Media Matters' Burns Releases Statement on Fox News
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Media Matters for America President Eric Burns released the following statement on the continuing controversy surrounding Fox News:
We've been closely following reactions to Anita Dunn's public recognition of Fox News as "more of a wing of the Republican Party" than a news network. We believe that those who judge the White House's actions as a political misstep fail to grasp Fox's true nature. Indeed, there has been too much focus on whether or not the White House should have spoken up, and too little on the truth behind the statement itself.
As Media Matters has shown for some time and the administration recently acknowledged, Fox has shed any remaining resemblance to a news network and has transformed itself into a purely political organization aimed at destroying the White House and its progressive agenda. Network executive Bill Shine has characterized the network as "the voice of opposition on some issues" and as recently as last week, Glenn Beck stated that his goal is to "take the administration down."
To that end, Fox News has promoted demonstrations against the administration, permitted fundraising for conservative special interest groups on air, and conducted a witch hunt against administration officials that violates every basic standard of journalism. These realities define the content of Fox's programming throughout the day - not just during its so-called "opinion" shows at night.
Dunn's comments merely acknowledged the war that Fox launched long ago. Since the success of Fox's business model depends upon its maintaining a veil of legitimacy, the network's aggressive response reveals its fear of being exposed for what it is. Indeed, the truth is what Fox fears the most.
Truth is also what the American people need the most. By speaking out against Fox, the White House is doing more than responding to a powerful, self-declared political opponent. It is standing up for responsible journalism and honest information.
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