Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War On Journalism

 

 

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I'll admit that I've never been a fan of FOX news. The few times I've watched it, I've been annoyed by its glossy, glitzy sensationalist approach to the news. Well, so much for that--I prefer to get my news via the internet. But the documentary OUTFOXED from director Robert Greenwald argues that FOX news is more than just a tacky news programme. According to the filmmaker, the FOX channel--owned by right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch--pipes propaganda into millions of homes throughout the world.

The documentary includes many interviews from former FOX television employees--some left, some were sacked, and some were eased out. But they all have the same story--participate in the party line, or you're out. Internal FOX memos are shown detailing how presenters are prompted to play up certain events and kill other stories. Various media watchdogs also appear--including Peter Hart from Fairness and Accuracy on Reporting (FAIR)--and these interviewees analyze the techniques FOX applies to its programming. And these techniques range from dirty (smear campaigns), nasty, hate mongering, and intimidation (Bill O'Reilly) to downright tricky. One of the best portions of the film shows O'Reilly 'interviewing' Jeremy Glick, the son of a man killed on 9-11. When Glick dares to voice an opinion, O'Reilly rudely shouts down his guest, and then subsequent footage show how the guest's comments were horribly distorted over an 11-month period.

According to the film, FOX news has its share in the responsibility of the fear mongering that took place in the build-up to the war. As part of a concerted Strategy of Tension, FOX hyped fears. After watching some of the footage, I was surprised the news presenters didn't sink to wearing gas masks while on air. In one segment, a former CIA agent--a guest on FOX--tells host Hannity that he's concerned that America may have problems with wars on two fronts--Iraq and Afghanistan. Hannity makes an inane comment and compares this situation to walking and chewing gum at the same time. It's obvious that the guest's comments are being managed (cut) in a way to limit his point.

But when one considers the responsibility FOX should have to offer accurate and fair news reporting, it makes me wonder how some people responsible for this nonsense can sleep at night. In one sequence, there's a news snippet stating that it's safer for soldiers on the streets of Iraq than it is living in California. I would have laughed out loud at this rubbish if it weren't so disgusting. (Earth-to-FOX news--no one in California has been blown up by IEDs.) But what's particularly upsetting is that millions of people who watch this stuff don't seem to realize that FOX has "eliminated journalism" and has instead become a mouthpiece for right-wing propaganda. According to one interviewee, FOX audiences tend to have comparatively "incorrect assumptions" about some of the myths of the Iraq war when compared to PBS/NPR audiences.

On the down side, FOX television aficionados probably won't get much out of this documentary--whereas those of us who chose to not watch FOX will be appalled. But perhaps watching this documentary will help some of us Non-FOX channel people understand where some of the hare-brained brainwashing comes from when our neighbours and workmates begin to spout their propaganda--displacedhuman

I find it interesting how right-wing conservatives will attack this documentary apparently without having seen it. It is admittedly hard-hitting, but rightly so (pun intended!). Walter Kronkite and other respected journalists find FNC's tactics not only NOT "fair and balanced," but contrary to all good journalistic practice. One only has to see some of the exchanges between Bill O'Reilly and those guests with whom he disagrees to conclude that FNC's agenda is to serve as a 24/7 promotion of the Repulican agenda -- not to provide "fair and balanced" news.

So Bill O'Reilly interviews the son of a 9/11 victim, then over the next year he keeps referring back to the interview and lies about what the kid said. And the young man inquires about suing O'Reilly for defamation. The legal opinion: you'd have to prove that O'Reilly knew he was lying - and he lies so pathologically, all the time, about everything and everyone, that it would be hard to prove that he knew he was lying. <sigh>

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2.0 out of 5 stars Golden Opportunity Missed
I was disappointed by this film. Liberal activists (much like conservative activists) have an annoying penchant in these types of exposes/critiques to preach to the choir, ignore... Read more

Published on Mar 7 2006 by SRM

4.0 out of 5 stars New version of Orwell's 1984
The only caveat to this dvd is it is not segmented into scenes so watching it is like watching a vhs tape without even the possibility of fast forwarding. Read more

Published on Aug 11 2004 by lanoie

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and rather informative
I ordered this movie because I believe that The Fox News Channel is doing a great disservice to America by preaching fair and balanced news. Read more

Published on July 19 2004 by Mike Coone

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretty lopsided
I saw this at a moveon.org event in California. It's obvious this film is of the preaching-to-the-choir type. Read more

Published on July 19 2004 by P. G Lee

1.0 out of 5 stars Out-Outfoxed-Robert Greenwald's War on Fairness and Balance
This guy is just as bad if not worse than Michael Moore when it comes to unfair editing and context. Read more

Published on July 19 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars They have medication fo help your affliction
To the last reviewer, my wife's a physician, and she tells me that Zyprexa is very effective in treating the paranoid schizophrenia which obviously afflicts you. Read more

Published on July 19 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars How many negative reviewers actually WATCHED this?
I watched this last night, and really enjoyed what I saw. The director dissected Fox News on several points, showing the network's bias in favor of the Republican Party. Read more

Published on July 19 2004 by S. Farnum

5.0 out of 5 stars Fox viewers victim to misinformation
A study was done last fall where people were asked three questions: (1) Do you believe evidence was found linking Iraq to Sept. 11? Read more

Published on July 19 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Shows how FOX is just an extension of the Republican party
FOX's right wing, pro-Republican (as distinct from merely conservative) agenda is obvious just by watching two minutes of their broadcasting. Read more

Published on July 19 2004 by Spiral Highway

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, well-researched and interesting to watch
Fox doesn't produce "news", it produces a news-like product for a target audience. That audience is conservative and Republican not-too-bright males. Read more

Published on July 19 2004

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