"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
Many of those who believe Faux News is biased also labor under the
impression that water is wet.
NOYB wrote:
He goes on to successfully make the argument that news has become nothing
more than a form of entertainment used by the networks to make
money...and
should be protected by the First Amendment.
That's funny, many years ago Rush Limbaugh defended himself and his habit
of lying egregiously on his program by saying it was "entertainment" and
therefor he had no obligation to be accurate...
Here's the Boston Legal exchange on this issue:
JUDGE GREENBLATT
Mr. Shore. This is a school. Is
it wise to expose students to
programs which send the message --
you're anti-American if you question
the government?
SHORE
I'm not sure Fox sends that message
Your Honor, but before we convict
them as the network of conservative
values, or any values for that
matter, these are the folks who
brought you "Joe Millionaire," and
"Who's Your Daddy?"
JUDGE GREENBLATT
That's the entertainment division,
I'm talking about the news.
SHORE
(building steam)
And I'm telling you it's all the
same. This isn't about political
content. This is a corporation
looking to make money. Fox News
began as alternative news programming
to grab a market share, they saw
ratings and profit in a conservative
demographic, and they've been waving
the flag ever since. And so what?
News today, all of it, is
infotainment. Last February, a
deadly toxic known as Ricin was
found in the mailroom of the Senate
Majority leader, potential
terrorism. CNN Headline News led
with Janet Jackson's exposed breast.
A month ago, while we're in the
middle of a war, newscasts all across
the country led with Prince Harry's
costume at a keg party. It's a
business, and while ABC and NBC go
for the deeper social issues like
Brad and Jennifer's breakup, Fox
chooses to run with red, white and
blue. And by the way, before you
villify them, a survey done in 2002
revealed that seventy percent of
the people in this country believe
it is good when news organizations
take a strong pro-American point of
view. Seventy percent.
JUDGE GREENBLATT
Does that make it right?
SHORE
Of course it makes it right.
Because the rule in infotainment is
give the people what they want.
The reason Fox is such a big threat
is because they're popular. So
much so that they've been copied by
both CNN and MSNBC. CNN actually
toyed with getting Rush Limbaugh to
help capture some of Fox's market
share. This is money, Your Honor.
Not politics.
Let me say, I am a great lover of
the news.
JUDGE GREENBLATT
I can see that.
SHORE
I watch it all. On days like 9/11,
or other world-changing events, the
news programs are nothing short of
spectacular. When President Kennedy
was shot, when Martin Luther King
delivered "I Have A Dream," when we
walked on the moon, our lives were
shaped by these events, in part
because of the news. But on all
the other days,... they're
businesses, looking to compete like
anybody else in a competitive market
place. They sell product. Fox is
simply a network like ABC, NBC,
CBS, CNN, -- chasing the God-almighty
buck. And even if you're determined
to believe that Fox is some evil
empire, looking to spread rightwing
propaganda... that still doesn't
change the fact that we are in this
room today because a principal is
shutting down the expression of
ideas... because he disagrees with
the content. If you say that's
okay... my, my. Then we really do
have a problem.
JUDGE GREENBLATT
I grew up watching Walter Cronkite.
It was a time, the news seemed to
be fair, objective... and trusted.
In fact, whenever we doubted the
blather coming out of the
politicians' mouths... it was the
press we turned to to get a sense
of the truth. Well... Walter
Cronkite has definitely left the
building. When it comes to
credibility... big media is dead.
Networks pander, some to
conservatives, others to liberals,
and I agree with Mr. Shore, it's
probably more about money than
ideology. Where it was once the
obligation of the media to ask the
tough questions, today we have a
network operating from a mantra,
"don't ask questions." Don't
criticize your government. It's
horrifying. But Fox is just as
free as other networks to adopt a
bias in hopes of attracting a bigger
audience.
JUDGE GREENBLATT (CONT'D)
Doesn't make for good journalism...
but this network is hardly alone.
Mr. Harper, I realize times have
changed in the high schools as well.
Hate violence is on the rise.
Administrators have to be more free
to curtail students' civil liberties,
including disruptive speech. But
attaching a device to a television
to block out a certain network
because of its content... that seems
to go too far. It's censorship.
And I cannot let it stand. Motion
for the plaintiff... is granted.
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