In reporting on tea parties, CNN, MSNBC hosts target Fox News
SUMMARY: In reporting on the tea party protests, MSNBC and CNN hosts have targeted Fox News for criticism over its aggressive promotion of the upcoming events.
In recent days, MSNBC and CNN hosts have criticized Fox News' aggressive promotion of April 15 tea party protests -- in some instances questioning the journalistic credibility of the network for its coverage of the protests. As Media Matters for America has documented, Fox News has frequently aired segments encouraging viewers to get involved with tea party protests across the country, which the channel has often described as primarily a response to President Obama's fiscal policies. Indeed, Fox News has gone so far as to take ownership of the tea party events by repeatedly describing them as "FNC Tax Day Tea Parties." On April 15, four of the network's hosts will be broadcasting live from various tea party protests across the country. While Fox News has asked whether the media will give "positive coverage" to the tea parties, others in the media are now questioning Fox News' involvement with those protests.
For instance:
- During the April 13 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, media critic and Reliable Sources host Howard Kurtz asserted that Fox News "practically seems to be a co-sponsor" of the tea party protests. Kurtz pointed out that Fox News contributors Newt Gingrich and Michelle Malkin are supporting the protests and noted that "Fox News, whose new online slogan is 'Just say no to biased media,' began publicizing the protests. And, soon, some hosts were signing on." Kurtz later added that "[t]hese hosts said little or nothing about the huge deficits run up by President Bush, but Barack Obama's budget and tax plans have driven them to tea," and said that, while Fox News hosts Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity "and the gang" are "paid for their opinions," "[t]he question is whether Rupert Murdoch's network wants to be so closely identified with what has become an anti-Obama protest movement."
- After airing a Fox News promotion of its upcoming "fair and balanced" coverage of the tea parties, Chris Matthews stated during the April 13 edition of MSNBC's Hardball: "I have got to believe that [Fox News president] Roger Ailes has the biggest tongue in his cheek when he does these ads. 'We report. You decide.' I mean, what are you -- balanced coverage of an anti-government rally, an anti-tax rally -- balanced coverage of that, it's so amazing."
- On the April 13 edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, guest host David Shuster described the tea parties as a "movement that's short on outrage and long on Republican manufacturing" and reported: "Then there is the media, specifically the Fox News Channel, including Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. Both are looking forward to an up-close-and-personal taste" of the tea parties "at events this Wednesday." Shuster also noted that Fox News host Neil Cavuto had been "defending his network's promotion" of the events. Later in the segment, MSNBC political analyst Lawrence O'Donnell said of Fox News' involvement with the event: "What they're trying to do is create gigantic television events for their shows on that day. They have to pretend that they are covering a news event rather than trying to create one, which they've very clearly done when you look at the history of -- in the last month of the Fox News discussion of this, and how they've built it up."
- On the April 9 edition of her MSNBC show, Rachel Maddow stated that "our colleagues at Fox News are not just reporting on" the tea party protests, "they are officially promoting" them. After airing a clip of Beck asserting that you can "celebrate with Fox News" at the tea parties its hosts will be attending, Maddow noted that "Fox News Channel has described the Tax Day events on-screen as 'FNC Tax Day Tea Parties,' and they are dispatching some of their hosts to take part in" the events.
Well said Rachel!!!! I would not call them "colleagues" however. FOX News has nothing in common with good people like you. Anyone who works for FOX News has sold their soul.
On the April 9 edition of her MSNBC show, Rachel Maddow stated that "our colleagues at Fox News are not just reporting on" the tea party protests, "they are officially promoting" them. After airing a clip of Beck asserting that you can "celebrate with Fox News" at the tea parties its hosts will be attending, Maddow noted that "Fox News Channel has described the Tax Day events on-screen as 'FNC Tax Day Tea Parties,' and they are dispatching some of their hosts to take part in" the events
No, they're definitely colleagues..Maddow and Olbermann are just partisan to the other side. Ironic how MMfA has no qualms about citing Maddow and Olbermann as unbiased news sources criticizing Fox's coverage (HuffPo had a recent graphic of Maddow's show naming the protests "InsaniTEA".
Please see the mission statement of this site. Conservative misinformation is highlighted here. Not that it matters, but no one claims Maddow and Olbermann are unbiased (strawman) either.
Misinformation is misinformation though, isn't it? Biased and non-fact-based opinions coming from "journalists"?
If by "other side" you mean "the facts", then I completely agree.
Because you're no better than Glenn Beck, Hannity, et all.
Huh? I'm not better?
Maddow and Olbermann are televised editorialists. They often give their take on a story. However, MSNBC has never as a station promoted, advertised for, and essentially claimed ownership over an anti-bush or anti-war protest. Sure, cavuto and beck can voice their opinion on something that has happened, but for the station as a whole to actually advertise and encourage people to attend THEIR "FNC" teaparties, means they have no claim to unbiased coverage. They are the republican channel, voicing from each anchor every talking point that comes out of Rush Limbaugh's mouth.
Major media covers people bussed to homes of AIG executives to protest bonuses. Protestors counted in 10's. Major media does not cover teaparties. Protestors counted in thousands and locations counted in 100's. MMFA is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Wow, they haven't even happened yet, but you know how many people showed up, huh?
You must live in George Orwell's 1984. Who needs to wait for the event to actually take place- just release the final attendance numbers now. Please, while you're at it, could you fill us in on what next month's chocolate ration will be?
BTW, Hannity on his radio show warns his audience "Left wing groups are looking to infiltrate the tea parties." Gee, I thought the tea parties were supposed to be non-partisan. So now they are exclusive, and liberals aren't welcome? Thanks for letting us know, Sean.
Actually last month SEVERAL Tea Parties popped up in major cities with 1000's. You would not know about them if you were watching the left wing biased hosts of CNN and MSNBC. As far as Habbity, he was simply reporting how ACORN is trying to round up people to "crash" the parties. I guess ACORN likes the tax money they get from us who actually work.
Show me the bills that give ACORN tax money.
Funny, I've seen about 10 times more coverage of the Teabaggers than the AIG protestors. Who do you consider the "major Media"?
Note to the Colonel.
Suggestion for new product.
Tee shirts saying "I teabagged with Glenn Beck"
"I teabagged with Glenn Beck"®
there, can't be too careful.
egb: Half a dozen clowns can dress up in white sheets, march down the street, and get on television. "News" is not just defined by numbers.
PS: Major media "do," not "does."
Major media does not cover teaparties. Protestors counted in thousands and locations counted in 100's. MMFA is part of the problem, not part of the solution.
There is a difference between covering and sponsoring. What FOX is doing is promoting these things. That's what MMFA s pointing out.
Besides, there's a difference between protesting bonuses-- a direct protest-- vs. having teaparties that makes no sense-- especially when most people's taxes are getting CUT this month !
But you had no problem with Katie Couric marching down the streets of NY protesting and her netwrok, as well as others, covering HER? That's not a promotion? How about the coverage given to Code Pink and the other freaks during the Republican Primaries, even though hardly any showed up? How about every time they showed "protesters" at Bush's ranch in Texas even though there were really just a couple people there? Is that really news? There are countless examples of far left protesters getting coverage even though only 10's of people showed up. Wake up and open your eyes.
Covering and sponsoring are two different things. If you cannot understand that simple concept then you are beyond help.
There's a difference here between covering and sponsoring.
The teaparties have not happened yet. Thus, Fox is not reporting on news that has happened, or even reporting on news that will happen. Fox is advertising for a partisan political event, essentially creating news by being a player on the political scene. No news source should do that.
"Major media does not cover teaparties. Protestors counted in thousands and locations counted in 100's."
Tea party protests are (supposedly) on the 15th. That's tomorrow. You posted this on the 14th.
...?
Kinda like the war protests were ignored. Remember those? Guess not because they weren't on the teevee.
Headline, if you do not like what Fox News is doing, do not watch.
Faux Noise has complete ownership of this little project. We should write to all of their sponsors and get some of these jerks off the air. Fair and balanced is not a definition they can understand.
Who's headline?
And why aren't there any wingnuts here yet asking to have it explained to them how this is conservative misinformation? I've been watching the news, I know you guys aren't getting smarter.
Headline, Markbfoot199 think its acceptable for news organizations to organize and sponsor partisan protests if the protests meet his agenda.
Headline, if you do not like seeing Fox News' journalistic standards criticized, do not watch.
Thankfully, Media Matters makes it so we don't have to watch Fox News to know how it is misleading our fellow citizens. The entire point of these articles is to allow us to know just WHY our neighbors might be so aggressively and fearfully wrong on so many things.
Headline, reichpublicans now like the 5th column because it advances the agenda of the losing party.
hammer, wrench, screwdriver
What's the difference between Sheer Insannity's "Freedom Concerts" and the Faux Noise Tea Parties?
The Tea Parties raise more money for charity?
What I find disappointing is that FOX won't correctly call these gatherings what they, in truth, really are...hate Obama rallies. A tea party...? Come on, FOX, this has nothing to do with taxation...it'a just about hating on Barack Obama because your side lost the election. I guess this is what we can expect now every time the Republicans lose an election.
Why didn't they have these last year when taxes were higher...hmmm...
I think the real problem is that Fox News is fully in tune with America and the American public as evidenced by their ratings being double and triple what the other news outlets have. It is really an issue of the small Media Matters group that is funded by George Soros who has no love for American or anything American other than a dollar to be stripped for his personal benefit. The liberal media financed and in the back pocket of the Obama/Soros machine is starting to show the cracks. Yes America does not share your viewpoint no matter how carefully it is crafted. It may be a suprise to you but it is reality. Obama is deliberately trying to create an inflationary spiral by over spending. He has been advised to do this. The Treasury gives testamony to Congress about supporting the Dollar and the next day says it is looking at a world currency. So Obama bows to a Saudi King in a video and denies it took place? I hope a clear message is sent to America that the small 6% that Obama beat McCain by is not enough of a mandate to throw away capitalism. McCain was the worst candidate ever fielded and it still was within 6%. The media has shown fawning adoration for Obama and it did get him elected. But Obama has to deliver for America, not George Soros, Europe, Karl Marx and the like. Since when did Cuba become the role model for America?
Please let me know why an American political party, currently in power, wants to actively destroy America. I know that's the big message on the airwaves- that the leaders of this country hate it and want it to fail, and want their money to be worthless..............but....why? Why would someone with power want to give it up to a one world governement? Who benefits?
But hey, i heard this one pretty scary rumor that big corporations are investing all their money in foreign factories and workers! In fact, the big right-wing capitalist types seem the most eager to abandon this silly nation and its quaint labor/minimum wage laws. In fact, Rush Limbaugh is encouraging rich republicans to move away from New York like he did, so it will collapse on itself, doing more damage than any terrorist attack could. And Neil Boortz has been calling on all businesspeople to move their operations to another country, to abandon America entirely becuase of taxes.
It looks like you can start wars, torture people, hold citizens without trial, and disciminate against minorities- but if you tax the rich! Oh LORDY! Let the nation BURN!
You are very good at spouting talking points.
I understand they will be trotting out Joe not so much a Plumber at one (?) of these "events". Maybe they can't get that crazy old woman from the McCain rally ("I don't trust Obama. He's an A-rab"). Then as a finale, Joe can tea bag crazy woman! They can be the headliners of the show under the name "The Aristocrats"!
Har! It wouldn't be as funny if the Repooplickens actually had some ideas that weren't almost that ridiculous.
If I don't laugh, I'll cry.
It wouldnt be funny at all. I would probably stroke out from sheer shock
so far they have taken the easy way out but just being wholesale obstructionists. No thinking required ( or desired )
I think most people get that FOX is not a news station. Even when they do straight reporting, they always seem to find a way to interject their right-wing opinion.
Agreed.
The dictionary defines journalism as:
the occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news organization as a business.
You will notice the absence of the word "create". I took a journalism course in high school and even though this was many years ago I assume that the basic tenet has remained unchanged. Yes Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann are partisan observers, commentors and reporters of the news but they have never, to my knowledge, attempted to create the news. This is NOT the job of a legitimate news reporting entity. Fox has overstepped it's sacred obligation to report and even comment on the news by creating news events and this is unconscionable (even by Fox's poorly balanced standards).
Check this out :http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/04/the-rotting-racist-underbelly-of-the-tea-party-protests/
Good link. Of course these people are making racial statements and using coded language. The great thing is-- they won't be able to hide it!
They are their own worst enemies.
Juan Cole hits the nail on the head I think with this discription of the Republican/conservative Party :" The ever greater concentration on minutiae, and the investment of more and more passion in matters of no moment, signals the bankruptcy of conservative philosophy. Its proponents have stared transfixed as the ruthless implementation of their most cherished principles produced a series of economic, social and foreign policy calamities from which it may take decades to recover. The spectacle of their spokesmen misunderstanding English, hyperventilating over dark suspicions of surrender of sovereignty or reeducation camps, condemning a Muslim country like Turkey for setting a bad example by being insufficiently theocratic, and engaging in mock auto-da-fes to illustrate their inner rage, raises the question of whether the Republican Party is having a collective nervous breakdown. Meanwhile, Obama and the rest of the country have begun seeing "glimmers of hope."
Which means they don't do "straight reporting" at all.
Good point. Besides, how do you know you're not going to like something unless you watch it or read about it ... first? Damn those conservatives and their space-time continuum flouting!
Um. Don't people have to WORK tomorrow? I hope the other networks don't cover it. It's like a giant commercial for hatred and intolerance. Even the name is hilariously wrong. Get back to work and quit whining america haters!
I like this from washingtonmonthly :
WITH AN EYE ON THE FUTURE.... Over at QandO, McQ wants to help me understand why the Tea Baggers are getting together tomorrow. Since I've been struggling with the point of the Tea Parties, I'm anxious to get some additional insights.
I see. So, at some point in the future (we don't know when), some politicians (we don't know who) might find it necessary to raise taxes. Whose taxes would be raised? It's too soon to say. How much would taxes go up? No one knows.
But the mere prospect of a possible future tax increase has led untold thousands of activists, an entire cable news network, corporate lobbyists, conservative bloggers, conservative talk-radio hosts, and Republican officials to organize a series of national events. With extraordinary foresight, they've organized thousands of rallies to register their outrage, not at existing tax rates, but at tax policies that haven't been proposed, but might exist at some undermined point.
Got it.
With this in mind, I can only conclude that the Tea Parties are the most forward-thinking political events in the history of the country.
Until Rush and Fox News, the only conservative voice in mainstream media was Paul Harvey. The leftists had a monopoly for their misinformation - from the NYTimes to CBS, to NBC, to ABC to PBS, there was no conservative voice out there. The MSM just hates the fact that they no longer control the 'news.' I'm very grateful for Fox News - it isn't anywhere near objective - meaning that it is still left-slanted in much of its reporting, and they still follow the NYTimes leads, but it is extremely refreshing when compared to the statist drivel of the rest of the major media.
OK, wait a sec. Am I reading this correctly?
FxX News "is still left-slanted in much of its reporting."
Na-a-aw. I must need new reading glasses. Nobody would actually write something so blatantly bizarre. (Would they??)
My, my you are funny -- now sit down and let the adults run the country.
Again, the moment you sponsor a political event you are a PAC not a news organization. If the MSM did this the Newts and Rushes of the world would be foaming at the mouth.
Fox should be removed from the White House press room. NOML does not have a person in there -- and I would test negative for THC -- neither should they, unless High Times gets a seat in the room. Is High Times still published?
A few things- first, FNC does not position themselves as anything but "something other than the MSM".. they consistently present a "us v. them" posture when talking about the MSM- especially the Soros loving NTY and the NBC "family". Second, Fox blows the doors off all the other cable news channels by at least a factor of two in most if not all time slots. This means that SOMEONE is watching it- and in this case it's an overwhelming majority of people. This means that either they appeal to a very large body of people in this country in how they present the news and opinions, OR that the numbers are made up by YOU loons watching it to pounce on ever word said. The latter is pretty pathetic but I think the editorial staff of MMfA makes a pretty good case for that second possibility.
Somehow, this website and its sycophantic denizens are representative of exactly the opposite of what this country was founded upon- the right to hold and express one's own opinion, no matter how much it aggravates YOU. If MMfA (and its salivating followers) had its/their way, then you'd eliminate every voice of opposition possible to your socialist, leftist, radical proclivities. That, my friends, is a totalitarian view that's NEVER been acceptable in the United States since our constitution was laid down.
The fact that MMfA exists, is an example of what the country is about. If you start denying that right to others - especially since most of what MMfA calls "conservative misinformation" is really opposing opinion, then you yourselves are subject to being hoisted by your own petard, and YOU could be next.
MMfA and the SMS have no problems with eco-nuts sitting in trees in Berkeley hurling feces at work crews. MMfA has no problems with Code-Pinko's blockading Marine recruiting centers in SFO. They said not a peep when the radical left was burning and pillaging in St Paul during the RNC. Yet, you go nuts over a grass roots movement of average americans who are sick and tired of being lied to by tax and spends liberals protesting across America. You all live in fear that the tide has turned and the "Joe Plumbers" of this country are sayign "enough" in sufficient numbers to make you cringe at the thought that 2010 will be another conservative outcry at the polls. You got the power and you cant' stand the idea that your policies, hypocrisy, and malfeasance wont' allow you to stay there, so you try to kill any opposition to your radical goals.
Fox blows the doors off all the other cable news channels by at least a factor of two in most if not all time slots. This means that SOMEONE is watching it- and in this case it's an overwhelming majority of people. (MissDeePoint)
You Republicans have a really hard time with math, don't you? Let me help you-- use the Googles-- divide the number of Fox viewers by the population of the U.S. this will give you a percentage that is not a majority except to the completely deranged.Do you ever get tired of wearing the clown suit, MissDee?
Helen Thomas sat there for years. She never drew an unbiased breath in her entire 'journalistic' career.
It would seem to me that the left is foaming at the mouth - not only at Fox, but at the very concept of a 'tea' party.
such fun :)
I have seen an aweful lot of promotion for the tea parties it's true....but I wouldn't say that the Maddow was super unbiased in the coverage of Obama's election, or Chris Matthews or Olberman. Who can blame them, they were excited. So is Fox now. Let's face it - there is no news organization anywhere that is unbiased. For that matter, there is no person, anywhere, that is unbiased - some may attempt to be unconfrontational, but none are unbiased. Once you realize this fact, you won't flip everytime someone who was supposed to be "unbiased" says their opinion or leans toward their preference. Everyone has biase, it's always been that way, always will be.
I know it's way beyond the comprehension capabilities of the nany-state supporting, kool-aid drinking denizens of the MMfA, but this youtube video is a pretty good "summary" of why average americans should and in many cases do, take heed of the "tea party"grassroots movement-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeYscnFpEyA
Har! That piece of elementary school propaganda has been linked to by other wingnuts at this site, MissDee. Do you really need actors dressing up in period costumes to help you swallow this crap? You don't really think that's a video from the 18th Century, do you?
Of course not Colonel Kluk.. But I dont' suppose you get the point in the George Washington dialogyue with the "Michael Moore" character in "An American Carol" either. It's probably because none of those 18th century values mean anything to you unless you, like all the other left wing loose nuts, can somehow exploit it as a means to your own agenda without any regard to the meaning of the message. Itwon't be long before most of you start to eat your own, I'm sure.
What you morons on the Right fail to understand is that the world was a much different place in the 18th Century and that its 'traditions' and 'values' are for the most part irrelevant today in the 21st Century. Quit living in the past... the past is DEAD.
It's probably because none of those 18th century values mean anything to you...
Yes. Those good ol' 18th century values. Does that include slavery? Burning witches at the stake? Debtors prisons? Please elaborate.
boy do you make my point- if you're willing to place freedom of speech, responsible representative government and general liberty in the same bucket with witch trials and slavery, you really are an Orwellian kind of guy. Freedom=slavery, Comrade? Youreally are good at "double think", aren't you?
Perhaps you better relate to, and embrace the 20th century leftist ideal better expressed in the form of "re-education camps" a'la Vietnam, Killing Fields brought to you by the Khmer Rouge, and genocide purveyed by wonderul people like Saddam Hussein?
Don't you have a tea-bag party to attend??::http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/04/the-rotting-racist-underbelly-of-the-tea-party-protests/
Methinks "values" are different than "freedoms" and all that government/liberty stuff. At least that's what the rightie talking heads and politicians have been telling me for years. You remember - the "Values Voters".
I'd be more tempted to follow your link if you actually enticed people to see it, instead of insulting people.
EXCUSE ME! CNN AND MSNBC HAVE PROMOTED PLENTY OF POLITICAL ACTION GROUPS IN THE PAST...THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOUR GRAPES... WHY ARE YOU AGAINST THE TEA PARTY PROTEST ? ARE YOU NOT CONCERNED WITH ALL THE SPENDING THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN WASHINGTON? I WORRY ABOUT MY SONS FUTURE AND AT 16 HE FEELS THAT HIS FUTURE IS GOING DOWN THE TUBES ! WHY WOULD ANYONE NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT HIGHER TAXES ! IF ONE MAKES A BAD INVESTMENT, LIKE BUYING A HOUSE YOU NEW YOU COULD NOT AFFORD, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY TAXES TO BAIL YOU OUT ?! THAT IS CRAZY ! I DIDN'T BUY IT AND NOT GOING TO PAY FOR IT... HAS ANYONE CARE THAT PELOSI , REID AND BARNIE FRANKS WERE INVOLVED PERSONNALLY IN THIS FIASCO ???!
HERE ! HERE ! I AGREE WITH DEXERITAS0071418.
PLEASE SHADIDBDOO ! GET REAL ! CNN AND MSNBC HAS DONE ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED.. THEY ARE TOTALLY BIASED ! EVERY CONSERVATIVE OR ANYONE THAT REMOTELY APPEARS CONSERVATIVE AND NOT 100 % LEFTIST IS MADE FUN OF OR DIMINISHED ETC.. THE PLUMBER WHO WAS DERAILED FOPR ASKING A SIMPLE QUESTION DURING THE CAMPAIGN ?! HE WAS PUT DOWN AND TORN APART... OR DID YOU NOT WATCH THE NEWS????
I think what upsets me the most is I repeatedly hear people from all sides complaining and criticizing - everything is bad or is everything is negative, but what I don't hear are better options.
I understand the concerns tied to the plan our current administration has in place. I also have concerns, but what is a better plan? Is anyone promoting a better plan?
I always follow the wise advice of a favorite teacher. It is OK to criticize, but if you do you should have a plan or suggestion of how to do it better. Criticizing without offering a better plan is just crying the blues; it doesn’t accomplish the changes people are asking for.