Media Matters: 2009 - A Year of Fox News Political Activism

[Turborama]

2009: A year of Fox News political activism

With the inauguration of President Obama in 2009, Fox News transformed itself from a conservative media outlet into a partisan, right-wing political organization that openly viewed itself as the "voice of the opposition." Throughout the year, Fox News has declared war on the Obama administration, the Democratic Congress, and progressive organizations by, among other things, campaigning for the firing of various administration officials, partnering with conservative groups and politicians to oppose progressive policies, and even allowing its own contributors to fundraise on-air for conservative political causes.

http://mediamatters.org/research/200912220009">Media Matters for America presents a look back at Fox News' year in political activism.

[Enthusiast]

1. Recommend this thread!

This should be universally understood. Never in the history of this nation has there been such a massive propaganda effort as the one being waged by Faux News. This is not some insignificant thing. All the Tea Party nuts and Republicans get their talking and walking directives from Faux.

CNN, MSNBC and the rest should report this nightly to the American people until anyone that watches Faux is generally dismissed as a poor judge of information, gullible and ignorant.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. +1

And Outfoxed should be required viewing... :grr:

[Doctor_J]

2. Everyone already knows this

But no one does anything about it. Seriesly, what's the point of rehashing it? :shrug:

[Turborama]

3. That's exactly what the point is...

...to keep "rehashing" (and updating) it until EVERYONE knows what they are getting up to and something is done about it. What's the other option, ignore it and pretend it isn't happening? Yeah, that worked really well for the world 70 years ago.

ETA this email I just received...

Dear Friend,

Over the course of the year, right-wing media figures have repeatedly shown that there are no depths they won't sink to in order to derail progressive change in America.

And we've been there aggressively fighting back every step of the way. But we need your support to continue our work in 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSKcS7QLnGw">Watch a video highlighting our various successes in fighting back against conservative misinformation and help us keep up the fight in 2010.

Fox News: A 24/7 Political Operation

Media Matters has been at the forefront of exposing the transformation of Fox News from a partisan news outlet into a 24/7 political operation that essentially functions as a right-wing advocacy group. This year, Fox News and its personalities coordinated faux-grassroots political events, actively lobbied for and against various pieces of legislation, and openly fundraised for conservative causes.

In March, the network devoted extensive airtime and space online to promoting the anti-Obama "tea party" protests. Over the summer, the network's hosts and anchors encouraged people to disrupt health care town halls. In September, Media Matters posted video of a Fox News producer coaching attendees of the Glenn Beck-organized 9/12 March on Washington to start cheering seconds before a live report from the event. The footage led to major media outlets openly questioning the credibility of the so-called "news" network.

Thanks in part to Media Matters' research, criticism of Fox News' loss of its journalistic credibility became part of the national conversation. The White House bluntly called Fox "opinion journalism masquerading as news" and operating "as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party." Even Fox News' Bernie Goldberg nervously acknowledged the growing criticism: "If they repeat this long enough and often enough -- that Fox News is not a real news organization, it's an arm of the national Republican Party, it's not to be taken seriously -- if they say that long enough, it might become part of bloodstream of the American culture."


Dobbs, Dropped:

For years, Lou Dobbs used his prominent platform on CNN as a perch to spread hate, misinformation, and wild conspiracy theories. Thanks in no small part to the work of Media Matters and activists like you, Dobbs is now just another right-wing radio host.

In September, in partnership with NDN, America's Voice, the National Council of La Raza, LULAC, and more than a dozen other prominent progressive, Hispanic, and civil rights groups, we launched DropDobbs.com, which placed new focus on Lou Dobbs' ongoing hate speech and misinformation. Complementary efforts, including the amazing grassroots organizing and activism conducted by Presente.org through its BastaDobbs campaign, were critical to keeping the pressure on Dobbs and CNN.

And our work paid off. Dobbs' dangerous, one-sided, and conspiracy-tinged reporting will no longer be seen on CNN. He suddenly announced his departure from the network in November. This was a great victory for those who care about our nation of immigrants and believe in the power of media to elevate the political discourse.



Thank you for your help combating conservative misinformation in the media.



David Brock
Founder and CEO, Media Matters for America

P.S. - http://mediamatters.org/donate/2009/email?src=eoy093b">Please tell your friends to join us in fighting to hold the media accountable.

[ihavenobias]

4. I wouldn't assume that "everyone" knows.

Certainly not the everyone knows all of the specifics.

It's the perfect time for this since many people will be having holiday gatherings with right wing relatives, or even misinformed/uninformed moderates and independents who are directly and indirectly influenced by Fox.

[Doctor_J]

5. And you think they'll believe/care that Fox is a partisan propaganda outlet?

Or that any amount of truth is going to bring them over to sanity?

[ihavenobias]

6. 2 Points

1. The right wingers won't, but it's always good to have enough ammo to at least shut them up. More importantly, they might influence moderates at the table which brings me the second point.

2. It IS possible to change the minds of some moderates and independents.

[Oldtimeralso]

7. K & R and proud to help the cause n/t

[classysassy]

8. Don't complain

Use your off/on switch,turn the bums off.

[Turborama]

9. Don't complain

Pretend it isn't happening and let them get away with it. No thanks.

[ihavenobias]

10. Amen.

The right wing media was largely ignored under Clinton and as a result Limbaugh and Fox News exploded with new fans and incredible influence. Much better to shine a bright light on them and expose them. That way we can debunk their BS and disrupt their talking points and fear mongering, etc.