Posted on 12/24/2018 7:00:48 AM PST by Liberty7732
In a mainstream media landscape dominated by the left and its take on world events, Fox News has been a lone bastion of conservatism and conservative reporting. It has traditionally been the place where right-of-center Americans go to seek truth devoid of the biased slant from socialists and anti-Trump activists. But lately, Fox News has not been living up to its charter.
Unquestionably what we have in the United States is not a “free and unencumbered” press. Yes, the First Amendment does protect the press from governmental interference, but “free and unencumbered” requires much more than the absence of governmental interference. For the press to be truly “free and unencumbered,” it must also be devoid of private sector pressures slanting its reporting in one direction or another.
CNN has become nothing more than a trumpet for anti-Trumpists. MSNBC will not deliver a story without availing itself of the opportunity to slam conservatives and defend the validity of the liberal agenda. The New York Times‘ reporting pieces read like opinions than news reports, and The Washington Post will rarely acknowledge the validity of conservative pundits and newsmakers.
To be clear, reporting is not opining. Good, fair journalism requires much more than news analysis. To truly engage in journalism, an outlet must have a fleet of reporters ready to engage newsmakers. They need to stand at the ready to go on location and sleuth out the stories of importance to their readership and deliver them fairly and accurately. It is an endeavor requiring money and assets, and one that cannot be achieved by bloggers, pundits, and opinionators.
Virtually every journalistic organization in the United States in a position to engage in this level of intense journalistic scrutiny is left of center t far left of center. Until recently, the only notable exception has been Fox News.
Since Roger Ailes’ departure and passing, however, Fox News’ conservative slant has waned. In recent years, Shepard Smith has been open about his less than conservative slant. Neil Cavuto has been hostile to President Trump and his agenda, and the evolution of Judge Andrew Napolitano’s legal views from staunch conservative arbiter and strict constitutionalist to slanted advocate has been noticeable.
But an increasingly leftist slant is not the greatest issue affecting Fox News.
The bigger problem is its lack of sophistication in reporting. Almost by definition, a televised news report will be more superficial than its written companion. Time limitations imposed on any televised news article imparts significant challenges to the delivery of in-depth analysis or reports. For that, a news journal program where a story is thoroughly developed is required. No such program exists on Fox.
What’s more, the Fox News lineup has pretty much devolved into a Fox and Friends variety show in the morning followed by a series of fight sessions loosely calling themselves “debates.” The Five offers no substantive insight in its entertainment-based discussions, and the All-Star Panel on Special Report with Bret Baier is a shell of itself since the sad and premature loss of Charles Krauthammer and the disappearances of Mort Kondracke and Fred Barnes. With the notable exception of Chris Wallace, who is no conservative but appears to try to deliver objective interviews from his subjects, and the occasional and invaluable appearances of Britt Hume, there is no grounded, objective voice of Fox.
Despite the limitations in televised reporting, twenty-first-century journalism can make up for them by supplementing the inherent shortcomings of its televised programming with a strong online presence. Fox News fails here as well.
It’s not merely because of the unacceptably high incidence of grammatical errors and sloppiness. Over the past two years, the website has taken on an increasingly tabloid feel. For example, on Saturday morning, the two top stories (appropriately) dealt with the government shutdown and Justice Ginsburg’s lung cancer. But these were immediately followed by a slew of stupid and worthless stories regarding the colors of the interior of the house in Home Alone, Arian Grande’s lampshading fashions, crazy campus breakdowns, an adopted pastor embracing and forgiving his biological father, and Sandra Bullock’s revelation of her crush on Keanu Reeves while filming Speed.
Conservatives are definitely engaged in an existential fight for their country’s future. Inherent to that battle is the thoughtful delivery of views and developments supportive of conservative philosophies and viewpoints. Sadly, Fox News has abandoned that role.
Either Fox News retakes its position as the leader in conservative news, or someone else will need to carry the baton.
Exactly. That demtard on every Sunday caused me to stop watching FoxNews on weekends. Eventually I gave up on the channel entirely. Watching a garbage that simply raises my blood pressure is a feast of stupidity that I choose not to partake. My television that was on 24/7 stays off unless I’m binging a series I downloaded on my computer and screen shared to the TV as I will no longer support Netflix or any other lib rot out there.
Citizen reporters are the future. Fox is about as unwatchable as CNN. Cable is dying anyway
We the people filter propaganda when hearing or reading the news it’s why liberal news and print are taking a beating.
How many times has the New York times and Los Angeles times been sold,cable and network news are not winning it’s they are pressing their propaganda even more.
Liberalism is dead hole is dug.
Ideals trump money concerns for the Murdochs
Ideals trump money concerns for the Murdochs
Fox News described the Pittsburgh shooter as mentally deranged and the Florida shooter as "A Trump supporter".
Does FOX have any conservative news anchors? Seems the night conservative op-ed folks bring in the money to support the liberal daytime people...
It most certainly is, Doctor Gonzalez. Attracting and maintaining a robust group of viewers is the sole issue for a "for profit" news company.
Roger Ailes was the conservative genius that developed the solution that is Fox News. He knew that there was not enough conservatives to support the ads required to fund a totally conservative TV platform. (there still isn’t)
He created from thin air a network presenting a consevative front tempered with some liberal flavoring.
Malcontents do nor realize the virtual desert before Fox News. Rush as more listeners in the first hour than CNN has all day long. Rush determined very early that it was not possible to transfer that effort to TV. Rush and Ailes were bossom buddies.
Regarding revenue, one wonders hoe long the profit minded ATT board will tolerate the money losing CNN Albatross.
I will not watch it anymore....to many homos
Writer can add Fox News calling the House for the Democrats while many states were still voting. Totally unacceptable and should have been punished for it.
Try OAN.
It is what FNC used to pretend to be.
I might watch it if something critical taking place, but not much anymore. They’re DNC-Lite now.
For sure. A lot of people I know have made the same choice. Take my wife. Please (as Henny Youngman used to say). But, all seriousness aside (as Steve Allen used to say), my wife used to record Chris Wallace while we went to church, then watch it in the afternoon. She can't take it any more. We love Trump in this house and Wallace obviously hates him. And never the twain shall mix. She endured it for a while, hoping Wallace would do something redemptive. No such luck.
Me I watch old movies and reruns of "24".
“Fox News has been a sensationalist tabloid trash cable news network since its inception.”
And all their “sis boom bah” bumper music is enough to just turn them off all together in our household. Even Lou Dobbs has objectionable “bumper music!”
Some points to ponder:
1. Fox News is a TV show business, they are doing what they must for ratings.
2. Many Freepers have cut their cable and need to justify that decision.
3. FBN is way better than FN.
4. FN never had in depth analysis like 60!Minutes, but neither do the other cable news outlets.
5. CNN had foreign outposts, which gave them credibility at one time, and put them in airport lounges. That era is over now that they joined the anti-Trump anti-American cabal.
“Dobbs & Varney deliver sound news and solid support for America.”
Yes, and they are the only ones on Fox!
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