News Is Fox News Truly Fair and Balanced?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Skyhunter
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    News
Click For Summary
The discussion revolves around the perceived biases of various news networks, particularly Fox News, and their treatment of political figures during the election cycle. Participants express skepticism about the concept of "fair and balanced" reporting, arguing that all news agencies exhibit some level of bias, often shaped by their target demographics. The conversation highlights the distinction between straight news reporting and opinion shows, with some asserting that Fox's news programs are less biased than those of competitors like CNN and MSNBC. Critics point out that Fox News has historically supported conservative candidates and policies, while others argue that it offers a broader range of opinions compared to other networks. The debate touches on specific instances of coverage, such as the treatment of Barack Obama and Sarah Palin, with accusations of favoritism and selective reporting. Overall, the thread reflects a deep divide in perceptions of media integrity and the role of bias in news reporting.
  • #31
Skyhunter said:
That is a personal attack. He is insinuating that Lowly Pion is incabable of critical thought and proudly swallows whatever propaganda he is fed.

Oh, I'd *LOVE* to see PF start enforcing *that*. As if we don't get the implied insinuations about conservatives every day and night.

As long as the rule is applied uniformly, I'm game.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
seycyrus said:
Oh, I'd *LOVE* to see PF start enforcing *that*. As if we don't get the implied insinuations about conservatives every day and night.

As long as the rule is applied uniformly, I'm game.
Come on, without personal attacks, what would that leave the left with? Nothing. If they can't accuse their opposition of being for the rich, not caring about poor people, old people, etc, how would they stir up hatred for Republicans?

That's been the bread and butter for Democrats for decades, we can't take that away, can we?
 
  • #33
I don't which is more of a joke: Fox News, this thread, or those who defend Fox News in this thread.
 
  • #34
Others have made this point, and I agree. No news station is truly "fair and balanced", though they all claim it. I don't really see any reason to ask this question, other than to make a sarcastic or facetious point.
 
  • #35
I agree, Oscar, but one little note:

Fox is being measured against the 3 other big networks and CNN and measured against them, Fox news is more biased. For some reason, though, people tend to leave MSNBC out of the comparison even though MSNBC is the same type of major network news subchannel as Foxnews. On bias, Foxnews compares pretty favorably with MSNBC. Kieth Olberman, in particular, is every bit the ideologue that guys like Hannity and Beck are.

In addition, people wrongly tend to separate the other networks' news from their talk/commentary, and don't do the same with Fox. CNN has a very good reputation for quality news, but when you look at their talk, you find a pretty strong liberal bias. Similarly, when you broaden your examination of the other 3 major networks to include their news magazines and talk shows, you get a similarly more aggressive liberal bias.

Yes, fox is arrogant for putting the slogan on their ads, but it is just a slogan. As you say, they are all biased and all claim to be unbiased. The fact that Fox has the slogan doesn't really have any bearing on that.
 
  • #36
I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and issue a challenge. Anyone living near enough to the Canadian border is invited to watch CTV, CBC, and Global news and then compare it to Fox, MSNBC or the like. I believe that you'll notice a major difference in the manner of coverage. (They will, of course, have more of a Canuck focus, but they aren't limited to that.)
 
  • #37
Danger said:
I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and issue a challenge. Anyone living near enough to the Canadian border is invited to watch CTV, CBC, and Global news and then compare it to Fox, MSNBC or the like. I believe that you'll notice a major difference in the manner of coverage. (They will, of course, have more of a Canuck focus, but they aren't limited to that.)

Talking about Canada..here's another controversy from Fox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcJn5XlbSFk

and apology:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510583,00.html

Their comedy makes me sick :(
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #38
rootX said:
Talking about Canada..here's another controversy from Fox

Yet another example of Fox mentality (??) in action. Does that scrawny little ***head even realize that red serge is the Mountie dress uniform as used at funerals and parades, as opposed to the grey and blue duty uniforms which include flack-jackets?
 
  • #39
Most people tend to watch the news that supports their position. Liberals like the networks and CNN because they lean to the left. Conservatives like Fox because it leans to the right. Unfortunately all of the mainstream media have lost their perspective. Medias' job is to report the news, not make the news. I wish there was one news channel that would simply report the news without any editorializing or slanting and allow me to form my own opinion instead of telling me what my opinion should be.
 
  • #40
Woody101 said:
Most people tend to watch the news that supports their position. Liberals like the networks and CNN because they lean to the left. Conservatives like Fox because it leans to the right. Unfortunately all of the mainstream media have lost their perspective. Medias' job is to report the news, not make the news. I wish there was one news channel that would simply report the news without any editorializing or slanting and allow me to form my own opinion instead of telling me what my opinion should be.

www.charlierose.com
 
  • #41
seycyrus said:
Well, when they say "Fair and balanced", the implied "compared to every other network out there" is obvious.

Sorry, that dog don't hunt.

Dabbling in relatives when the issue is absolutes?

No one is talking about what other biases there are in the broadcast spectrum. The topic is that Fox is the one engaging in their own brand of conservative group think.

Just read Roger Ailes mini-biography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ailes

It reads like a Conservative Eagle Scout's badge sash.

The bias starts at the top and permeates the organization. From Fox and Friends in the morning through Neil Cavuto's Ayn Rand view of business to the talking heads in the evenings, these people are apparently hand picked to appeal to a certain conservative fundamentalist demographic. It's just business and selling commercials to advertisers that want to reach people spending money. Why pretend otherwise?
 
  • #42
LowlyPion said:
Sorry, that dog don't hunt.

Dabbling in relatives when the issue is absolutes?

No one is talking about what other biases there are in the broadcast spectrum. The topic is that Fox is the one engaging in their own brand of conservative group think.

Just read Roger Ailes mini-biography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ailes

It reads like a Conservative Eagle Scout's badge sash.

The bias starts at the top and permeates the organization. From Fox and Friends in the morning through Neil Cavuto's Ayn Rand view of business to the talking heads in the evenings, these people are apparently hand picked to appeal to a certain conservative fundamentalist demographic. It's just business and selling commercials to advertisers that want to reach people spending money. Why pretend otherwise?


Why not? People are buying it. It's successful for a reason. They have the right mix of entertainment, news, and conservative bias that MOST Americans like to hear. "Fair and Balanced" is BS and most watching it know that. It's a slogan. Most slogans are BS.
 
  • #43
Woody101 said:
I wish there was one news channel that would simply report the news without any editorializing or slanting and allow me to form my own opinion instead of telling me what my opinion should be.
I refer you to my previous challenge re: CTV, CBC, and Global. :biggrin:
 
  • #44
drankin said:
Why not? People are buying it. It's successful for a reason. They have the right mix of entertainment, news, and conservative bias that MOST Americans like to hear. "Fair and Balanced" is BS and most watching it know that. It's a slogan. Most slogans are BS.

The worst slogan is by far CBS...."GOOD NEWS".

I'm like, seriously? "good news?" Thats no better than 'fair and balanced'.

All charlie rose says at the end of his show is "thank you, and goodnight". Plus his wardobe comes from Ralph Lauren purple label.
 
  • #45
Corporate media has been leading society astray for far longer than FoxNews has been around, though they did take it to a new level. I hope society wakes up to that fact sooner rather than latter, as following the path our oligarchy sets out for us isn't doing us any good.
 
  • #46
Danger said:
I'm going to put my money where my mouth is and issue a challenge. Anyone living near enough to the Canadian border is invited to watch CTV, CBC, and Global news and then compare it to Fox, MSNBC or the like. I believe that you'll notice a major difference in the manner of coverage. (They will, of course, have more of a Canuck focus, but they aren't limited to that.)

I was about to issue a statement asking you for specific times and dates etc. So we can minimize the generalities and the vagueness. We are supposed to be scientists here, aren't we?

But then I realized you were talking about a station that I don't believe I have access to, so it seems to be a moot point.

Why don't you take a notepad in hand and document an hour of each?

I rarely see legitimate opposing points of view on stations besides FN.
 
  • #47
LowlyPion said:
Sorry, that dog don't hunt.

Dabbling in relatives when the issue is absolutes?

The issues are absolute??!

Will you allow me to pick the wall where I get to line up? I prefer non-menthol. No blindfold please.

LowlyPion said:
Just read Roger Ailes mini-biography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ailes

I fail to where that link supports your contentions.
 
  • #48
rootX said:
Talking about Canada..here's another controversy from Fox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcJn5XlbSFk

and apology:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510583,00.html

Their comedy makes me sick :(

It made you sick? Gut wrenching nausea? Uncontrollable spasms?

Really now...

It was humorous.

There have been many films and books that have portrayed the relative strength of the Canadian military. What was your response to them? Cardiac arrest?

The joke ensued from the poor choice of words that the host chose to focus on, i.e. "...take a break from the war..."

And the apology was basically to those serving in the military.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #49
Danger said:
Yet another example of Fox mentality (??) in action.

Good humour being used to make legitimate points? Keep up the good work, I say!

Danger said:
Does that scrawny little ***head even realize that red serge is the Mountie dress uniform as used at funerals and parades, as opposed to the grey and blue duty uniforms which include flack-jackets?

Well, if you pressed him on the issue, he would probably say that he realizes that the Canucks have other uniforms as well.

But is that an important issue. He was making a joke using a visible stereotype. People making jokes usually do that.

I love how the majority of the conservative bashing has centered on what people are saying in their comedy routines!
 
  • #50
drankin said:
Why not? People are buying it. It's successful for a reason. They have the right mix of entertainment, news, and conservative bias that MOST Americans like to hear. "Fair and Balanced" is BS and most watching it know that. It's a slogan. Most slogans are BS.

The issue here is that it is an inherently dishonest slogan, just as most of their "news anchors" are inherently dishonest people.
 
  • #51
seycyrus said:
Good humour being used to make legitimate points? Keep up the good work, I say!



Well, if you pressed him on the issue, he would probably say that he realizes that the Canucks have other uniforms as well.

But is that an important issue. He was making a joke using a visible stereotype. People making jokes usually do that.

I love how the majority of the conservative bashing has centered on what people are saying in their comedy routines!

If it's a comedy routine, quit calling it news. It isn't news and portraying "conservative commentary" as "fair and balanced news" exposes the right wing for the fraud which it has become. Keep up the little "comedy routine" - seriously. It gives the Democratic Party more votes.
 
  • #52
Mgt3 said:
If it's a comedy routine, quit calling it news. It isn't news and portraying "conservative commentary" as "fair and balanced news" exposes the right wing for the fraud which it has become. Keep up the little "comedy routine" - seriously. It gives the Democratic Party more votes.

Excuse me?

It was a comedy segment. Did you watch the segment? Did you read the apology?

Would you, you = mgt, care to take the "News channel challenge" ?
 
  • #53
Mgt3 said:
If it's a comedy routine, quit calling it news.

Agreed, and even as comedy it sucked. It wasn't even vaguely funny. The nearest thing that I can compare it to was 'Seinfeld'; just a bunch of ignorant ***holes sitting around trying to be clever.
And before anyone can accuse me of being overly protective of the Horsemen, I loved the Dudley Doright cartoons.
 
Last edited:
  • #54
Danger said:
Agreed, and even as comedy it sucked. It wasn't even vaguely funny. The nearest thing that I can compare it to was 'Seinfeld'; just a bunch of ignorant ***holes sitting around trying to be clever.
And before anyone can accuse me of being overly protective of the Horsemen, I loved the Dudley Doright cartoons.

It was HILARIOUS!

and it was a comedy segment.

Once again, only certain types of humor are allowed.

This is just like Columbia university, where everyone believes in free speech, unless the free speech is something they don't like.
 
  • #55
seycyrus said:
It was HILARIOUS!

You have got to be kidding. People with your sense of humour are probably why Seinfeld stayed on the air for more than one episode. Let me guess; your favourite meal is squirrel pie with possum gravy. :rolleyes:
 
  • #56
Danger said:
You have got to be kidding. People with your sense of humour are probably why Seinfeld stayed on the air for more than one episode. Let me guess; your favourite meal is squirrel pie with possum gravy. :rolleyes:

The humor on the daily show is FAR closer to that portrayed on Seinfeld.
 
  • #57
seycyrus said:
The humor on the daily show is FAR closer to that portrayed on Seinfeld.

With the notable exception that 'Daily' is clever and funny while 'Seinfeld' wasn't.
 
  • #58
Danger said:
With the notable exception that 'Daily' is clever and funny while 'Seinfeld' wasn't.

Quality of humor content is the same, political bias is more emphasized with the daily show, leading to your acceptance of this the daily shows humor.

Note that Seinfeld was situated in New York...

and we know how New York voted in the last few elections.

Therefore... it is obvious that Democrats all like Seinfeld!

:)
 
  • #59
The thread is about Fox but you are welcome to illustrate the bias in other media outlets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5rqdtZlec0s&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5rqdtZlec0s&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yXJIV4f4ZQ0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yXJIV4f4ZQ0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

These are parts one and two.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #60
Danger said:
With the notable exception that 'Daily' is clever and funny while 'Seinfeld' wasn't.
Maybe Stewart use to be funny. Now he's mostly a sanctimonious lecturer hiding behind comedy. Worse, Stewart knows many people are using his show as a news source, but he continues to relieve himself from the usual news source criticisms by running the laugh track (and his audience is a laugh track). Leno, e.g., is a comedian that does political jokes, equal opportunity barbs. Stewart's a lecturer on an inexplicably criticism free gig.
 

Similar threads

News Who is Nils Bildt? Could Fox News be *that* irresponsible?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • Poll Poll
News Is Fox News Fair and Balanced ? (different than last poll)
  • · Replies 61 ·
3
Replies
61
Views
9K
Fox Sports Ends Print -- the Death of Sports Reporting?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
News Any Popular, Non-Biased, and Reputable Sources of Politics?
  • · Replies 81 ·
3
Replies
81
Views
10K
News Moaning about Google science news section
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • Poll Poll
News Does Fox News live up to the slogan Fair and balanced?
  • · Replies 76 ·
3
Replies
76
Views
13K
News Stop "Fox News North" - Avaaz.org 21M Global Campaign Network
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
News Does 'pack journalism' shape the science news we read?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Psychology: How will we react to discovery of alien life
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
4K
News Fox News: Fair & Balanced? Investigating Claims of Corruption
  • · Replies 340 ·
12
Replies
340
Views
48K