Why does Fox news get under peoples skin so bad?

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   shynslyposted 13 years ago

   Why does Fox news get under peoples skin so bad?
   
   I consider myself a personally liberal but politically conservative individual, so I watched CNN the whole time Bush was in office, now that it's the Dems in control, I watch Fox... I want the dirt, not the "roses and lollypops" version of the story. I'll figure out the truth for myself.
   
   That said, so far as I can tell, literally EVERY other major "news" organization seems to have a fairly obvious left slant, so why do people get so irrate about ONE channel being right leaning?

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   Mr Tindleposted 13 years ago

   I think there are several reasons that could be mentioned, but one main one. The main one is all about "Success".
   
   I think Fox's success drives much of the hatred from the other side. Same with talk radio too. Like you said much of the rest of main stream media is slanted to the left of the political spectrum. Back a couple of decades ago the liberal side basically had a monopoly on the main stream portion of the media. So Fox comes along and directs their programming towards a more conservative audience. They get popular and effectively seem to end the monopoly of left-wing media. But not only that, they become more popular than other news providers and get a bigger audience than many other network shows combined. So not only are they producing shows that are favorable to and in some cases promoting politics that are apposed to liberal ideology, but they are making lots of money & putting a dent in their liberal competitors influence, by doing it.
   
   Of course I have always wondered about how many liberals also watch Fox News. I know allot of both conservatives and liberals who regularly view the network. I think part of Fox's rise to media power has been that not only did they offer something different, but they did it in a very provacative and confrontational way. This is important I think because it has also attracted the attention and viewing of liberals. So, if I'm right on this its ironic that by stoking the liberal anger they have not only built a loyal conservative audience, but they also attract a certain number of liberal viewers which hurts the other liberal news networks.
   
   That said I really don't even care for Fox or the rest of the MSM. They all do a poor job of really informing people about important information. But it is fun to watch the Liberal side go into a frenzy and which I believe actually benefits Talk radio and Fox!

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   Freeway Flyerposted 13 years ago

   I think that the supposed "left slant" of the mainstream media is a bit exaggerated. I have read and listened to a lot of truly left wing people over the years, and the mainstream is way to the right of them.
   
   Fox news annoys some people because they are so blatantly pushing a political point of view. So if someone does not share that viewpoint, they will get irritated.
   
   I don't find TV news to be of much value. The closest thing to unbiased reporting I have found is NPR. Of course, conservatives believe that it is so incredibly liberal. This is in spite of the fact that both conservative and liberal commentators appear on the channel all of the time, and the radio hosts grill both Republicans and Democrats during interviews.
   
   In the end, it is hard to say that any news source is unbiased. People define the ideological middle in different ways.To a rabid Fox viewer, almost all other news sources are liberal. To a listener of Pacifica radio, all news sources are corporate stooges pushing a conservative message.

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   Stump Parrishposted 13 years ago

   Mr Tindle could be right about the success of Fox News being part of my problem with them. The success they have in getting people to believe outright lies ittitates the crap out of me. I subscribe to cnn, Fox, The AP, Abc, Nbc Cbs and the alternet. I get regular updates from newsmax the printed version of fox. The most accurate reports and information I come across comes from BBC. From BBC I can link to news services all around the world that aren't filtered thru our news media filters. I am able to verify stories rather easily simply by going outside the US. My biggest problem with Fox News is the constant use of blatant lies they prefer to the actual news. Fox stood up in court and admitted they know they lie to their viewers and the bill of rights gives them the right to do so. How does one go about developing any trust for a news service that fought a court battle to retain the right to lie to the American people it is supposed to serve.
   
   Fox News has made a name for itself by providing the conservative right with what they want to hear, lies. I suppose the gullibility of the right and it's willingness to swallow blatant lies comes from the fact that they have shown for years that this is what they prefer. Why do they need Fox News anyway, all the answers to all the questions can be found in a 2000 year old book. ! book to read and one news service to watch. Neither of which can be shown to contain the truth.
   
   Left leaning or right leaning wouldn't bother me if they would just lean towards the truth once in a while.

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   Wayne Brownposted 13 years ago

   I actually do not believe they do.  They hold and have held the largest viewership for some time now. Much like any person or entity that presents the conservative side of the discussion, the network gets a lot criticism that for the most part is just unfounded and obvious in the viewership numbers.  Media lives and dies on "credibility" and Fox knows they cannot stay high with the viewer without that consideration. WB

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   mulberry1posted 13 years ago

   If you want the facts you might try other sources. Politico maybe or perhaps checking things on factcheck.org? (don't tell me Politico is "left", it's what GWB reads every day)
   
   I don't mind hearing opinions from other directions...as long as they are labelled as such (editorial, opinions, entertainment). But I expect news to be the facts.  No twisted facts, no soundbyte taken out of context, no exaggeration, no reporting of only part of the story. It seems deceptive for news shows to handle themselves otherwise.  I want Walter Kronkite, thank you.
   
   If I listen to anyone (as far as news) I need to trust that what they say is indeed factual...or why would I listen? If I want conservative political entertainment I can listen to Limbaugh or someone like him (and do on occasion). There are a number of choices.
   
   I don't watch much of any TV news, so it is hard for me to compare. But my mother does watch Fox and I hear opinion spouted during routine reporting, so much, that it's clearly at attempt to distort things. It's not just a rant by Bill O'Reilly or something, it's just sprinkled throughout.
   
   I am moderately liberal socially, and moderately conservative financially. Moderate is key in both I suppose. I have heard a number of things on Fox that I find downright offensive and some of the contributors seem to be the last people in the world I want to be like...but that's purely personal.
   
   Maybe that would be a good HUB for someone with an interest in politics...websites with the most factual political reporting...but who's to judge?

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   shynslyposted 13 years ago

   mulberry1- actually, hubber "Mr. Tindle" wrote an excellent hub on where to get honest accounting, at least on the web:
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Staying-Vigilan … Government

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   Jarnposted 13 years ago

   Case in point of Fox News douchebaggery. The Newberry Children's book awards occurred several days ago, an event which normally garners some coverage. Due to the tragedy in Tuscon, it was understandably overlooked. Here's the rub: news of the publication of Snooki's book from Jersey Shore was still given full coverage. I cannot conceive of the amount of lysergic acid, mescaline, and cranial trauma necessary for that decision to be made.

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   sir slaveposted 13 years ago

   People dislike fox because they are loaded with inaccurate information according to a recent study by the U of Maryland.
   CNN and MSNBC were sited as well, but Faux news took top honors.  they also tend to rage on specific issues like illegals and unions that are unique to fox(in the amount of coverage received.)  this creates a information bubble. not all of it correct.  see my opinions at " the far rights anti immigration tone"   they create extreamists....

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    Old Empresarioposted 13 years ago

    I actually like Fox News simply because it is the only news organization that goes on the offensive. I may disagree with 90% of what Fox News says, but at least is has made a clear statement on where it stands. It viciously attack the left--something the press has done in this country long before television. If the left had a news organization that fought hard and dirty against the right, we would have a healthy press corps of two equally-matched opponents; each uncovering corruption and mud-slinging against the other side. But we have no press organization that openly praises progressivism or constantly tells the right that they are wrong. The closest thing we have to that is a fair and balanced CNN that will hear both sides of an argument and resolve nothing. I am inclined to think all news services (CNN, NBC) NOT owned by Rupert Murdoch are right wing, but simply are not honest enough to admit it. When Fox News investigated and uncovered a fact in 2008 that Hillary Clinton's campaign team was deliberately darkening the skin of Barack Obama photos in tv ads, I knew we had at least one news organization that was doing its job.

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    Andy the Greatposted 13 years ago

    " literally EVERY other major "news" organization seems to have a fairly obvious left slant, so why do people get so irrate about ONE channel being right leaning?"
    
    I disagree. I think most news organizations in the last 5 years or so have begun slanting right to try to keep pace with Fox. The reason I dislike Fox (and I really don't hate them, but I know plenty of left leaners that do) is because I've literally fact checked them for several weeks and observed the dishonest tactics they use to convey their point of view. I too like to figure out my truth for myself, but I can't do that by watching Fox. If I used it as my only source of information, there is no way I could legitimately come up with my own opinion. I simply wouldn't be exposed to alternatives to their perspective.
    
    I prefer NPR for my news source as they generally stick to asking questions and allowing either both sides to discuss, or simply reaching out to one expert in the field that analyzes something from the scientific "unbiased" perspective who genuinely tries to explore all solutions to a problem. They don't keep rhetorical demogauges around on their payroll from either side.
    
    I don't look for "feel" solutions. I look for logical solutions. I don't look for morality in my news or news commentary. I look for efficiency. The moral questions are mine to decide. NPR does the best job of that in my experience. I could probably find examples of a pundit going beyond that standard, but it's somewhat rare and I get the impression that they are spoken to after the interview about going beyond the facts.
    
    Katie Couric's a pretty good reporter too. She catches flak for the Palin interviews, but all she was doing was asking routine background questions of Palin. They aren't supposed to be "gotcha" questions. They're supposed to be softballs. The fact that Palin wasn't prepared for them didn't reflect on Couric in my opinion.

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    Cowboycoffeeposted 13 years ago

    I am middle of the Road as far as my ideology. Having said that I do believe that FOX news has an antagonistic bent to it.

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