The Gung-Ho Morning Gang (Wash. Post Slags Fox & Friends, FR Mentioned)

The Washington Post ^ | Friday, April 4, 2003 | Paul Farhi

[kristinn]

"Good Morning America" it isn't. Nor is it the "Today" show or CBS's "Early Show." This is not your everyday feel-good, rise-and-shine TV show by any means.

On Fox News Channel's weekday morning show, "Fox & Friends," they start out swinging. Just after coming on the air at 7 a.m. on Monday, for example, co-hosts E.D. Hill and Brian Kilmeade were off and galloping before the coffee was cold.

SNIP

The audience for "Fox & Friends" has grown so large of late that it has begun to rival the broadcast networks' venerable morning shows. Its war-spiked Nielsens are now almost identical to what those of CBS's "Early Show" -- the No. 3 wake-up program -- were in the week before the war started.

SNIP

In any case, Hill, Doocy and Kilmeade have solicited viewers to send in "patriotic" photos. They have given plugs for conservative organizations such as Free Republic.com, but none for any moderate or left-of-center outfits. Their guest list has ranged from those supportive of the war (think tankers Peter Brookes and Michael O'Hanlon) to those who are aggressively promoting it (Randy Scheunemann of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq).

SNIP

[marktwain]

Their world is being turned upside down. They can't handle the truth.

Precisely. We are winning, and the US is entering a golden age. I look forward to the next 50 years. Amazing, wonderful things will be happening!

[CholeraJoe]

FOX and FRiends rocks.

[kristinn]

Fox & Friends has excellent guests. They highlight stories that Katie Couric would never report. And it is more fun than all the other morning shows combined. It's a great way to start the morning!

[xsmommy]

ITA!

[kristinn]

BTW, I failed to see in the article any mention that The Washington Post is a major partner of MSNBC--a direct competitor of FOX News Channel.

[sticker]

How dare Americans support America. Haven't they learned from Katie, Matt or the rest that a morning show host cannot be for America.

[lonestar]

I don't suppose Brian Lamb mentioned the "pro-FOX" demonstrators across the street.

I wouldn't hear it if he did. I don't go there anymore.

I got so tired of hearing people who couldn't read their talking points when they called in.

[sweetliberty]

To them, when we have a voice at all they think we are being overbearing and unfair. But this is the important question: is little Tommy Daschle concerned and deeply disturbed by this "unfortunate" turn of events?

[Angelwood]

C-SPAN is in the same building as FoxNews, so they could see us across the street from the Code Pinkos. Five of us against 30 or so of them was pretty good odds -- we had an echo effect because of the layout of the building and we frustrated one of the women with a megaphone because we outshouted her with our chants.

The after-action report can be found here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/884328/posts

[sweetliberty]

"Now, why they have to talk to that j--koff DJ from Chicago every morning I have no idea."

Mancow? I LOVE Mancow....as long as he sticks to politics. His website is disgusting though, or at least was 2 years ago...haven't visited since.

[GraniteStateConservative]

The WaPost isn't hurting FNC at all. FNC has decided, as the article correctly says, to make itself a pro-American news channel. They aren't indifferent to pro-American issues like CNN. This whole story only publicizes that FNC is a pro-American news channel.

Roger Ailes probably sent a thank you note for this article to Paul Farhi.

[kristinn]

This article is another series in the campaign started by the Clinton-led Democrats against leading conservatives in the media that started last fall. It's not enough for them to have CBSABCNBCPBSNPRCNNMSNBCNYTIMESLATIMESWASHPOSTTIMENEWSWEEKUSNEWS, they have to have it all.

[Angelwood]

I agree that FOX & FRIENDS ROCKS. Turning on FoxNews is the first thing I do in the morning and turning off FoxNews is the last thing I do at night. The other channels, when I do happen to channel surf, are just so obvious in their negative harping and reporting that it isn't worth my time to view them any longer.

[sweetliberty]

Worth recycling: ..

[7thson]

That's the guy! Can't stand him.

[CholeraJoe]

Turning on FoxNews is the first thing I do in the morning and turning off FoxNews is the last thing I do at night.

Me too.

[peeve23]

America First.

Should an American Reporter approach the big three, facts, analysis, and commentary from a position of neutrality?

That is the issue.

1. Facts: Facts should be handled in a neutral manner.
....a. Accuracy - There should be no element of color/bias/prejudice when it comes to reporting a fact. For example, "The plane is shot down, it is not shot down, or it is unclear if it is shot down."
....b. Thoroughness - All facts important to any report should be reported without prejudice.

2. Analysis - Analysis, likewise, should be handled in an entirely neutral manner but analysis should be limited to determining the significance of various facts.
....a. Significance - Since the total number of facts will exceed the time allowed to report, the process of sorting facts into the important and the unimportant should be based on grouping facts into similar subjects. "The plane is shot down and the pilot's third cousin has a dog named Rover." While the Rover fact is true, when grouped with the plane shootdown story, it is clear that it is a less important fact.
....b. Specificity - The analysis should be limited to the specific event in question. Therefore, it is NOT neutral to consider other's opinions as facts related to the event. While "Tom Daschle" has an anti-war opinion about the downed pilot's mission, it is not a fact specific to the event in question. To report other's opinions about an event is to engage in commentary/opinion rather than to engage in reporting.

3. Commentary: Commentary should always be identified, is always opinion, is entirely appropriate, and will always, necessarily have the elements of bias and prejudice. Ideally, commentary will be logical, coherent, and comprehensive regarding available facts. Pretending that commentary is analysis is to engage in an elementary form of propaganda.

The bottom line is the question: "Can 'Fox and Friends' have a pro-America position and still be considered credible sources of news?"

The answer: Certainly, provided they are honest with facts and clearly identify when they switch to opinion.

[YaYa123]

Thanks so much for the "rest of the story" on the demonstration Brian showed clips of this morning. and remember.....you took a bunch of us on a tour of FOX/C-Span when we were there a few years ago, for the big dinner.

Did you get the surprise I mailed to your office address?

[The Great Satan]

American viewers have made FOX News Channel number one in cable and their ratings are closing in on the Big Three.

The DoD should give Geraldo an exclusive on "Opening Saddam's Bunker." That would really send Fox's numbers through the roof.

[Bluntpoint]

All this negative press for Fox would end tommorrow if they would just once refer to Bush as the "Selected" not "Elected" President of the U.S.

The Washingtion Post: Your morning cup of bile served hot and steamy.