathe. Fox News has no track record of publicly holding accountable those employees who regularly commit all kinds of crimes against journalism.
The media myth of Obama's "falling poll numbers"
How to annoy Glenn Beck in five minutes or less
Media Matters: In which Glenn Beck hosts talk of tickle fights
Fox News, "A 24/7 Political Operation"
Fox News, A place where the Constitution & The Bill of Rights get no Appreciation.
Fox News, The Opedipus of a Journalistic Disintegration.
Speak truth to power.
Mr. News
What i wouldn't give for an Edit Button.
Sorry for the Mis-spelled word.
Mr. News
Yeah, right.
The corporate press is owned by big corporations and tycoons who share common interests with the likes of Rupert Murdoch.
They have a symbiotic relationship: The MSM relishes its "liberal-biased" reputation, while otherwise busily engaged in right-wing stenography. Meanwhile, far right-wing FAUX gets credibility from the MSM that it does not deserve.
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Yesterday it was that they planned on showing that file coverage of Sarah Palin during the 2008 campaign, with different words being said by the news anchor than what ended up being said.
Now that's morphed into it simply being file footage that they never intended us to see?
Like I said yesterday, what does file footage of Palin during the campaign last year have to do with her book signing? Why would it even be queued up?
People (or news organizations) who can't get their stories straight have that problem because they're lying.