This poll stems from the new quarterly numbers showing "Fox News averaged 1.8 million viewers, while CNN, MSNBC, CNBC and Headline News averaged a combined total of 1.7 million." (Fox News beats all rivals)

Which raises the following debatable questions:

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

I can't vote in the poll because PBS is not one of the offerings, and I can only access CNN online (no cable at chez Daffy).

1.Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?
Generally, the Fox audience is “right, white, Republican and male” (see link below). They watch because the entire network delivers a message they agree with.

Debunking the Fox viewership numbers:


2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

This question is a joke, right? If it was not intended as such, I'd be more inclined to characterize Fox News as a fetid stench emanating from Murdoch's...well, you get my drift.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

This topic has been explored in depth in the media threads.

I'm with DaffyGrl. I can't vote because you're not including The Lehrer News Hour, The Daily Show or BBC America (though I do watch 60 Minutes every once in a while). To be honest, I don't watch TV news with any regularity. I usually get my news via the Web and try to read many different sources to get perspective on the situation. I am no fan of any of the broadcast news stations. In general, the reporting is not very well researched and superficial. Since Fox News seems to be the Al Jeezera of the US, I will read its web offerings (just like I will for Al Jeezera).

I will apologize for not including PBS. I have the following two reasons for doing so:

• PBS is grant funded news, that is not mainstream and does not influence most of Americans.
• PBS is not in the article I choose the news organizations from.

The second reason more so. But I did think to adding it, is that good enough?

Wow...Daffygrl needs to take a deep breath and use the information objectively. Your post referencing Fox numbers is rebuked on numerous occasions. The link you included discussed people that flip to the channel for less than 6 minutes... which hardly should be considered core viewership.
Fox News does edge CNN in average daily views, and as your quoted article states,even though CNN edges in total viewers. Do brief channel surfers count as viewers??? ...

The following link shows the numbers in more objective terms. It's even a Reuters post, which you know is as liberal as it gets...
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?t...storyID=6360856

1.Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

I am confident that the viewership is predominantly white men. I, for instance, prefer it for the objectivity. It's lack of liberal agenda, it's lack of Bush (or Kerry) bashing, and it's appeal to middle class America. It's a first for conservative Americans...


2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

Fox news is a more "meat and potatoes" option for moderate to conservative America. I believe that those whom disagree with Fox News tend to have no objective backing for their disdain.

I applaud Fox news for stepping outside of the typically liberal anti-establishment stigma. The news channel has gained ground for just this reason.

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

I don't watch FNC unless I'm in a restaurant or somewhere and it's already on the tube. Eating and waching FNC, even if it's Tex-Mex, is hard. I eat and watch and hope I don't have to make an emergency dash to the porcelain god.

My neighbor, in the other half of my duplex, watches FNC. In fact, if I'm sitting on the porch, I can hear it's annoying sounds coming from his TV. I have a Kerry/Edwards yardsign and several stickers on my vehicle. He has a "W the President" sticker on his truck.

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

There is an interesting video out called Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's Assault on Journalism. The video shows that FNC is anything but fair and balanced. I don't want to give the whole thing away, but it's take on Bill O'Reilly is a pretty good example. O'Reilly claims that he's only told one person to "shut up," but we see Bill doing just that to any number of people. To be "fair and balanced," not all of these people were guests on the Factor. His telling Al Franken, for example, to shut up" was in a different setting. Still, O'Reilly has told more that one guest to "shut up." This represent, at best, ill mannered journalism. O Reilly's style wouldn't be tolerated on AD. Why should it be tolerated on national television?

O'Reilly is just an example. I could go into Sean Hannity and his puppet Alan Colmes, but I won't.

To answer directly, FNC is not a breath of "fresh air," but a load of hot air big enough to inflate a hot air balloon.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

I agree with DaffyGirl that PBS was an omission. You must realize yeoshua, that NBC, CNBC and MSNBC all have the same parent company--General Electric. Personnel are often interchanged among the three. For example, Meet the Press airs on NBC on Sunday morning, but is replayed Sunday night and Monday on CNBC. Russert's show is balanced. Last week his round table included David Broder, an objective journalist; Doris Kerns Goodwin, a presidential historian and two conservative columnists Robert Novak and William Safire. That's pretty much balanced.

Some have referred to Chris Matthews as MSNBC's token liberal. I don't find Matthews all that liberal. There are time when he takes liberal positions, but he often comes across as conservative. Hadrball often comes across like Matthews borrowed one of Zell Miller's "spitballs."

Then again, MSNBC airs Scarborough Country nightly. Scarborough's show is named after Marlboro Country. He takes his cue from O'Reilly and declares that there is "no spinning allowed." What a joke! All Scarborough and most of his guests do is spin. When Joe gets tired and needs a night off, MSNBC has Pat Buchanan ready to step in. They wouldn't want someone like Campbell Brown sitting in for a right-winger, like Scarborough. That would mean substituting someone who actually has something important to say.

Here’s a link with some sub links about Scarborough.

http://www.allhatnocattle.net/congressman_...scarborough.htm


How about CNN? Capital Gang employs two noted conservatives, the previously mentioned Novak and Kate O. Burn. Novak is cool, calm, and articulate. He could easily overshadow Colmes as does Hannity. Burns on the other hand parrots Republican talking points on a weekly basis. Colmes might even be able to compete, with Burns, who appears that she might be Ann Coulter's long lost mother who has smoked for forty years. CNN also employs Tucker Carlson on Crossfire.

CNN's reporting is far from liberal. A couple of weeks ago Wolf Blitzer, snidely mentioned Kerry's windsurfing for no apparent reason, except perhaps to make Kery look bad. The more I watch Blitzer the less I like him. His first name is a good metaphor--wolves are known for cowardice, but his last name is all wrong. When hear Blitzer, I see images of an NFL middle linebacker plowing into a quarterback. "Blather" would be a better last name for Wolf and guess what--it even rhymes with the much maligned CBS anchorman Rather.

At this point, I think CNN's Lou Dobbs is doing a much better job asking hard questions and discussing issues than just about anyone.

So, to summarize. What do we get when we balances Alan Colmes against Pat Buchanan and Joe Scarborough at MSNBC and against Robert Novak, Kate O. Burns and Tucker Carlson at CNN? They are both mismatchs. Compared to the other cable news channels, Fox's claim to be "fair and balanced" is an outright fraud.

Edited for typo and add paragraph to question one.

I beg to differ. The statement in the article states AT LEAST 6 minutes, NOT less than. And goes on to say:

So, objectively, I can postulate that Fox viewers are more interested in opinion pieces and talk shows like O'Reilly's than they are in hard news, thus watching for longer periods of time.

I’ll rely on Daffygrl for her demographic work on who actually watches. As to why do they watch I’d venture to say that the huge boomer population who probably turned a bit more conservative with age and like myself (tail end boomer) agree with many of the conservative views held by Fox talking heads.

I don’t agree with their tactics and double standards, but I think Fox gets a better stream of guests who generally add value to the discussions. Plus the old saying ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’ applies here for me.

I typically watch NBC for actual news (if I make it home in time) and I try to watch the BBC world news cast as well, interesting to see how they present US news. But I typically bounce between Fox for the talking heads, CNN and MSNBC for actual news.

Wow, could you be flinging more of a generalization there?

I would invite you to take a look at Outfoxed but given the premise of your original post I doubt you would consider doing so objectively.

Fox News is a perfect example of the corporatization of the media. Its the Jerry Springer of News Reporting.

When Rupert Murdoch was asked if he had any liberal commentators working for Fox News, his answer was: "Alan Colmes and Greta Van Susteren".

So lets looks at these "objective" reasons why I find Fox News neither Fair nor Balanced:

First from Think Again: Fox Outfoxes Itself


Here is the link to the original FAIR study.

And here, is a nice little compendium on Fox News and the oxymoron that is their slogan.

I tend to concur with The Ratings Mirage in explaining Fox's ratings:


So, if you actually want to watch the News, tune into CNN, MSNBC, local outlets, etc. If you want conservative opinion and commentary like Ann Coulter on Hannity and Colmes last night telling America that the terrorists really do want Kerry to win, watch FNC.

(emphasis mine)

Doc

I generally watch MSNBC with surfing sidetrips to CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, FNC and C-Span.

On a lark, I decided to watch Fox News Channel for a whole evening using my own barometer. I did this some four weeks ago and the Kerry/Demo Bashing was absolutely over the top. At least on CNN and other REAL networks, ANCHORS don't laugh out loud at either Presidential Candidate.

I haven't seen the FAIR report but I certainly saw similar leanings on Fox when I watched.

Night before last, Sean Hannity guffawed or snickered at least four times in talking about the most recent Wind Surfing Flip Flop ad from Republicans. He wasn't laughing at the ad. He was laughing because it reinforced his continual message of a 'flip-flopping' Kerry. Sean Hannity made absolutely no pretense about being impartial as most anchors try to do. The slightly left-leaning Colmes, who admitted to casting his mayoral vote for Republican Rudy Guiliani, was quiet as a mouse for most of the show.

Present company excluded (even aevans176 because he is here discussing things and good discussion widens EVERYONE'S horizons), here is my hypothetical and highly slanted take on the Fox News Viewer.

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

Sometimes the truth is offered in jest. In my opinion, Fox draws a certain type viewer. It strikes me as being one who already has strong opinions and who wants those opinions confirmed rather than questioned. Some of his opinions may be right. Some may be wrong. He would also be outspoken and rigid in his beliefs and he would not want to listen to people who challenge those beliefs.

Continuing with my purely hypothetical generalization about a typical Fox fan, I would think he was also a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant Male who goes to church but who still participates in blood sports (hunting), likes football, beer, the SI swimsuit issue, NASCAR, participates little in politics, hates gays, has a college degree but barely got that and he analyzes life and its complexities by believing in the Bible, Prosperity Ministers, slogans and and catch phrases. He's been in at least one druken brawl in his early years and flips off other drivers when his wife or girlfriend isn't with him. In short, he's a man's man who will take guff off no one. He hates people who can't find a job because he thinks they are lazy and he is disgusted that "activist" judges, as he would call them, sometimes look out for the less fortunate.

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

Breath maybe, fresh not! I hear it all day on A.M. radio. It's like a re-run of Rush. There is NO originality and nothing BUT spin for the most part. For the past week, ALL the radio pundits and Fox have centered on the CBS issue above all other things!

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

There is no "If" to it about Fox's leaning right. Others, AT LEAST, try not to show BLATANT favoritism as does Fox. (Explained above #1)

[i]Outfoxed[/b]

This same movie:



http://www.keepmedia.com/Register.do?oliID=225

The movie purposely left out information that did not prove it's stated intent, to discredit Fox.

Whenever people trot this movie out to discredit Fox, I always wonder if they bothered to check into the movies credibility.

1. As to whom watches, I'd say predominantly white middle-class America though I know a number of minority households that have Fox regularly on the tube when I've visited.

2. Yes it is. Rather refreshing to have a news network that is actually not always looking to put down America. I see some here, funny enough, the left side of the political spectrum, constantly put down Fox. Makes one wonder if the liberals of this country are so vehement against FoxNews... oh well, show me the fake memos or other documents that FoxNews has presented to slander Kerry...

3. Yes, Fox does lean right. So what? As O'reilly put it:

Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

People who agree with Fox's right-leaning, nationalistic programs and want more entertainment than information. Ex.: We don't have no steenkin time to cover Muslims' jobs on the line for refusing to transport alcohol... old lady nurses are being fired for refusing to give out morning-after pills! <smattering of flag visuals to next big story> Did you hear that Canada is erecting a draft-dodger monument? How... dare they. <Cut to photo: foreground Reagan skull shot flashing pearly whites, background flag>

Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

See above.

If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

Some of all of the above.

I have tried watching Fox News. I can't get past the outlet's condescending, ostentatious, predisposed de facto opinion that conservatives are either right most/all of the time, liberals are wrong most/all of the time, or a combination of both. After red, white, and blue kaleidoscope intermissions this is what we're going to tell you, this is how we're going to tell you, and you can't even come to the conclusion that Republicans could be correct on this issue on your own. They just are.

Sometimes what bothers me most is the body language. When the announcer opens the story with Bush his inflections are upbeat, crisp, and tend to point out something positive. When the announcer turns to Kerry--shucks! Gotta give him air time too--I almost think he's yawning and his voice sounds nasal, like the guy thinks he can finish the story through his sinus cavity. The same thing goes for guest appearances a la Capital Gang style/format. When the conservative speaks most nod. When it's the liberal's turn to speak they act... bored.

As for O'Reilly and how fans say he's more moderate than conservative... I don't care if he's a liberal. Most of the people he's told to shut up or cuts the mike don't deserve his reaction for arguments he can't defend or opinions he doesn't seem to want the audience to hear. I'm holding out for the possibility that it actually comes to blows with him and a guest that won't back down from O'Reilly's threats to see if his tough guy image holds up or he crumbles like a house of cards.

I originally looked into Fox News under the fair and balanced siren call. The marketing technique originally met success (I came, I saw) with varied retention (and I left). It's like asking conservatives to rate NYT or The Nation as unbiased and balanced sources.

I get most of my news from CNN. When I want a laugh I'll download The Daily Show clips or read Salon. I like NRO, Slates' Saletan, the Post and (ooh, I feel dirty) sometimes I'll creep into The American Conservative territory looking for old foes.

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

I have no idea, but apparently a lot of people. I don't watch it at all. As someone said, it's a more personality-driven news with a lot of editorializing programs, such as "Hannity and Colmes" and "The O'Reilly Factor". I prefer my news a little more news oriented, so I stick with CNN. In fact, I watch CNN more than any other news network. I also watch The Daily Show on a consistent basis and listen to NPR radio every day. To balance, I also listen to Sean Hannity's show on the radio.

I think what draws people is Fox News' scheduled programming. You can consistently turn the channel on every day and know what you will find. CNN, MSNBC, CNBC all tend to have a more non-linear feel. I have to wonder how cable calculates the viewership of 24-hour news channels.

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

Yes. Well, maybe not fresh air. But it's a new type of news channel. They've successfully marketed themselves as different--but certainly not fair or balanced. It's impossible to be fair and balanced when you have Sean Hannity or Bill O'Reilly. I don't even think of it as a news channel. Maybe that's my biggest problem. Conservatives love to hear their opinions reflected in their entertainment and news, which explains why Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are so popular. Liberals aren't quite so obsessive. I'll take a potshot here and say this is because liberals think for themselves while conservatives need constant reassurance and reminders as to why they are conservative.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

I suppose they do lean right, but that's because I consider CNN to be the most middle 24-hour news channel. Compared to CNN, Fox does lean to the right. They have programming which is more conservative and pushes the Republican party, but most of that isn't news programming. It's opinion-oriented shows. I wish people would watch C-SPAN, which is even more objective than CNN. In a perfect world, maybe...

From my experience with this outlet? Those people who like to bash the liberal media, who cannot accept that right-wing thinking might be wrong, and who lord themselves over their personal relationships with an attitude of dominance.

In other words, monkeys and apes. (i am kidding, honestly, I had much stronger terms, but just saw Ken Burns' Mark Twain, and it has influenced me like good burbon and cigars)



Yeah. cuz it shows me the dark side.



Or toward the middle that's been long lost.

Ruppert M. once declared he wanted to control the Internet.

To RM, I have this to say:

Oo-Oo Ah-ah Oo-Oo Ah-ah

Well, I for one like to watch Fox News because it is the one outlet where your are most likely to get both sides of the story as it is the one outlet that approaches issues by discussing it with people from both sides the most frequently.

Is their general coverage Biased to the Right? Perhaps, but no more so then CNN is Biased to the left. In other words, only moderately so.

I don't watch Hanity and Combes because I can't Stand Hanity, and Combes is a Bore.

I watch O'Reilly when I can because despite claims to the contrary he is basically a moderate who leans slightly to the right (like me ) we insists that his guests answer the questions. No softballs here.

For those that think he is a Bush booster, you should try researching his opinion on The current policies concerning the Borders, Energy, and Saudi Arabia just to name a few.

Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

What draws me to Fox is how they handle the issues. When they want to address Abortion, the set a show with someone there from NOW, and someone there from Right to life.

When the major Broadcast media addresses an issue like abortion they tell whatever story is currently in the news and then either use a quote from NOW or have someone from NOW as a guest. They rarely give time to the other side.

For hard news, I stick with local coverage. When I lived in New Jersey I could not stand the obvious bias of CBS. But here in St. Louis, the local CBS affiliate is pretty even handed.

For political News I watch Meet the Press on Sundays and try to watch CNN as much as I watch Fox, though I prefer Fox for the reasons stated above.

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?



To my shame, both of my parents watch Fox. The last time my Dad was watching it, I had to leave the room because Anne Coulter was blaming women in the military for Abu Ghraib. I think the audience is older, conservative, and not very up to date on current events. That describes my parents, sad to say. I think Fox watchers just want to be told they are okay, their lifestyles are good, and our big, strong, Texas president will keep them and their houses and their SUVs safe.



2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

All are somewhat stale air, although CNN can be informative. But it's not fast and unbiased enough for most. Most of those who actually keep up with current events (and not by listening to Rush Limbaugh), get our news online, from a variety of sources. This is because A. it's fast and we can make it specific. B. We can cross-check the stories. C. We often hear a story on a messageboard or website, then go read about it from an online source.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

The mainstream media is all to the right, all biased, all restricted. Even MTV refused to run an Ad Busters commercial (even though Ad Busters had the money to pay for it). ABC broke the Abu Ghraib story, which put them head and shoulders above the rest of the media, but still way behind the web. When enough Americans stop relying on the TV, newspapers, magazines, and radio (although don't get me wrong, I love NPR) for the bulk of their news, America will be a better place.

First of all, statistics are somewhat of an abstraction. Example; i could per say put five paint balls marked one through five in a paintball gun, and statisically, ball number one should at some attempt amount come out on the first pull, by statistics, reality has that it could take a million years or so on for that to actually occur, ball number one on first shot of the five that is. Number two in this equation is on what criteria fox claims its viewer amount, a process i am not in depth with, i can go on about statistics, but i will not commit such acts


1) To the topic, who is viewing fox? I have no idea, elderly people, children and adults maybe...

To be serious, it would i imagine depend on what the news channel covers mostly and how they cover it with whom, besides that its hard for me to say, maybe you can make a correlation to elections from it, i have no idea.


2) Is it getting the views from being novel? if you ask me its just a news channel on mainstream t.v, i dont see whats so novel about it, no flashing lights or britney, so i have no idea on that one also.

3) Most stations i would think lean to success in selling itself, so whatever is giving that i imagine is what they may look for or stick to, i doubt heavy an accute political sense really in the shows design for other reasons then that, i dont think such is very common really in mainstream channel news in america, maybe state, but i doubt national.

On a final note, i use the net, npr, and pbs usually for my news source, npr being the top one, and various internet news outlets.

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

Perhaps the answer to this question, at least the draw part is contained in some of the responses to this very thread. I think that a large number of people in this country are sick and tired of the liberal elitest attitude and stereotyping that some of the other media outlets contain - and that some of the posts here contain. One might perhaps call it a "snob backlash".

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

I don't really think so, most of the 24/7 cable news stations are pretty much the same with their brand of "talk shows". Lots of screaming and yelling, nobody really makes any points.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

I think one has to differentiate between "news" and "talk". I watch David Asman in the mornings on FOX, Lester Holt in the afternoon on MSNBC, and then Brit Hume's show on FOX. On Sundays, I watch Wolf Blitzer on CNN until the NASCAR race starts or there's a football game on. Once that happens, I put away the fine French wine, put the quiche back in the fridge, then I pop a beer, put on my "redneck outfit", kick the dog and hide my college diploma that says "Master of Science - Aerospace Engineering" in the bottom drawer.

I voted Other because outside of casually flipping through a few news programs I don't get my news from TV - all TV news programs are complete garbage. I get my news from the internet by reading several news papers and blogs. Some of them are left leaning and some of them are very neutral (i.e. BBC).

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?
You have to be kidding right? Fox News is a great place to go if you want biased news that supports your viewpoint, but if you want anything remoately objective you are in the wrong place entirely. Once you get past the straight news programs into the talk shows it gets even worse, there aren't many shows that can say they are anywhere near as right (or left) leaning as shows like Hannity and Colmes and O'Reilly.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'
I think that in general most other networks at least try to strive for the middle. Like I said earlier though, I don't watch TV news because it is for the most part complete garbage and if you just want raw information the web is a much better place to get it. But if I had to pick a network for objective coverage, it definitely wouldn't be Fox News, it might be something like CNN or Headline News.


And Aquilla what exactly is this "liberal elitist attitude" you are talking about? Would that have to do with the "liberal" media myth?

In my opinion the popularity of FNC is explained by the perception that they're the "fresh air" exception to "Left-Wing Media Bias" . They're doing better than ABC, NBC, CNN, MSNBC when compared against each network head to head; that's because the "left-leaning" part of the population is dispersed between all those networks, and the "right-leaning" part of the population believes that they have no alternative to FNC.
FNC is flashy; it's much more an enterntainment network rather than news network. I don't watch it for several reasons: I don't like the nationalistic and sabre-rattling message that is consistently carried on FNC and I don't like the people they employ as their "analysts" (Dick Morris and Oliver North are examples - people who disgraced themselves in the public office).

A while ago Julian pointed out that we don't really have a "left-leaning" news outlet here in the States. CNN, MSNBC, and others are pretty much in the center and FNC is leaning to the right. In general, I must say, I find that news networks overall are doing an outrageously poor job compared to their European colleagues; there is very little coverage of World news, unless there is a major calamity of some sort or United States somehow involved. Most of the news is very self-centered. That's why I prefer to watch European news networks.

If by that you mean clearly biased, but not nearly as much (or in the same fashion) that many of its detractors claim, I think you've hit the nail right on the head.


I should hope the irony of this speaks for itself.

Back in the dawn of time (about two years ago) I started AD's first FNC bias thread. In it I explained a position that I still hold. That is to say the Fox News Channel is clearly, and often annoyingly biased to the right.

That said, I do not agree to the extremes to which "Faux-Hate" (that's my news buzzword) has been taken...

These for instance are adorable

etc. etc.

Folks, please let's not demonize and mock those who choose to watch a biased channel. Any more than its OK to mock those who say rely on "Occupation Watch" or the "LA Times" or the "Oregonian" for their news coverage. FNC is hardly the only biased source around. The people who watch/read are not necessarily pond scum.

Despite its bias, as cable news channels go FNC is easily as informative as CNN or MSNBC (I would say marginally more so).

I have seen nothing to suggest that FNC's viewership demographic is simply a niche of conservative white males. I would appreciate evidence to back that assertion up.
Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?
Well they are simply a better organized, better produced channel. Their longer shows, though opinion driven offer more information for the savvy viewer trying to get a bit more than the shallow repetition of headlines CNN can offer even if that information leans to one side.
If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'
Mostly Middle. CNN is a wee bit to the left, but it's hardly noticeable. FNC is certainly the most biased major channel.


Though I would say complete garbage is a bit too far (like overlandsailor I'd say that the O'Reilly Factor is underappreciated I would add to that list "Hardball" as well as a few other shows)

I would agree, for those who want the best news sources, the net is the way to go. TV news coverage is almost universally shallow.

I think I'll leave it at that for now....

Check it out: !

I can't readily identify the irony of my statement with a gif. If it's only natural FNC rubbed libs and/or moderates the wrong way two years ago, and indeed that is true today, how is the outcome ironic? It's more prophetic than anything. Or do you mean I have nationalistic tendencies myself?

Darn, here I was trying to be witty and I totally miss the pitch. What I meant to point out was the combination of all four of the initial quotes. I many of the debates over FNC I have noticed something.

That is while many claim FNC is more entertainment than news, many arguing the same premise then point out the "Daily Show" as one of their favored choices.

All of your comments have been helpful in understanding the views expressed towards these various different media outlets.

First: I did not include "Other" due to the fact that I did not want a discussion on the fact that people do not watch the news. But it seems that most people their main source of news is other then the top networks.

Second: I find it interesting that some people feel that the rest of the media is not bias, only Fox is.

Third: To add to the topic of "3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'" I submit the following two year research analysis done at Yale University.

The research team concluded, "although we expected to find that most media lean left, we were astounded by the degree."



So with this information I ask the following question:

4. Since the other news channels are proven to be media bias leaning 'left,' do you feel your own bias towards FOX News stems from the 'left' bias of the other channels, or from a total lack on your own part of observation based upon your feelings towards the term 'conservative' being used, or neither, Yale is off their rocker because Bush/Kerry graduated from there?

Note: I mean this questions to both people who watch FOX News because it is conservative or people who do not watch it because it is conservative. BY NO MEANS am I implying that any one person has been influenced by any media outlet to believe what they believe, but as pointed out earlier, people tend to want to hear their side explained more clearly and understandable through a news medium.

How does identifying one of those favored choices as entertainment ("When I want a laugh I'll download The Daily Show clips or read Salon") equate to a double standard for FNC?

I wasn't referring to you really, just those who indicated the "Daily Show" as a source of news coverage rather than entertainment.

This is precisely what some accuse Fox viewers of doing

I don't know what your saying. Fox News is to conservatives what the Daily show is to liberals... except the daily show doesn't pretend that it's aim is to entertain, and doesn't use the slogan "Fair and Balanced."


4. Since the other news channels are proven to be media bias leaning 'left,' do you feel your own bias towards FOX News stems from the 'left' bias of the other channels, or from a total lack on your own part of observation based upon your feelings towards the term 'conservative' being used, or neither, Yale is off their rocker because Bush/Kerry graduated from there? --emphasis mine

First off this question and your post is entirely dependant on the accuracy and dependability of this Yale study. I can't say whether or not it's believable, only that if it was true that the entire mainstream media was left leaning, then it would suprise so much that it would literally shatter my current worldview. I can only speak from personal experience, and in my experience with the exception of some network and local news stations and papers, that most of the "news-media" I take in does not cater in any way to my views. I view most news as decidedly centrist, and more often than not something indicitave of bias to the right makes me angry. Most of the news that I consume is the cable news channels which by themselves (local channels and papers aside) are most definetly biased to the right. There have been many links to that same FAIR study so I won't post it again.

Now for the sake of debate I am going to react to the study as though it is true (as we should all do, even when someone whose politics we disagree with cites the information).

"do you feel your own bias towards FOX News stems from the 'left' bias of the other channels, or from a total lack on your own part of observation based upon your feelings towards the term 'conservative' being used?"

I don't believe that Fox looks extra biased because of any other station. Ignore the competition and look at Fox alone and you can see constant bias and favoritism. I am sick of debating whether or not Fox has great bias. They do. It is a fact. I am not trying to insult anyone for being conservative!!!!! I am not trying to challenge anyone on their enjoyment of FNC. It is as it is.Please, please, please use your objectivity when judging this. Fox's bias is Fox's bias.

I think that I am likely more reactionary to FNC's bias because of my political beliefs. More centrist people likely don't pick up on near as many of the conservative quips that pass for news on that station.

And certainly my personal definition of conservative is fed and justified by the things I see on FNCm in such a way that it probably leads me to mis-define conservative to some degree... but so what. That doesn't make FNC any more credible. It just goes to show that the more you watch fox the less likely you are to hold a realistic worldview. My definition of conservative is one peice of a mounatain of testimony to that fact.

Yipe, I'm spending a lot of time explaining my little side note joke. I was merely pointing out that when people accuse conservatives of valuing entertainment news rather than hard news as thus watching FNC, many liberals, of their own admission, do the same thing with the "Daily Show".

To the larger point FNC is a lot more informative than the "Daily Show" in fact they are likely more informative than any other cable news network. It's just that the information is presented in a biased fashion.

Fox news is no less informative than CNN, certainly. Anyone can list the headlines...

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

An interesting thing that you can do to begin to get an idea of the types of people that watch Fox and assume that they are getting the news it to view the results of their daily polls. It is friegtening to see a majority of their viewers and readers are completely brain washed and have no grasp of reality. Todays poll is about Saddam playing a part in 9-11. 55% of Fox viewers STILL think that he played a part in the attacks even though every shred of evidence states otherwise. (I just hope some of these people remove their heads from their butts when in public).

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

Yes, a big breath of HOT air. PBS is the only one that I see out there that can tell it like it is without some wack off's point of view on it.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

LEANS???? Jesus, that is using the word a little lightly isn't it. When the Gov. of N.J. came out of his closet, here were the Headlines:

CNN headline:
New Jersey governor: I'm gay, resigns

MSNBC headline:
N.J. governor, saying he’s gay, resigns office

NY Times headline:
N.J. Governor Quits, Citing Affair With Man

Washington Post headline:
N.J. Governor Resigns

Here is what Fox had as a headline:

FOX's headline:
Democrat says he engaged in extramarital affair with another man; resignation is effective November 15

I had these handy as I emailed this to every major editor in the US, and Fox's headline was changed within 2 hours.

So what do you to question number four I added about the Yale University here?

OUt of curiousity, Government Mule. What do you see about the FOX headline that is somehow biased?

[QUOTE]OUt of curiousity, Government Mule. What do you see about the FOX headline that is somehow biased?[/QUOTE]

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

LEANS????  Jesus, that is using the word a little lightly isn't it.  When the Gov. of N.J. came out of his closet, here were the Headlines:

CNN headline:
New Jersey governor: I'm gay, resigns

MSNBC headline:
N.J. governor, saying he’s gay, resigns office

NY Times headline:
N.J. Governor Quits, Citing Affair With Man

Washington Post headline:
N.J. Governor Resigns

Here is what Fox had as a headline:

FOX's headline:
Democrat says he engaged in extramarital affair with another man; resignation is effective November 15

I had these handy as I emailed this to every major editor in the US, and Fox's headline was changed within 2 hours.

[/quote]

OUt of curiousity, Government Mule. What do you see about the FOX headline that is somehow biased?
\[/quote]

I am going to assume that you are serious here aquilla and simply shake my head in disbelief.

You don't consider the fact that FNC referred to this guy as a Democrat as opposed to a Gov. like every non-biased outfit reported it biased? God, I am a human bobble-head at the moment...........

As I mentioned, pay attention to the viewer polls on Fox. They are good for a daily laugh, and a sad reminder that a lot of people are misinformed, misguided, and simply brain washed. Heck I like what the Republicans SAY, but it is what they do that I despise. I think that Fox veiwers simply believe everything that they hear, and don't bother to follow up on what actually occurs.

Small Governments DON'T propose changing the consitution, or tell women what to do with their bodies.

The Fiscal Responsible party DOES NOT have a record deficit.

I like what they say..................heck, they sound like Democrats.

Come on now. First, are you suggesting that the New York Times is NOT Biased?

Secondly, every outfit you quoted would have happially called him the REPUBLICAN Governor of NJ, in a second if he had been one.

IMHO your quotes speak as much to the bias of the quoted as they do to the bias of FOX.

FOX is Biased to the right, moderately. EQUALLY, CNN is biased to the left, moderately. If you want the true story on hard news, watch both. What is the same in both stories is the truth.

If you want the truth on issues, at least try FOX. FOX at least makes the effort to have people from both sides of an issue as guests, not just one side or the other. And both representatives tend to be reasonably intelligent and educated. That, is what is meant by fair and balanced. Is the news coverage slanted SLIGHTLY to the right, yes (no worse then CNN is to the left). Are the issues of the day given a fair showing with equal time to both sides? YES, and far more frequently then any other New organization on TV.

*Edited to remove belittling commentary* The fact is I don't have to assume what Fox would do, they have already done it. Go ahead and continue to guess all you want if you think it adds to your cause.

I am not going to debate the extreme biased nature of Fox News coverage with you. Obviously, you see it differently. Enjoy your coverage, and please, please continue to vote on Fox's poll. I get a kick out of viewing the results.

You said it, not I.

Just so I get this straight, referring to a governor as a Democrat when he is a Democrat is "biased"? Gee, I didn't realize that being calling a someone who happens to belong to the Democratic Party a Democrat is offensive. Is that the same sort of thing that happened when liberals suddenly became "progressives"?

Ooookaaayyy.....

I'm sorry, I assumed people talking about Fox being biased would actually be willing to back that charge up with something.

As for seeing things differently, people on opposites sides of a debate usually do.

Lets look at the coverage of the debate, after the debate (I watched the debate on C-SPAN).

From what I saw before the Daily show came on (which was quite funny), the panel on Fox said Kerry won, that he looked more Presidential, that he was better Prepared, and that Bush did very poorly.

Yep, sounds Biased to me. Those darned Blind Right-Wing Zealots.

Also, I don't participate in any polling outside of AD.

Obviously too many people for the safety of this planet. I'd feel more comfortable if they got their news from multiple sources. TV news is quite bad in any case.



No, just further to the right than those.



Here's a good resource to bookmark: Who owns the media?

As was mentioned earlier, an example might be that GE owns NBC, MSNBC, etc. GE is also a defense contractor, so this is a conflict of interest as GE would have a lot to gain from war and would most likely be more biased.

Most TV news is at least slightly right leading. There's more of a profit to be made in right wing endeavors such as war than in left-wing endeavors of peace.

The only left wing media that I've heard is Pacifica radio. Liberal media is better represented in the print media and the internet, although I think there are more right wing internet news sites than left wing.

The myth of the liberal media is hard to kill. You got to give it to right-wing think tanks -- they just keep repeating the phrases such as "liberal media" until all their followers are unable to see it as anything other.

That would be because it is not a myth. But it is also not as extreme as some suggest and it is certainly not a grand conspiracy.

As it is pointed out in the book Bias, the Bias is not by done on purpose in most cases, it is simply there because the politics of most journalist in TV leans to the left and their personal perspective effects their coverage. It is natural.

The lean is marginally to the left. Now unless someone is personally way to the left of center I can't see how they can watch broadcast news and say it is biased to the right (with the exception of Fox, who's hard news coverage is SLIGHTLY biased to the right).

I think this is a very major reason why FNC has such good rating. Like it was mentioned before the general audience of FNC tend to be males and FNC practically invented the "gorgeous reporter" trend. Whatever happened to reports like Barbara Walters and Connie Chung. Other news stations later followed. Do you remember the Greta Susteren "A little bit sexy" fiasco?

As for me, I voted other for the same reasons as the other people who voted other. I like to read the various news sources on the web and get the different sides so I can make up my mind on a topic. If I were forced to pick one it would be the BBC online.

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?
I'm not, for the simple expedient that it isn't widely available in the UK. On my last trip to the US, I tried to avoid all "news channels" because I find them too repetitive and self-absorbed. Personally I prefer to watch quality news programming on ordinary "network" channels, something that seemed to go out of fashion in the USA about the same time as Betamax.
I selected "Other", because my news sources on TV are the BBC (on the terrestrial channels, not BBC News 24 on cable, though I can get it, because it still has all the things I dislike about dedicated news channels); and ITN, at least in its Channel 4 and Channel 5 incarnations. I don't really bother with Sky News (Fox's British cousin in the Murdoch stable), as it tends to be a bit to entertainment led and follows too much of a tabloid agenda for my taste.

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?
3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

I'll take these two together, if I may. As has already been mentioned, my perception is that ALL the American broadcast news leans to the right, and Fox News, if anything, leans to the even-righter.

But this leads me to my core conclusions on this discussion, and the reason why we'll never come to agreement on it.

Our perceptions of left/right bias in the media are predicated not only on what they say, but where we are. I might think that Fox News is a fountain of terrible left wing propaganda if I were Atilla the Hun's more forthright kinsman, or that Soviet-era TV news was admirably unbiased in it's coverage of the potato harvest and tractor production figures if I were Stalin's harshest left-wing critic (though were that true in either case, I wouldn't have lived long enough to express those views, let alone see enough TV news to formulate them).

Fox News seems dreadfully right-wing to me, because I am on the political left. Moderately so for Europe, rabidly so by US standards, or so I am led to believe by the presentation of Americans in your own media which may or may not be true.

Someone on the right is bound to think that it is less biased, or even unbiased, than I am, because they are not standing where I am.

Is Danny DeVito short, or tall? From a purely personal perspective, we can't say - only that he's shorter (or taller!) than us. We can say that he is short, because we have measured enough people to know what the average is, and to know that height is distributed normally (and I mean this in the statistical sense).

What is missing from this whole debate, wherever it is held, is an objective assessment of where the centre is on any particular issue. We haven't taken the political measurements to know where everyone stands on every issue, and (unlike height), it shifts constantly anyway, so it's unlikely we will ever know where the centre is, which is a pre-requisite of establishing bias, surely?

What I will say is to reiterate my view that, in essence, the concept of journalistic and broadcasting balance are liberal ideas in themselves - expecting one channel to reflect everybody's views equally, with equal weight, and no editorialising to undermine them.
This might work, in theory, if everyones views were known, second-by-second, and all journalists and editors were robots with know opinions of their own. But, clearly, this extreme is not tenable in a broadcast universe run on market principles.

A more typically conservative view of the media would be to expect bias to happen, and to allow it to happen, and allow the consumer to choose sources they find most palatable. Again, this would work in a theoretical universe where the market was perfect, everybody knew the same as everyone else, and nobody was influenced by any other factors like cost, advertising, peer pressure, availability, routes to market, et cetera ad nauseam. But such a place will not and cannot exist.

If the news is turned on in our house it is usually FOX News Channel.
Out of habit, we tend to put the channel there. It seems that most people
go to stations that appeal to them for a variety of reasons:

They relate better to certain newscasters.
They agree with the slant on the news being delivered.
They get familiar with a particular format, and tend to make it a habit.




Not a breath of fresh air, just a different flavor.



If you compare certain news stations to others you may see a slant one direction
or the other, but I, personally, am not bothered by the bias that is inherent in
all news networks.

One point I'd like to make about FOX News:

I find something rather curious in regards to the FOX show called Hannity and
Colmes. The man representing the conservative point-of-view is an all
American, good-looking guy. The man who represents the liberal point-of-view
is a somewhat freakish-looking man, who is not pleasing to the eye. Could
that have been a deliberate attempt to send a subliminal message to viewers.....

Im so glad you noticed. Now, do watch for the same in all of their "Liberal" guests. Furthermore, next time you watch Hannity & Colmes, try and pay attention to how often Hannity makes a point (a conservative talking point usually) and how often Colmes disagrees. When (or if) he does, Hannity usually overpowers him, and Colmes backs down liked a beaten puppy. When you assess the "liberal" guests on all of their programs you'll see the same pattern. They invite powerful, clear, well known conservatives onto their show, but when they invite democrats or liberals to commentate (unless they are news-worthy people and celebrities) they are almost always very weak speakers and debaters, and rarely are they well known. There is something going on, although I don't think it's a terrible conspiracy, it just proves that FNC chooses it's guests based on politics before newsworthiness. Such distinctions are bad for Journalism I would assume.

Julian, you perfectly explained the necessity of knowing our perspective on these discussions. I am extremely far left in this backwards country. That is why after I go to school I am leaving as quickly as possible to a country that isn't likely to throw me in jail for 'treason'.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

Fox News not only leans--it almost topples over to the right. Its approach is not unlike that of right-wing talk radio.

I just bought a marvelous new book at Borders today. Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart has just published America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy in Action. The book sugarcoats many media issues with humor and the graphics are great, too. Here are some examples of the book’s humor as they relate to this thread.

The following quotes are about talk radio, but it could just as easily be about Fox.



Bill O’Reilly really is with Fox, but his interviewing style is similar to that of Limbaugh, Hannity and others on talk radio. Stewart writes of O’Reilly:



Other media do not have to lean to the left to balance FNC.

Credibility is always a nice balance. Stewart lists Tim Russert as a credible interviewer. He describes an interview with Russert:



If an interviewer can’t balance FNC with credibility, then it can be done by simply exhausting someone. Stewart puts MSNBC’s Chris Matthews in this category. He explains:

Which raises the following debatable questions:

1. Who is watching Fox News and what draws these people to a FOX News?

2. Is FOX News just a breath of fresh air from CNN, MSNBC, CNBC?

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

[mod]
[color=blue]Poll options updated to include PBS and Other

1.)To me, Fox appeals to moderate republicans and conservatives who are die-hard, faithful viewers. The other three networks, have people who prefer their coverage, but who aren't so *intense*? about it. Not quite certain how to word it, but I believe that Fox viewers are people who already have their minds made up about most issues and believe sincerely that the media is biased.

2.)I enjoy fox news because it's different, not necessarily because it's a "breath of fresh air." A report came out a few months ago that had Fox viewers rated the highest at holding inaccurate views about Iraq and things like 911. I believe the report, they just don't follow through if a story doesn't pan out or if a WMD claim is retracted. At least, it doesn't grace their shows 24-7 as opposed when a claim is aired constantly when it first comes out. That's my perception of the network from watching it, I have yet to hear any retraction or correction publicly stated on the network.

3.)I wouldn't call the media "left" Let's look at NBC and the debate. Here is fact-check problem #1



NBC fact-check problem #2


-source

CNN also gave a gross false statement analysis of a few of Kerry's statements. MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell was also flat wrong in her assessment of Kerry at the debates as well. If the networks were truly liberal, they would've kept talking up Kerry's performance, rather than make distortions and inaccurate statements in order to appear to be deconstructing what both candidates have said.

3. If FOX News leans 'right' in its media coverage, do the others lean 'left' or are they in the 'middle?'

More proof of how Fox's eagerness to pander to the right blinds them to the fact that people will call them on it. This "article" is particularly offensive in its egregious lying.

And are there no depths to which Fox won’t go: Communists for Kerry?

It seems the Kerry-bashing parody group “Communists for Kerry” (who support Bush) was taken seriously by Fox…until something made them do something highly unusual for Fox - admitting error.

In my opinion, Fox news is more to the middle, they have such shows as Hanity and Colmbs( featuring candidates of boths sides, offering both perspectives so that the viewer can make their own decision) The O'Riley Factor is another example, which most people think is a right wing show, but in reality is just a show presenting the facts that other shows refuse to. Other stations will give Kerry a more favorable appearance when they show him, or will only show certain out takes to make him appear in a certain manor. I am convinced that Fox news just presents the facts and the truth.

If Fox news is to the right, how would you view ABC with their memos about showing Kerry in a positive way so that he looks better to the american people?