Fox News: Keeping the Right Wing Ignorant

MediaDecember 2010 • Views: 28,361

Media Matters has been leaking internal Fox News memos that show executives and editors deliberately putting policies in place to lie about issues like health care and climate change: FOXLEAKS: Fox boss ordered staff to cast doubt on climate science.

In the midst of global climate change talks last December, a top Fox News official sent an email questioning the “veracity of climate change data” and ordering the network’s journalists to “refrain from asserting that the planet has warmed (or cooled) in any given period without IMMEDIATELY pointing out that such theories are based upon data that critics have called into question.”

The directive, sent by Fox News Washington managing editor Bill Sammon, was issued less than 15 minutes after Fox correspondent Wendell Goler accurately reported on-air that the United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization announced that 2000-2009 was “on track to be the warmest [decade] on record.”

This latest revelation comes after Media Matters uncovered an email sent by Sammon to Fox journalists at the peak of the health care reform debate, ordering them to avoid using the term “public option” and instead use variations of “government option.” That email echoed advice from a prominent Republican pollster on how to help turn public opinion against health care reform.

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41 comments

Obdicut Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:23:38am

How stupid.

Just because a topic has critics doesn't mean those critics have any validity.

The Holocaust Denial version of this:

“refrain from asserting that millions of Jews died in any given period without IMMEDIATELY pointing out that such theories are based upon data that critics have called into question.”

/yeah, straight-up Godwin off the bat. But it gets the point across.

jamesfirecat Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:26:06am

The "Faux news" joke seems to get more accurate every day....

NJDhockeyfan Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:26:22am

Politico:

How Media Matters got that ‘Fox source’

Media Matters has another leaked internal email out from Fox News Washington managing editor Bill Sammon, this time urging journalists to bring up references to Climategate every time they makes any assertion about what’s happening to the climate of the planet.

More interesting, to me, is how they got this email, as I discuss in my story on the main site.

Ari Rabin-Havt, vice president for research and communications at Media Matters, said there were more e-mails coming from what he described as a “Fox source.”
“We have a number of reporters we’ve hired who are working for us, doing investigations on several things,” he said. “One of them was hired to build sources within Fox, among Fox employees, and has been working diligently to build the sources, and has had some success. That was how we have all these stories over time. It started with comments and off-the-record quotes, and now we have started getting hard documentary evidence that we felt was trustworthy enough to build on.”

The group has also been publicizing a whistleblower email address, whisteblower@mediamatters.org, in hopes of drawing more disaffected Fox sources out of the woodwork.

This is truly new territory in the media wars.

b_sharp Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:29:20am

I think this thread has been Godwinned.

But I could be wrong.

Kragar Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:29:38am

Fair and balanced my ass.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:30:28am

re: #4 b_sharp

I think this thread has been Godwinned.

But I could be wrong.

If it's a "Godwin", it's a proper one.

b_sharp Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:31:43am

re: #6 Sergey Romanov

If it's a "Godwin", it's a proper one.

Are you saying I'm wrong?

Me, wrong?

OK, put up yer dukes.

Interesting Times Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:31:46am

re: #1 Obdicut

And, because this can never be pointed out enough:

Prince Alwaleed--Saudi Oil Tycoon, Fox News Investor

And it's precisely because of his involvement with Fox, whose anti-clean energy policy takes a decade off the life expectancy of ecologists each time they switch on the channel, that has gotten him in the news this week. In a nutshell, alternative fuel campaigners are worried that Fox News and Alwaleed have a vested interest in keeping America oil dependent.

Kragar Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:33:13am

Iran Placing Medium-Range Missiles in Venezuela; Can Reach the U.S.

According to Die Welt, Venezuela has agreed to allow Iran to establish a military base manned by Iranian missile officers, soldiers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Venezuelan missile officers. In addition, Iran has given permission for the missiles to be used in case of an "emergency". In return, the agreement states that Venezuela can use these facilities for "national needs" – radically increasing the threat to neighbors like Colombia. The German daily claims that according to the agreement, Iranian Shahab 3 (range 1300-1500 km), Scud-B (285-330 km) and Scud-C (300, 500 and 700 km) will be deployed in the proposed base. It says that Iran also pledged to help Venezuela in rocket technology expertise, including intensive training of officers

Venezuela has also become the country through which Iran intends to bypass UN sanctions. Following a new round of UN sanctions against the Islamic Republic, for example, Russia decided not to sell five battalions of S-300PMU-1 air defence systems to Iran. These weapons, along with a number of other weapons, were part of a deal, signed in 2007, worth $800 million. Now that these weapons cannot be delivered to Iran, Russia is looking for new customers; according to the Russian press agency Novosti[2], it found one: Venezuela.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:33:43am

re: #7 b_sharp

Are you saying I'm wrong?

Did you say it's an improper "Godwin"?

Me, wrong?

OK, put up yer dukes.

Let me put on my armor made of coins and get my samurai sword. ;0)

jamesfirecat Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:36:28am

re: #8 publicityStunted

And, because this can never be pointed out enough:

Prince Alwaleed--Saudi Oil Tycoon, Fox News Investor

Reminds me of the great Daily show bit where Jon Stewart pointed out how they refrained from naming the "scary" Islamist who was funding the "Ground Zero Mosque" because in point of fact he was also the second largest share holder in Fox!

Obdicut Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:37:36am

re: #7 b_sharp

OK, put up yer dukes.

Image: the_dukes_of_hazzard_5.jpg
Image: DukeofMonmouth.jpg
Image: DukeOfYork.jpg

Kragar Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:37:38am

re: #10 Sergey Romanov

Did you say it's an improper "Godwin"?

Let me put on my armor made of coins and get my samurai sword. ;0)

What kind of coins?

b_sharp Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:38:03am

re: #8 publicityStunted

And, because this can never be pointed out enough:

Prince Alwaleed--Saudi Oil Tycoon, Fox News Investor

IPCC climate scientists are greedy assholes, continuing the AGW hoax because of their lucrative grant scam, although they don't get paid by the IPCC and the vast majority of the grant money goes to equipment such as satellites, but there is no link between the fight against alternative energy sources and Saudi Oil barons setting Fox propaganda policy. Yah right.

Have I mentioned I'm Santa Claus' eldest son and brother to Jesus?

Kragar Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:39:00am

re: #12 Obdicut

Image: DukeofMonmouth.jpg

Kragar Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:39:19am

My post got ate.

Image: the-duke.jpg

PhillyPretzel Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:39:43am

re: #7 b_sharp
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, perhaps?

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:40:39am

re: #13 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

What kind of coins?

I lied. I don't have one. *sniff* This guy does though.

elizajane Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:41:32am

re: #14 b_sharp

IPCC climate scientists are greedy assholes, continuing the AGW hoax because of their lucrative grant scam, although they don't get paid by the IPCC and the vast majority of the grant money goes to equipment such as satellites, but there is no link between the fight against alternative energy sources and Saudi Oil barons setting Fox propaganda policy. Yah right.

Have I mentioned I'm Santa Claus' eldest son and brother to Jesus?

You could have posted exactly that on Hot Air or even on Politico without any sarc tags and been well received. It's just astonishing.

Interesting Times Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:42:24am

Fox Lied, Brain Cells Died

These are statements that are known to be untrue, yet Fox News viewers believe them in overwhelming numbers. It’s bad enough that approximately 40% of MSNBC/CNN viewers believe these myths, but clearly Fox is producing an audience of vastly misinformed, cultural illiterates.
...
The problem with having a national news organization that is polluting the population with lies about critical public issues is that it makes democracy impossible. And that, of course, may be the goal of Fox and its corporate overseers.

Barrett Brown Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:42:46am

God, a Fox News gig must be a plum job. "Just make sure extreme right-wingers don't learn things." K, guess I'll play Team Fortress 2 for 12 hours and then clock out.

Kragar Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:44:27am

And the other Duke

Image: 7680-5775.gif

jamesfirecat Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:50:03am

re: #21 Barrett Brown

God, a Fox News gig must be a plum job. "Just make sure extreme right-wingers don't learn things." K, guess I'll play Team Fortress 2 for 12 hours and then clock out.

///Hey its not as easy as it sound do you know that Glenn Beck is seriously considering having move up to pepper spray if he wants to maintain his ability to cry on command?

b_sharp Wed, Dec 15, 2010 10:54:53am

re: #10 Sergey Romanov

Did you say it's an improper "Godwin"?

Let me put on my armor made of coins and get my samurai sword. ;0)

Swords? Nobody said anything about swords.

Wait, what's that over there? Look at it.

Zooommm...

Barrett Brown Wed, Dec 15, 2010 11:01:35am

re: #23 jamesfirecat

Yeah, but they've got interns for that.

imherefromtheinternet Wed, Dec 15, 2010 11:07:18am

I am SHOCKED!! I'm in a kerfuffle or something.

I see that the Daily Show has already been referenced. It has got to be the only popular show that is willing and able to take on the madness machine that is FOX. His clips that detail the creation of a FOX "story" are just amazing. It begins with an unsubstantiated opinion by a FOX personality, that evolves into a "some say" source for the "hard news" segments, which then becomes a full-blown "controversy" to harp on for awhile.

They are in a league of their own, really.

Henchman 25 Wed, Dec 15, 2010 11:08:54am

re: #7 b_sharp

OK, put up yer dukes.

Image: Duke-Nukem-3D-Atomic-Edition.jpg

researchok Wed, Dec 15, 2010 11:13:10am

This is the kind of leak I can not only live with, but will endorse.

I don't care about editorial stands or even ideological/political positions.

The truth however, is not subject to negotiation.

Ever.

Sol Berdinowitz Wed, Dec 15, 2010 11:27:21am

GW is a fact, the A part of it is fairly well proven, but is till debatable.

But these people are even denying that the planet has warmed. That is just head-in-the-sand denialism.

recusancy Wed, Dec 15, 2010 11:34:29am

re: #29 ralphieboy

GW is a fact, the A part of it is fairly well proven, but is till debatable.

But these people are even denying that the planet has warmed. That is just head-in-the-sand denialism.

The only part that's still debatable, at all, is how severe the effects will be. Somewhere between bad and catastrophic.

Ming Wed, Dec 15, 2010 11:55:19am

Fix News should make it easier for some of the older members of their audience, and simply publish a two-page summary of the news of the day, called Talking Points. This could be posted on every street corner, just like the 2-page Pravda was posted in the Soviet Union. Then, in just a few minutes, people who want to be told what to think can get their viewpoints set for the day. Of course, if you want to see young white women in sleeveless tops, you have to watch Fox News on TV.

MinisterO Wed, Dec 15, 2010 12:13:34pm

re: #3 NJDhockeyfan

Politico:

How Media Matters got that ‘Fox source’

This is truly new territory in the media wars.

Indeed, the real issue here is how Media Matters got those memos.

reine.de.tout Wed, Dec 15, 2010 12:36:51pm

re: #31 Ming

Fix News should make it easier for some of the older members of their audience, and simply publish a two-page summary of the news of the day, called Talking Points. This could be posted on every street corner, just like the 2-page Pravda was posted in the Soviet Union. Then, in just a few minutes, people who want to be told what to think can get their viewpoints set for the day. Of course, if you want to see young white women in sleeveless tops, you have to watch Fox News on TV.

Or, go walk down any street on a warm day.

Or, check out Headline News or CNN.

I detest Fox News. But what is it with the women at Fox?

jamesfirecat Wed, Dec 15, 2010 12:50:08pm

re: #33 reine.de.tout

Or, go walk down any street on a warm day.

Or, check out Headline News or CNN.

I detest Fox News. But what is it with the women at Fox?

To quote the buzzards from the Jungle Book... (to the best of my ability)

Oh no, don't you go startin' that again!

lostlakehiker Wed, Dec 15, 2010 1:01:21pm

re: #31 Ming

Fix News should make it easier for some of the older members of their audience, and simply publish a two-page summary of the news of the day, called Talking Points. This could be posted on every street corner, just like the 2-page Pravda was posted in the Soviet Union. Then, in just a few minutes, people who want to be told what to think can get their viewpoints set for the day. Of course, if you want to see young white women in sleeveless tops you have to watch Fox News on TV.

Aw heck. They're so pretty. I sit and watch, hour after houri, mesmerizedi. Mmm. AGW is a conspiracy. Ahhh. Goldline. Mm-ahhh.

But seriously, the fetching newsreaders are not the problem. The content comes from upstairs.

lostlakehiker Wed, Dec 15, 2010 1:03:41pm

re: #9 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Iran Placing Medium-Range Missiles in Venezuela; Can Reach the U.S.

Didn't we have this argument before, with the Soviet Union? Those missiles cannot be allowed. Blockade, and failing that, war, are our options.

Fozzie Bear Wed, Dec 15, 2010 2:34:57pm

Have we covered Beck's recent call for the special forces to commit treason here yet? It seems apropos to the thread topic.

krypto Wed, Dec 15, 2010 3:42:28pm

One of the more obvious Fox efforts at propagandizing is the routine and consistent use of the term "ObamaCare" in every headline on their website about health care reform, in what seems like an effort to try to get that established as the commonly used name rather than only the derisive right wing term it was created to be. It serves the same purpose as "government option" instead of "public option" and Bush Sr''s use of the term "tax relief" - if they can get others using the term routinely, then even someone arguing in support of health care reform would sound less convincing if they keep referring to it as a personal fetish of Obama rather than the long needed effort to address problems in the health care system it actually is, and which terms like "health care reform" or "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" suggest. It's especially striking because Fox does it so consistently that it has to be a deliberate propaganda stunt, while CNN appropriately avoids it except occasionally to mention the term is used derisively by opponents of health care reform.

MinisterO Wed, Dec 15, 2010 4:48:14pm

re: #38 krypto

ObamaCare refers to the substandard health care system run by the government as a national monopoly on health care, as instituted by Obama. It's a one-word winning argument.

The fact that this health care system does not exist, nor has Obama proposed it, is orthogonal to the Fox News audience. Facts in general are largely orthogonal to that audience. They just get in the way of the narrative.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Wed, Dec 15, 2010 5:00:52pm

re: #33 reine.de.tout

Or, go walk down any street on a warm day.

Or, check out Headline News or CNN.

I detest Fox News. But what is it with the women at Fox?

I'll begin by saying that the weird sexist rage against the women of fox news is out of line, but I think people are really weirded out by their very Barbie Doll glamour girl blonde as blonde can be presentation.

Me, I'm more pissed at the people behind the camera and in the control room and in the offices who collect a paycheck while making our discourse more hateful, I could care less about the woman reading the prompter.

compendium Thu, Dec 16, 2010 2:19:38pm

This is not a big deal. All news organizations make editorial decisions about terminology. As recently as March, 2010 NPR changed its policy regarding how abortion rights advocates and opponents are described on-air. To be consistent, a critic of Fox News in this case needs to be equally critical of NPR, AP, New York Times, etc. for their style policies. Left-leaning Republicans are routinely called "moderate", while right-leaning Democrats are called "conservative". Has anyone heard the phrases "Moderate Democrat" or "Liberal Republican" on air? Being truly fair and/or balanced is more difficulty than it seems.

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