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Title: Fox News Fail: Are Viewers Getting Smarter?
Source:
thestir.cafemom.com
URL Source: http://thestir.cafemom.com/in_the_n ... 0346/fox_news_fail_are_viewers
Published: Oct 5, 2010
Author: thestir.cafemom.com
Post Date: 2010-10-05 23:21:22 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 9418
Comments: 17
Yesterday, the cable news ratings showed that Fox News -- that bastion of conservative bias and lies -- is losing viewers.
Thus far, their viewership has decreased by 21 percent and their top shows all posted double digit losses, while MSNBC’s shows grew and the network attracted more younger viewers.
So, maybe people are actually interested in getting the truth?
Personally, I am thrilled.
This summer, I was involved in a story about the Pledge of Allegiance that Fox News blew up. I broke it and they ran with it. Career-wise, it was great as it bumped up the numbers for the site I was editing, but it was the first time I saw the Fox News spin at work. And it was disturbing.
They twisted the words I'd said to make them sound worse (and in some cases downright lied about what happened) and then incited the goons.The people involved in the story -- volunteer school committee with young children -- got death threats, received hate mail, and watched their email boxes fill with spam.
Commenters on The Stir often call what we do "journalism." It really is not. It is blogging. We offer opinions, which you tear down, sometimes nicely and sometimes not. There is a slant, a bias if you will. Fox News is supposed to be impartial. They are supposed to offer the news. They are supposed to be journalists, not bloggers.
The "liberal media bias" is a fallacy when we consider the way Fox News twists and changes things and they do it so easily. This summer all they did was change a few words, the word "ban" instead of "question," and they set off a firestorm. It is smart. It gets ratings. It has lit the careers of people like Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity. But it is not journalism.
If you get your news from Fox, you are not getting the news. You are getting their slant on it.
I have seen it firsthand, but don't believe me? Here are three examples from Media Matters -- "a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.":
- Fox News' Martha MacCallum showed a clip of Vice President Joe Biden in which he said: "The fundamentals of the economy are strong." It was implied that the quote was from March 2010. In fact, the clip came from the 2008 campaign and Biden was quoting John McCain.
- Fox News' Wendell Goler cropped a comment by President Obama and took it out of context to falsely suggest that he supports creating a health care system "like the European countries." In fact, Obama was paraphrasing the town hall question he had been asked before explaining why he opposed such a system.
- Fox News takes Republican "talking points" and claims it as "news." Fox News' Jon Scott referenced seven dates, used on-screen graphics, and claimed they came from different news sources when they actually all came directly from a Senate Republican Communications Center press release.
It is gratifying to see that maybe the younger generation is leaving Faux News and maybe getting their news from reputable news sources. (1 image)
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Maybe this is why they're starting to lift their "news" from Weekly World News.
#2. To: Skip Intro (#1)
Les personnes faibles ne peuvent être sincères.
#3. To: Brian S (#0)
Les personnes faibles ne peuvent être sincères.
#4. To: Brian S (#0)
was the person who wrote this on crack or is she just deranged.
look at the ratings you silly people.
Why does capitalist erica have such a fixation on me? I'm straight, have a job, not homeless and can go within 500 yds of a school. I therefore have nothing in common with erica
#5. To: Brian S (#0)
here's the facts, read it and weep
Live + Same Day Weekend Ratings Cable News Ratings October 2, 2010
P2+ Total Day FNC – 770,000 viewers CNN – 340,000 viewers MSNBC – 302,000 viewers CNBC – 155,000 viewers HLN –230,000 viewers
P2+ Prime Time FNC –1,056,000 viewers CNN — 385,000 viewers MSNBC –439,000 viewers CNBC – 208,000 viewers HLN – 246,000 viewers
25-54 Total Day FNC –187,000 viewers CNN – 101,000 viewers MSNBC – 152,000 viewers CNBC – 70,000 viewers HLN – 102,000 viewers
25-54 Prime Time FNC – 195,000 viewers CNN – 128,000 viewers MSNBC – 202,000 viewers CNBC – 95,000 viewers HLN – 60,000 viewers
35-64 Total Day FNC – 339,000 viewers CNN – 150,000 viewers MSNBC – 150,000 viewers CNBC – 102,000 viewers HLN – 113,000 viewers
35-64 Prime Time FNC –363,000 viewers CNN – 192,000 viewers MSNBC –223,000 viewers CNBC – 129,000 viewers HLN – 100,000 viewers
Cable News Ratings for October 3, 2010 P2+ Total Day FNC – 702,000 viewers CNN – 331,000 viewers MSNBC – 282,000 viewers CNBC – 176,000 viewers HLN –215,000 viewers
P2+ Prime Time FNC –929,000 viewers CNN – 310,000 viewers MSNBC –379,000 viewers CNBC – 222,000 viewers HLN – 185,000 viewers
25-54 Total Day FNC –160,000 viewers CNN – 97,000 viewers MSNBC – 145,000 viewers CNBC – 88,000 viewers HLN –102,000 viewers
25-54 Prime Time FNC – 171,000 viewers CNN –77,000 viewers MSNBC – 188,000 viewers CNBC – 93,000 viewers HLN – a scratch w/ 49,000 viewers
35-64 Total Day FNC – 300,000 viewers CNN – 143,000 viewers MSNBC – 141,000 viewers CNBC – 75,000 viewers HLN – 113,000 viewers
35-64 Prime Time FNC – 356,000 viewers CNN – 115,000 viewers MSNBC – 215,000 viewers CNBC – 87,000 viewers HLN – 77,000 viewers
Why does capitalist erica have such a fixation on me? I'm straight, have a job, not homeless and can go within 500 yds of a school. I therefore have nothing in common with erica
#6. To: calcon (#5)
so only a million people watch Fox News, in a country of 300,000 million?
Thank you for pointing out how irrelevant Fox news really is.
Reality check - Obama is more popular than the tea party
#7. To: go65 (#6)
Thank you for pointing out how irrelevant Fox news really is.
but you think MSNBC is making great strides right????
i love any network that bammy hates
Why does capitalist erica have such a fixation on me? I'm straight, have a job, not homeless and can go within 500 yds of a school. I therefore have nothing in common with erica
#8. To: calcon (#7)
These same posters were saying six or seven years ago on LP Fox News was doomed.
The numbers, as you point out, debunk this laughable diatribe on a blog. Which is why I rarely post blogs in political forums.
Meanwhile, the same posters claim, as you note, the 14 viewers of MSNBC are having a huge impact on America...(chuckle)
Its this sort of absurdity thats led us to what appears to be the biggest political asskicking at the polls coming November 2nd.
Obama's first all-by-his-lonesome budget, btw, calls for a $1.17 trillion deficit.
#9. To: Badeye (#8)
Meanwhile, the same posters claim, as you note, the 14 viewers of MSNBC are having a huge impact on America...(chuckle)
14, that's only because matthews' makes his wife and kids watch it.
Why does capitalist erica have such a fixation on me? I'm straight, have a job, not homeless and can go within 500 yds of a school. I therefore have nothing in common with erica
#10. To: calcon (#9)
Then we should notify the Battered Womens Shelter, and Childrens Protective Services.
Obama's first all-by-his-lonesome budget, btw, calls for a $1.17 trillion deficit.
#11. To: calcon (#5)
Not that I care but you numbers show that more people are NOT watching Faux News than are watching it...
#12. To: calcon (#9)
BTW, guess what I had for dinner last Friday night?
Here's a hint:
Animalize me baby!!!!
#13. To: war (#12)
sorry dude but there's an in n out a mile from my house. They're so damn good my 6 year refuses to go to mcdonald's even if there is a good happy meal toy.
Why does capitalist erica have such a fixation on me? I'm straight, have a job, not homeless and can go within 500 yds of a school. I therefore have nothing in common with erica
#14. To: calcon (#13) (Edited)
...sorry dude but there's an in n out a mile from my house.
I knew I hated you for a reason...{;^D
#15. To: war (#14)
I knew I hated you for a reason...{;^D
oh gee, i thought it was due to my exceptional good looks and brilliant mind.
Why does capitalist erica have such a fixation on me? I'm straight, have a job, not homeless and can go within 500 yds of a school. I therefore have nothing in common with erica
#16. To: calcon (#15) (Edited)
Also ate at Ivy...cajun bloody mary...stone crabs...grilled salad...frappe'...
#17. To: calcon (#15)
Another thing the 'Fox News won't last' crowd from the old LP days six or seven years ago have in common.
They all said the Dixie Chicks wouldn't suffer a mortal career blow.
Last I heard, the 'twins' were trying to tour without the toxic, career killing airhead, Natalie Maines....(laughing)
Obama's first all-by-his-lonesome budget, btw, calls for a $1.17 trillion deficit.
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