A promotional ad currently circulating on Fox News Channel touts the idea that “no one” is covering the 2010 election “like Fox News”:
For a change, this is actually an honest claim by Fox. Nobody is covering the election like they are.
Here are a few ways in which Fox isn't covering the election like other news outlets, but they may not be the reasons Fox's PR department had in mind when they put this piece together:
“No one” has 5 possible Republican presidential candidates on the payroll like Fox News does
Fox News employs John Bolton, Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee, Sarah Palin, and Rick Santorum, figures who have all been discussed as possible Republican presidential candidates (Huckabee ran for president in 2008, Palin for vice-president). As of September 18 those possible candidates had appeared on the network at least 269 times in 2010. One of those candidates, Palin, urged Republican candidates to “speak through” Fox News. Well, she and her other probable nominees have been speaking loud and clear on the network that cuts them a paycheck.
“No one” has a parent company that has given as much money to the GOP and GOP-aligned groups as Fox News
News Corp., the parent company of Fox News, has donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association, an organization designed to elect Republicans to governor's mansions across the country. More recently News Corp. also donated $1 million to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce which is currently running ads boosting Republican candidates running for the U.S. Senate.
“No one” has personalities doing as much fundraising and as many political appearances for the right as Fox News
At least twenty Fox News personalities have endorsed, raised money, or campaigned for Republican candidates or causes, or against Democratic candidates or causes, in more than 300 instances and in all 50 states.
“No one” has Republicans speaking through them like Fox News
Fox serves as a launching pad for GOP candidates, gives them a platform to fundraise, and recites party talking points, while also promoting the party's legislative agenda.
So, Fox is right. “No one” is covering this election in the lopsided, unethical, error-ridden manner in which they are.