I'm done with FOX.

To those that say that its harmless comedy and that the right to speech should override all others I say this:

While I will defend to the death your right to free speech, I will not defend you against the consequences of your speech. There should not be journalistic immunity from saying your thoughts. If these people want to be considered journalists, or comedians, and if journalism wants to paint itself in the colours of a professional body, then they have to set and live up to a code of ethics that includes concepts of integrity and accountability. If I were so drole, so unprofessional in my conduct while serving the public then my credentials would be yanked in a heartbeat.

If these clowns want to say their statements were "taken out of context" or that freedom of speech should protect them from their own idiocy then I say take them to task as to why these things should be considered.

Their freedom of speech is only a right because of the sacrifices put forth by those "fighting few", it is earned for them through the work and tragedy of others. For, in many ways, it is a privelege otherwise and should be marched out to defend rediculousness ever so delicately.

While they should not be barred from spouting their insensitive crass BS, their reputation, careers and legitimacy should be impacted by the quality and accuracy of their words.

Can the buggers

[GWN]

Originally Posted by Cyanide

if journalism wants to paint itself in the colours of a professional body, then they have to set and live up to a code of ethics that includes concepts of integrity and accountability.

We have such a code and live by or face sanctions, both from our readers (or viewers) and the legal system. Those guys on FOX aren't journalists. They're as far from journalism as you can get.

True true true

But, if they want to parade around in the drapes of a professional body (in essence they are "playing the part" of journalists, although loosely) then they either have to step up and work within those codes or face "the consequences". Practicing medicine without a license is a felony, I am sure that doing the equivalency within law is probably also illegal. There should be similar considerations then within journalism.


But I think I will stop before I start sounding like a communistic crack-pot (oooops, some would say I am already there)

Originally Posted by GWN

We have such a code and live by or face sanctions, both from our readers (or viewers) and the legal system. Those guys on FOX aren't journalists. They're as far from journalism as you can get.

[Seanohue]

Do what I do; don't watch TV. I think it's been 9 months since I've seen a live TV program.

Originally Posted by GWN

We have such a code and live by or face sanctions, both from our readers (or viewers) and the legal system. Those guys on FOX aren't journalists. They're as far from journalism as you can get.

Are you talking about FOX News as a whole, or just Red Eye?

[GWN]

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

Are you talking about FOX News as a whole, or just Red Eye?

Red Eye. Haven't seen a standard newscast on FOX.

Originally Posted by GWN

Red Eye. Haven't seen a standard newscast on FOX.

I see. I agree that Red Eye doesnt have real journalism. I totally agree that the origninal statement made on Red Eye was completely BS. Should they be taken off the air? I dont think so. The viewer should control that. Should you stop watching FOX because of it? Thats your choice. But I think there is a reason that FOX News leads all other news channels.

[mithrilG60]

There are very very few news broadcasts around the world that are unbiased enough for me to give any form of serious attention to and Fox is certainly not one of them. The BBC and CBC are really the only ones that report equally on all sides of matters of real significance. Besides those I tend to try and read 3 - 4 online newsprint sources; one with a very left wing slant, one with a very right wing and 1 - 2 that are moderate. While I personally am centre-left by Canadian standards (which would probably be very left wing by American standard), I feel that if I don't see the news from both the far-left and far-right view points I can't possible make an informed decision on the reality of the situation. That kind of balance is what's completely missing in almost all media news whether the outlets are American, Canadian, etc.

Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox

But I think there is a reason that FOX News leads all other news channels.

Don't equate entertainment value with actual news reporting. News is meant to be informative, well balanced, unbiased and factual yet all those hallmarks come a distant second to shock/entertainment value on all the US cable news channels (Fox, CNN, etc.) as well has many of the major network programs. That's also certainly not a purely American phenomenon as the same unfortunate trend applies to many of the equivalent news programs running on Canadian networks.

While the entertainment-news programs do give you some idea of current events, they also ALL contain underlying motivations that skew the reporting and as a result the truth they portray. Always there is an underlying financial motivation as ramping up the entertainment value of the news cast provides more revenue in the form of advertising.

While the financial motivation is unfortunate, what's scary is the underlying political motivations. The constant blind and unquestioning (aka biased?) support given to the Bush administration by both Fox and CNN are a prime example of that. Regardless of a journalist's personal political views or leanings their job is to critically report on and question the actions of political leadership. The media play a very important role in keeping politician's honest and on course by holding their decisions and actions up to public scrutiny, and since the general public's perceptions are formed almost entirely on what the media tells them, the dangers of the media giving any administration carte blanche are very high.

[spectrrr]

Originally Posted by mithrilG60

There are very very few news broadcasts around the world that are unbiased enough for me to give any form of serious attention to and Fox is certainly not one of them. The BBC and CBC are really the only ones that report equally on all sides of matters of real significance. Besides those I tend to try and read 3 - 4 online newsprint sources; one with a very left wing slant, one with a very right wing and 1 - 2 that are moderate. While I personally am centre-left by Canadian standards (which would probably be very left wing by American standard), I feel that if I don't see the news from both the far-left and far-right view points I can't possible make an informed decision on the reality of the situation. That kind of balance is what's completely missing in almost all media news whether the outlets are American, Canadian, etc.



Don't equate entertainment value with actual news reporting. News is meant to be informative, well balanced, unbiased and factual yet all those hallmarks come a distant second to shock/entertainment value on all the US cable news channels (Fox, CNN, etc.) as well has many of the major network programs. That's also certainly not a purely American phenomenon as the same unfortunate trend applies to many of the equivalent news programs running on Canadian networks.

While the entertainment-news programs do give you some idea of current events, they also ALL contain underlying motivations that skew the reporting and as a result the truth they portray. Always there is an underlying financial motivation as ramping up the entertainment value of the news cast provides more revenue in the form of advertising.

While the financial motivation is unfortunate, what's scary is the underlying political motivations. The constant blind and unquestioning (aka biased?) support given to the Bush administration by both Fox and CNN are a prime example of that. Regardless of a journalist's personal political views or leanings their job is to critically report on and question the actions of political leadership. The media play a very important role in keeping politician's honest and on course by holding their decisions and actions up to public scrutiny, and since the general public's perceptions are formed almost entirely on what the media tells them, the dangers of the media giving any administration carte blanche are very high.

I used to work in the media. I was a photographer (still am) and held down the position of Photo Editor for a few years. Which meant I had the misfortune to listen to the back and forth "discussion" in the newsroom with all the other journalists (I was the black sheep of the bunch, the only non-writer... I just took pretty pictures ).

Let me tell you, it was APPALLING. Journalistic ethics and integrity? UNbiased oppion? , MY DOG is capable of more unbiased thought than any journalist. It just doesn't fuking exist anymore. believe me, spend a little time in there, and you wouldnt even trust the news if you were pulling it from 6 different sources.

Originally Posted by mithrilG60

There are very very few news broadcasts around the world that are unbiased enough for me to give any form of serious attention to and Fox is certainly not one of them. The BBC and CBC are really the only ones that report equally on all sides of matters of real significance. Besides those I tend to try and read 3 - 4 online newsprint sources; one with a very left wing slant, one with a very right wing and 1 - 2 that are moderate. While I personally am centre-left by Canadian standards (which would probably be very left wing by American standard), I feel that if I don't see the news from both the far-left and far-right view points I can't possible make an informed decision on the reality of the situation. That kind of balance is what's completely missing in almost all media news whether the outlets are American, Canadian, etc.



Don't equate entertainment value with actual news reporting. News is meant to be informative, well balanced, unbiased and factual yet all those hallmarks come a distant second to shock/entertainment value on all the US cable news channels (Fox, CNN, etc.) as well has many of the major network programs. That's also certainly not a purely American phenomenon as the same unfortunate trend applies to many of the equivalent news programs running on Canadian networks.

While the entertainment-news programs do give you some idea of current events, they also ALL contain underlying motivations that skew the reporting and as a result the truth they portray. Always there is an underlying financial motivation as ramping up the entertainment value of the news cast provides more revenue in the form of advertising.

While the financial motivation is unfortunate, what's scary is the underlying political motivations. The constant blind and unquestioning (aka biased?) support given to the Bush administration by both Fox and CNN are a prime example of that. Regardless of a journalist's personal political views or leanings their job is to critically report on and question the actions of political leadership. The media play a very important role in keeping politician's honest and on course by holding their decisions and actions up to public scrutiny, and since the general public's perceptions are formed almost entirely on what the media tells them, the dangers of the media giving any administration carte blanche are very high.

FOX News is a news channel. They give news. Some of there shows more than others. But the main point is they give news. News that is by far more balanced than any other national news channel. If I am equating FOX news as entertainment, then where do people get their national news? FOX news leads all national news. But if you believe that the majority are watching FOX news for entertainment, then i ask again, where do they get there news from on TV?


With regards to the second bold highlight, again, some news channels skew more than others. I believe that FOX news is the most balanced of them all That is why the majority of Americans wanting news turns to FOX news. If they didnt like FOX news, they wouldnt watch it. If they wanted entertainment, they would watch Jon Stewart. If they wanted far skewed news, they would watch msnbc. But the numbers dont lie. People are watching FOX news for balanced news.

[spectrrr]

Originally Posted by Cyanide

While they should not be barred from spouting their insensitive crass BS, their reputation, careers and legitimacy should be impacted by the quality and accuracy of their words.

Agreed, but now you're talking about a deep rooted societal and ethical problem at the core of well.... TOO MANY @#^#$&%@$#%!@ people in this society today... I fear we may have already trashed ourselves beyond ethical repair