Murdoch: ‘If we weren’t fair and balanced, we wouldn’t have the number one network in news.’

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Today, News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch sat down with Fox News host Neil Cavuto for a softball interview. At one point, Cavuto asked Murdoch if he feels like Rodney Dangerfield — “not getting that respect” — even though Fox is “pretty much the envy of the world right now.” When Cavuto asked about perceptions that Fox isn’t fair and balanced, Murdoch said that those allegations were “obviously not true”:

If we weren’t fair and balanced, we wouldn’t have the number one network in news — by a very wide margin.

People believe we’re fair and balanced, and they love us.

Watch it:

There’s no proof that the American public is tuning into Fox because it genuinely believes the network is fair and balanced. After all, a 2008 poll found that just three percent of O’Reilly’s viewers identified themselves as liberal. Twenty-four percent called themselves moderates, and 66 percent said they were conservative. Similar numbers were found in the survey for Hannity’s show. Media watchdog group FAIR has called Fox “the most biased name in news,” and a Fox News vice president admitted that the network’s job was to be “the voice of opposition” to the Obama administration.

http://thinkprogress.org/

[fozzie 41]

High ratings for a news channel in the US prove that they are biased sensationalist #######!!!! Try again Rupert.

[Heracles 417]

So who is fair and balanced then? MSNBC and Keith Olbermann.

It is obvious that liberals in this country have a big problem with anyone who doesn't agree with them. That is why they go on and on and on about fox news 24/7. Yes even when they sleep.

I am extremely critical of republicans here but at least 90% of their shows are about their views. Whereas, most liberal oriented shows spend the majority of their time discussing how dumb conservatives and their views are. That is a huge fundamental difference. A lot of that also plays out here on VJ.

The second someone disagrees with a token liberal, by the third post insults will fly from the liberal.

[Marilyn. 340]

I don't think any news program is fair and balanced and I don't recall anybody saying that some are

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think there is a 'fair and balanced' news outlet - (in the mass media).

It is an odd thing to say though, popularity = fair and balanced. Popularity just means people get something out of it, so they watch it. Murdoch is an auld goat though and knows just how to push the buttons of his personal cash register, kching, kching.

[Heracles 417]

I don't think any news program is fair and balanced and I don't recall anybody saying that some are

Well true but it is an indirect insinuation. Fancy pants obviously feels unregulated and unmonitored basement driven websites are a trusted news source, while the fox news is just biased.

Fox news focuses on center right oriented stories. There is nothing biased about that. I watch them because while Americans are losing their homes, I am not interesting in hearing Olbermann on the other channel harping on about bush and Guantanamo or Gay rights.

Edited June 9, 2009 by Constellation

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That's like Donald Trump saying "People love Trump". I'm sure its true in his own mind... Either that or he's so smothered in propaganda and marketing that he's starting to believe it.

[nowhereman 1]

Anyone that thinks Fox News is "fair & balanced" is:

1. A Conservative Republican

2. An employee of Fox

3. Without a TV

I'd say the #1 reason to watch Fox is the babes in short skirts! Megyn Kelly is a prime example... if her skirts were any shorter she would be arrested for indecent exposure (I'm not complaining btw).

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Who gets anything from that sort of mainstream network news away - its so full of fluff. Very narrow range of stories covered, not just on Fox but all the major channels.

[Peikko 1,575]

Exactly - TV news is for sissies with an attention span of a gnat on crack.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Only one I watch is BBC America - but they've Americanised it for the market, so it isn't much better than the others.

[My Name Is Nobody 3]

So who is fair and balanced then? MSNBC and Keith Olbermann.

The first time I watched him I actually thought it was an act. But then tuned in a few more times and realised it was for real

[Susita 175]

They are so full of #######.

Liars, lol.

[nowhereman 1]

So who is fair and balanced then? MSNBC and Keith Olbermann.

The first time I watched him I actually thought it was an act. But then tuned in a few more times and realised it was for real

He's a whacko too, just on the other end of the spectrum.

[fozzie 41]

Not many unbiased news sources out there. Is it wrong to state that Fox is biased? What has that got to do with liberals not agreeing with what is said? I consider myself fairly liberal but I still know when a news chanel is mostly biased whichever way they lean.