Watching Fox News is officially worse than watching nothing
By: Cahir O'Doherty | Published Thursday, December 1, 2011, 10:00 AM | Updated Thursday, December 1, 2011, 10:00 AM
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| FOX News pundit Megyn Kelly |
On the Fox News Channel, opinion is presented as fact. Grasp that fine distinction and you're on your way to unlocking the whole tragic Rupert Murdoch enterprise.
Here's how it works -- last week Fox News pundit Megyn Kelly famously offered her opinion that pepper spray is a “food product essentially” on national television. Her host, Bill O’Reilly, nodded in agreement. In that way Kelly's opinion, with a cynical assist from O'Reilly, became a “fact” before our eyes.
Ricin poison comes from castor beans, and I suppose you could argue it's a food product too -- so why not go ahead and sprinkle some on your cornflakes Megyn? If you’re implying that we’re silly to be concerned about its effects, that is.
The subtext, the reason she apparently offered this lamentably craven nonsense, appeared to be an attempt to re-frame Lieutenant John Pike’s over the top assault of unarmed and peaceful students at UC Davis last week in the faint hope of repackaging him as a Good Samaritan.
He was just tossing a different kind of salad, Kelly inferred. Go back to your sandbox, kids.
The Internet mocked Kelly mercilessly, as she richly deserved. “Mustard gas is essentially a condiment,” wrote one wag.
“Megyn Kelly regarding water boarding -- it's a shower, essentially,” wrote another.
Now there is
an online petition heading toward 50,000 signatures requesting that Kelly back up her claim and consume as much (or as little) of the stuff as she can manage.
That's not a very nice request but it makes a worthwhile point -- the public is nauseated by the increasingly transparent Fox News house style.
Later, shocked by the unexpected public pillorying, Kelly clarified, “I think what happened was people didn’t watch the whole segment and assumed I was diminishing it. In no way did I mean to diminish what was happening.”
Then she added, “From a legal standpoint, I don’t know if the cops did anything wrong.”
But since when is pepper spraying non-violent protesting Americans at point blank anything but wrong? I must have missed the episode of The O’Reilly Factor when he decided we should emulate Egypt.
Speaking of Egypt, last week a non-partisan new survey of New Jersey voters compiled by Fairleigh Dickinson University came to an interesting conclusion -- Fox News viewers tend to be less informed about current events than people who don't watch any news at all.
Respondents to the university survey were asked whether opposition groups in Egypt had been successful in bringing down the Mubarak regime. Among the NPR listeners 68 percent correctly answered they had been, but only 49 percent of Fox News viewers answered the question correctly.
In fact it emerged Fox viewers were 18 percentage points less likely to answer correctly than those who watched no news at all, the survey found.
“The results show us that there is something about watching Fox News that leads people to do worse on these questions than those who don't watch any news at all,” Dan Cassino, a political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson, told The Los Angles Times.
That means that instead of being just benignly, passively ignorant, watching Fox News actually leads to active ignorance, ignorance that is manifestly detrimental to your understanding of national politics and world events.
That’s quite an accomplishment. I wonder how they’d caption it at the station -- the most uninformed name in news?
Accusations of biased reporting against Fox are nothing new. A while back a Fox staffer forwarded an internal email to the press requesting that pundits always present an opposing view to settled facts.
Fox claims there’s a controversy about evolution among the world's scientists (this is not true). They claim there is a controversy among scientists about global warming (also not true).
On occasion they claim there are controversies about Christmas trees, Chaz Bono and even the president’s birth certificate. They question the president’s patriotism, his commitment to countering terrorism and even to the U.S. military. No one anywhere is making these claims except Fox and its hired hands.
So if you don't mind being purposefully misled by the people that you trust to give you the facts, if you don't mind being the subject of a massive confidence trick, then by all means tune in.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.irismonkey48 | Feb 10, 2013, 11:12 AM EST
Thank you for exposing this fake news program that does nothing but distort the truth , spew hatred and provoke the idiots who actually believe them. I watch Fox news as well as all the other news channels. It is really hard sometimes to watch Fox as I am aware of the lies and the blatant racial, bigotry that they sell all the uninformed people they can.
Madeliene | Dec 14, 2012, 05:19 PM EST
oficiall Communist News Network poll?
Leitrim666 | Dec 13, 2012, 10:35 AM EST
This report is almost as wacky as Fox News. Correlation doesn't imply causation. You can't conclude from the survey that watching Fox News makes people actively ignorant. It may be that people who watch Fox News have no interest in world affairs whereas people who watch no news do have an interest in world affairs. Maybe they don't WATCH the news, maybe they READ it instead. Now there's a revolutionary idea.
kubs | Oct 23, 2012, 11:53 AM EDT
Well, it's good to know Fox-TV is so concerned about students' nutrition that has found a quick & easy way to feed them.
barbaral | Dec 27, 2011, 09:34 PM EST
"It's got cocaine in it! --No, not cocaine. *Raisins.*" Hey, they both come from plants. What?
pmulvihill | Dec 20, 2011, 11:41 PM EST
If all of you people don't watch Fox, how do you know they broadcast nothing but lies? Sounds like many of you are actually frightened.
seanomelbourne | Dec 03, 2011, 06:38 PM EST
Fox gives MSNBC plenty of lies to castigate them with words and blows and humorous drivvel to set straight.
JimMcGarity | Dec 02, 2011, 11:49 PM EST
I guess you must watch Fox. You want to see a real joke, watch MSMBC all they do is talk about Fox. What news, they all talk about nothing. You have to watch BBC to see news.
Ratslayer | Dec 02, 2011, 10:44 PM EST
Stupid Is As Stupid Does. God Bless Fox News and its legion of deranged, mindless, po-white-trash pinheads
McNamara31 | Dec 02, 2011, 06:51 PM EST
peterson...."Fox News is more truthful than the other TV media".... Really? Substantial arguments about policy are crucial to our democracy, but cannot be had when the Fox has subverted the news into smear, vilification and propaganda. Fox has one narrative...to destroy its perceived opposition in any way no matter the negative effect on America or its people.
seanomelbourne | Dec 02, 2011, 06:25 PM EST
Have invited Kelly and O'Reilly to breakfast capsicum with a white ricin sauce followed by a deadly nightshade compote and O'Reilly koolaid,I'll have the bacon and eggs.
EphraimKibbey | Dec 02, 2011, 01:21 PM EST
@bogsidebunny - don't you get it! The Fox "facts" are lies said to make you support the GOP. When repeated in the real world they are shown to be falicious. Its like supply side economics (trickle-down.) Every real economist agrees that it is a lie. Demand drives supply, NEVER the other way around. Why would any rich person ever invest money just to put people back to work. They invest in a business that is expanding and will make them more money not one that is failing. Duh! A business expands and hires new workers only when its demand is greater than it can supply. The only way to increase demand is to get money into the hands of the 99% who will put it back into the economy because they must spend it inorder to buy the things they need to live. Fox has told this GOP, 1%, rich man's fable so long that even many of the 99% believe it to their own detriment. Wake up America!!!
peterson | Dec 02, 2011, 01:18 PM EST
At least Fox News is more truthful than the other TV media. They have more viewers than the other national media. Ask the people who spend money advertising with them.
bogsidebunny | Dec 02, 2011, 08:17 AM EST
I like Fox News. It's the only Conservative MSM. It relates facts not Liberal propaganda like the other Socialist as kissing stations.
JOHNTOBIN | Dec 02, 2011, 05:54 AM EST
What annoys me about Fox more than anything else is the dreadful American accents the announcers have.Very nasally.Completely different to most other USA media channels.
Sectionhand | Dec 02, 2011, 05:14 AM EST
This silly article is as biased as the author claims FOX to be .
EphraimKibbey | Dec 02, 2011, 01:20 AM EST
@McNamara31 - Well Said! One of those you speak of is running for the Presidency of our country. The Newtster has just again revealed that he does not know when to keep his mouth shut. He just(against the GOP prime directive) told the truth to an open microphone. Newt said that running for president was different than being a Fox news commentator because he now has to know what he is talking about. Awhile back he called the Ryan budget right wing social engineering and the lie machine that is the GOP made him take it back. Ailes has said that his network is in the entertainment business and is not concerned with the validity of what is said. In reality, the network is in the right wing propaganda business and is concerned with making sure its viewers come away brainwashed. The beautiful ladies are the cheesecake in the trap. They turn the viewers' brains to mush and whatever is heard/seen is registered as fact. I think they got the idea from "A Clockwork Orange" but the association is between sex and right wing beliefs. If the viewer says "Its all Obama's fault," he is rewarded with happy thoughts.
jamthecat | Dec 01, 2011, 09:31 PM EST
Fox Propaganda hurts your intelligence? Really? And the Faux News thugs are not liking that? Really? This just made my day.
McNamara31 | Dec 01, 2011, 08:49 PM EST
MotherIrish.... With all due respect, do you know who runs Fox News?..Roger Ailes, a full out political operative handpicked (back then) by Nixon himself. Don't believe me, research it. Ask yourself, what other News show creates a whole gang of "potential candidates" who's sole purpose is to sell books, smear and confuse the issues before the American public. Fox had divided this country with hate and vilification like no other before. They are truly a blight on true journalism and it's a disgrace that Hannity and O'Reilly would sink to this level to make a buck!
ballyhip | Dec 01, 2011, 08:22 PM EST
Since I never watch Fox News, did they ever report the Fairleigh Dickinson survey on any of their broadcasts? Unfortunately, most Americans receive all of their world news through the major networks which automatically means that they are ill informed. Unlike the BBC, Reuters, PBS and other agencies that still employ local reporters, US networks, with maybe CNBC an exception, do not. The killer came a few years ago when one of them actually merged their news division with their entertainment division. After all, commercial television has long been defined as an "audience delivery system".
seanomelbourne | Dec 01, 2011, 04:39 PM EST
OMG george I agree with your best post ever.Fox news part of the discredited Murdoch media empire.
GeorgeDillon | Dec 01, 2011, 03:09 PM EST
They're bad enough on domestic issues, where they love the rich and hate the poor, but on foreign policy they're even worse. "Fair & Balanced"? What a joke. I have never seen a fair and balanced discussion of the Middle East, for example. Their idea of balance it to put one pro-Israel fanatic on one side and another pro-Israel fanatic on the other side. Against their countless hours of pro-Israel propaganda, in all their history they have not given one minute to someone to explain the Palestinian point of view to the American people. And of course they're disgusting warmongers. Fox loves violence, as long as it's Third World people who are getting killed. Their women may be well turned out, but they are about as attractive as the Brides of Frankenstein.
SeamusMartin | Dec 01, 2011, 02:31 PM EST
Let's get the name right... it's Faux News! Any organization that has to espound that they are "Fair and Balanced", like their radio counterpart simply isn't!!!!!l l vvv v vcc Let's get the name right... it's Faux News! Any organization that has to espound that they are "Fair and BalancelkjI w, like the radio counterpart, yoou know it isn't fair and balanced.
CaptainCon | Dec 01, 2011, 01:57 PM EST
Fox News = CNN on crack.
hollabackgurl | Dec 01, 2011, 01:52 PM EST
There is a difference between Fox and the mainstream media: Fox attempts to make news, whilst the rest report it.
jflanagan | Dec 01, 2011, 01:46 PM EST
Here in New Jersey we call Fairleigh Dickinson University is called Fairleigh Ridiculous University. Actually I find all new programs slanted according to the views of the station owners in most instances. I remember Brian Williams saying he wouldn't cover the Anthony Weiner sexting story because it wasn't national news, which I agreed with him about. The next night he interviewed Bono, through two commercials, about his troubled Broadway Play "Spiderman". How was that national news worthy of over 10 minutes of air time? Just saying there is misspeaking, misrepresentation, bias and ill advised statements. No one station is exempt from the practice.
MotherIrish | Dec 01, 2011, 12:30 PM EST
Apparently you have never watch ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, HLN or any other news outlet let alone read stuff in the newspapers. They all lie!!! Gosh you lie too. This is your opinion, not fact driven. Some of you Irish - I am one too but not of your ilk, are so liberal when it comes to other than FOX outlets. Give us all a break and keep quiet unless you are really fact driven.
IronMountainMovies | Dec 01, 2011, 11:45 AM EST
One has to suspect that a lot of male fans of the 'foxy' Fox ladies would like to do to those ladies what the Republicans will do to the country if they regain power.
OleSarge | Dec 01, 2011, 11:42 AM EST
Let go of your socialist evil twin. The news isn't supposed to agree with your former hippie professor. It's supposed to inform and enlighten. We used to call it thought provoking. If you prefer mind numbing pretentious drivel watch MSNBC, NBC, CBS or ABC.
walleyeman | Dec 01, 2011, 11:31 AM EST
Me thinks padraig8 would love to meet Ms. Kelly unless of course he is more of a Barney frank kind of guy,
loveapint | Dec 01, 2011, 11:19 AM EST
Of cause, all the left wing socialists don't like Fox News. Their views of a Socialist America is heard on the liberal news stations. Fox reveals some of their behind the scenes corruption and anti-Christian movement.
hooligan6a | Dec 01, 2011, 11:06 AM EST
Padraig8, please tell me one lie you have heard on FOX. And I will tell you four I heard on CBS. By the way, I love FOX News and the woman are to die for.
IronMountainMovies | Dec 01, 2011, 10:51 AM EST
Seems that a lot of Fox viewers and supporters are reading this article. What does that say about you Cahir? The fact that watching Fox adds nothing to ones knowledge of anything is hardly news to people with an intelligence level just above an amoeba. However given that viewers of Fox are slightly lower down the evolutionary scale they are hardly going to realise this hence your article adds nothing either, which is probably why so many Fox supporters are reading it. If that makes sense to you, then you are watching too much Fox as well....Oh never mind....!
Padraig8 | Dec 01, 2011, 10:46 AM EST
The fact that most people watch news that agrees with thier philosophy is not the point, The Point is FOX NEWS LIES and that has been Proven, also Orielly and Kelly are ASSES
hollabackgurl | Dec 01, 2011, 10:40 AM EST
I assume you agree with conservatives like Megyn that pepper spray is a food product, just like pizza is a vegetable and ketchup is a fruit, Phaenius? Are the knights of Columbus paying you by the word?
walleyeman | Dec 01, 2011, 10:40 AM EST
You sure this site isn't the little brother to huffington post?
Phaenius | Dec 01, 2011, 10:35 AM EST
This is amazing. I again picked the stupidist article (titles alone without the author indicated) on my email come on list for Irish Central and I come up with this Cahir guy again. To answer the question, "But since when is pepper spraying non-violent protesting Americans at point blank anything but wrong?" when it is done by the liberal constitution ignorant police officer.
Sectionhand | Dec 01, 2011, 10:05 AM EST
Cahir ... Is it safe to assume that you're an alumnus of Fairleigh Dickinson University ? Where the hell is that anyway ?
PhlutiePhan | Dec 01, 2011, 09:50 AM EST
This diatribe is very biased. In order to take criticism seriously, one has to do more than assess what the meaning of "is" is.
tomgallagher | Dec 01, 2011, 09:43 AM EST
Fox News=Right Wing bullshit. MSNBC=Left Wing bullshit. Take your pick.
carrickcourt | Dec 01, 2011, 09:25 AM EST
Unfortunately a lot of people think Fox News is actually "fair and balanced". People do tend to follow a source which supports their beliefs, no matter how those beliefs are not based in reality.