Last month, the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes released a report finding that Fox News viewers are “significantly more likely” to be misinformed about issues of national significance. The New York Times' Brian Stelter obtained a response from Fox News senior vice president Michael Clemente, who dismissed UMD's research credentials because of its inclusion on two negative Princetown Review lists:

Asked for comment on the study, Fox News seemingly dismissed the findings. In a statement, Michael Clemente, who is the senior vice president of news editorial for the network, said: “The latest Princeton Review ranked the University of Maryland among the top schools for having 'Students Who Study The Least' and being the 'Best Party School' -- given these fine academic distinctions, we'll regard the study with the same level of veracity it was 'researched' with.'”

Clemente's juvenile response wasn't just petty, it was also dishonest. Clemente never challenged the actual merits of the study, and the Princeton Review also found that UMD had one of the best libraries, one of the best newspapers, and was one of the best Northeastern schools. Additionally, UMD counts Fox Business correspondent Rebecca Diamond as one of their graduates.

Despite Clemente's smears, in recent days, Fox News' dayside programs have received analysis from the same “party school” with dubious “academic distinctions” and its system's medical school:

From the December 31, 2010, edition of Happening Now:

From today's America Live (Leigh Vinocur on the phone with guest host Shannon Bream):