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Debate Info

51
30
Fair Balanced
Debate Score:81
Arguments:51
Total Votes:95
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 Fair (28)
 
 Balanced (23)

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Cerin(206) pic



Fox News

I know this has been debated in the past, but I didn't find those debates in keeping with Fox's standard of journalistic integrity :)

Fair

Side Score: 51
VS.

Balanced

Side Score: 30
2 points

Fox News is fair in the sense that it tries to balance out the media bias. Fox is conservative (YAY!) whereas every other major news station is liberal. It's only fair that the conservatives get a station. :)

Side: fair
1 point

Is it some sort of corporate-wide insecurity that makes them do this, or is it simple Machiavellian strategy to repeat a falsehood until people accept it as fact?

Supporting Evidence: Fox adds “accurate” to “fair & balanced” slogan (www.dailykostv.com)
Side: fair
1 point

It is a conservative station and that is fine. I enjoy many a afternoon laughing at Sean Hannity.

However, they shouldn't claim to be fair or balanced. They are so very obviously biased and unbalanced. I would respect them more if they would own up to it, instead of pretending not to be a religious, republican's eye candy.

Side: Unbalanced

Two of the greatest red-faced moments I've ever seen that logically and methodically exposed a self-described journalist as an ideologue mired in his quest for ratings:

1) The Gibbs-Hannity interview in October

2) Thinking people calling Hannity's bluff as he agrees to be waterboarded (two weeks ago?).

True, I do not think they guy will ever cease to entertain. Although, I have to say...Glenn Beck is steadily nipping at his heels in the race for who is more entertaining...

Side: fair
1 point

I know. Glenn beck is a hoot!

Anyway, a while ago, a memo went out to gay rights activists to "not go on fox news." About a week after I got this memo, I saw a gay author on the network, there to tell his side of the story. He was ripped to shreds, not because his points weren't valid, but because papa bear always gets the last word.

They bring liberals in where they can control them and twist their words. That's not fair.

The only fair thing about Fox News is that they hired Greta, even though she's tough to look at. That's more than I can say about CNN... oh wait they have Nancy Grace. Nevermind.

Side: Unbalanced
ThePyg(6738) Disputed
1 point

how can they claim to be religious, republican eye candy when many of their analys' are atheist liberals who root for Obama?

Side: Balanced
3 points

Many? Names please.

Also, just an aside, but I cringe a bit when people say 'root for' in the context of politics. It's not the Patriots vs. the Jets, some people actually think about their support rather than swearing blind allegiance.

Side: fair
Cerin(206) Disputed
1 point

I'd also like you to quantify "many". I'll admit, I've seen one or two, but they don't seem nearly as frequent as conservative pundits. The liberal pundits are usually more likely to get shouted down or have their mic cut off.

Side: fair
1 point

Fox News uses dirty tactics to promote an agenda.

I can cite a few examples. First, let's go back to the campaign, wherein they asked if Barack Obama's fist pound with his wife was a terrorist fist jab.

It's one of their favorite tactics. They believe that if you phrase anything in the form of a question then it's not flagrant bias/opinion.

Another example comes from the movie The Corporation, wherein three reporters are featured on a new segment called The Investigators. The reporters are told to ask tough questions and go after any story...So they do. They investigate the use of the bovine growth hormone (BGH). Their investigation proves that it is not only unsafe for the cow, who is at a highly increased risk for infection, but that bacteria is more likely to be transmitted to people through milk of cows treated. Anyway, the investigators look into this and find fault lies with Monsanto and the FDA, but apparently that's one of the places the investigators are not supposed to investigate, because FoxNews fights with them to pull the story. The entire video can be viewed here which I highly suggest.

OutFoxed is a documentary surrounding FoxNews's agenda and the tactics they use, such as cutting opponent's microphones and talking over them. I have not seen the film, but I have seen clips, such as this one about the FoxNews tactic of inserting opinions by saying "some people say..." Check it out.

In conclusion, FoxNews is a terrible "news" organization, focused on infotainment, not journalism. They are neither fair, nor balanced, and the fact that they pretend to be is a joke.

Side: Unfair
1 point

they provide equal air time to both sides of the argument (liberal and conservative) according to the Project of Excellence in Journalism.

also, they report EVERYTHING. not only the stuff that is convenient to their ideology. News Corp does what makes them the most money. They know they get the most ratings when they provide good debates between liberals and conservatives. That's what Americans like. This is why Fox News is number 1 in cable news. and top 10 in cable.

News Corp even allows rival companies (General Electric, owner of MSNBC) to put advertisements on their channel.

Capitialism at it's best. they don't focus on ideology, they focus on what makes them money. what makes them money? fair and balanced news.

Side: Balanced
1 point

Thank you for saying all of that. I couldn't agree more.

Even If Fox News wasn't fair and balanced (which it is) why does anyone care!? Other News channels admit to being partisan but nobody crying about that. Look at what MKiced said. Fox is not completely conservative but even if it was it would balance everything out.

People, you don't have to watch anything you don't like. You watch your CNN, msnbc, NBC, ABC news, etc, and we will watch Fox News.

Side: Fair and Balanced
4 points

"...you don't have to watch anything you don't like."

That's the problem with cable news! It's run through an ideological filter before it even hits the proverbial press. It's not Cronkite/Murrow-era journalism, it's entertainment designed to suck in anyone whose ideology matches the opinions (by and large, that's what they call "news") that they're broadcasting. I am never anything short of astonished when I run across people who just don't see that Fox is the most egregious contributor to this, and that their "opinion journalism" is poisoning a very important pillar of our democracy.

I will admit that Pyg had a good argument for being 'balanced', but without fair, you've got nothing. And Fox "News" is anything but - they're a complete joke within their own industry.

Furthermore, the ratings argument is extremely fallacious in a discussion of what is "fair and balanced" journalism. The masses are asses - this is proven in spades every time Britney Spears and Larry the Cable Guy go on tour (separately, of course, but I don't know...I might pay to see that....anyway, getting back on track.....).

Going even further, do you really want ratings to drive the discussion of what you need to know?

Side: fair
2 points

When it comes to news, it really would be good if, no matter which channel we choose, it's just news and not all the BS that surrounds it with talking heads.

Side: Fair
Cerin(206) Disputed
1 point

Other News channels admit to being partisan but nobody crying about that.

Exactly. The operative word there is admit. People prefer an honest bias to liars like Fox who only pretend to be impartial. If you truly believe Fox is "fair and balanced" then I suggest crawling out from under the rock you live under.

Side: fair
HGrey87(750) Disputed
1 point

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/07/hannity-attacks-obama-for_n_198851.html

These are just some brilliant journalists here. Doing some great work, protecting our nation from the dangers of elitist condiments.

Side: fair
ThePyg(6738) Disputed
1 point

yeah, Hannity decided to get in on the media hype of Obama going to a fast food joint. he just decided to poke a joke at him, as Hannity always does. But, that's what he's payed for. To give his opinion and to poke fun at things going on in the media. if you watch his show all the time (which i actually stopped doing some time ago), you'll see that he always makes harmless jokes whenever something becomes way bigger than it has to (like Obama at a fast food restaurant).

anyway, Red Eye, which is a comedy/news show on FNC, actually made fun of the whole hysteria over Obama at the joint, but they also pointed out that Dijon mustard is the same price as regular mustard. In fact, Jim Norton (stand up comic who is a conservative) said he spits on anyone who uses regular yellow mustard.

IT'S ALL A BIG JOKE!!!

Side: Balanced

While it is true that most news stations are very liberal, Fox News is conservative to the point where facts are warped, which is just wrong, in my opinion. As a native Swede, I rely on BBC for my news.

Side: Unfair
0 points
Side: Balanced
1 point

Thanks again, idiot downvote brigade. Got a whole slew of my arguments this time, very honorable. Good to know you're too dumb to argue, though.

Side: Balanced