Changes

Fox News was started in 1996 by Rupert Murdoch' in response to the other cable news channels which he believed to all have liberal biases. While Fox News claims to be "Fair & Balanced", a claim which it backs up by having bipartisan shows like Hannity and Colmes, it is widely understood to be sympathetic to conservative views. Despite this, Fox News characterizes itself as reporting the news in an unbiased manner and then allowing the viewer to decide.

Fox News Channel was started in 1996 by Rupert Murdoch & Roger Ailes. Murdoch and Ailes perceived a need for a news organization that offered more balanced reporting, one where the facts from all sides would be presented.  Main-stream media "Political Correctness" was banished, with the news anchors calling terrorists, what they were (terrorists), instead of referring to them as "militants". It seems to have paid off.  As of February, 2007, polls show that over 20% of Americans say their main source of news is the Fox News Channel.

 

While Fox News claims to be "Fair & Balanced", a claim which it backs up by having bipartisan shows like Hannity and Colmes, and daily guest pundits from all sides of the political spectrum, it is widely understood to be more sympathetic to conservative and Christian views. Despite this, Fox News characterizes itself as reporting the news in an unbiased manner and then allowing the viewer to decide; "We Report, You Decide" is another of their on-air slogans.

Fox News has dominated the ratings of other cable news shows.[http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-anderson4oct04,0,2195035.story?coll=la-opinion-center] Launched by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and former political consultant Roger Ailes as a refuge for viewers fed up with real or perceived liberal bias elsewhere in the media, Fox is the undisputed ratings champion of cable news. It's been trouncing CNN, MSNBC and CNBC for years, and it sometimes draws a fatter audience share than all its competitors combined. Fox News prides itself in its motto: "News, Fair and Balanced.  We Report, You Decide".

Fox News has dominated the ratings of other cable news shows.[http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-anderson4oct04,0,2195035.story?coll=la-opinion-center] Launched by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and former political consultant Roger Ailes as a refuge for viewers fed up with real or perceived liberal bias elsewhere in the media, Fox is the undisputed ratings champion of cable news. It's been trouncing CNN, MSNBC and CNBC for years, and it sometimes draws a fatter audience share than all its competitors combined. Fox News prides itself in its motto: "News, Fair and Balanced.  We Report, You Decide".

The far-left isn't happy about that slogan.  Even before an angry Bill Clinton exploded at "Fox News Sunday" anchor Chris Wallace in September of 2006, accusing him of "a nice little conservative hit job" after getting lightly pressed (for Wallace) about his record on fighting Al Qaeda, Democratic politcos and advocates have relentlessly attacked the cable network, accusing it of being a Republican propaganda mill. Al Gore has likened Fox to a right-wing "fifth column." Leftist groups, including [[MoveOn.org]], funded the semi-documentary "Outfoxed," which purports to expose the channel's nefarious Republican agenda, and petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to ban Fox's use of its famous "Fair and Balanced" slogan as deceptive advertising. It was denied.

The far-left isn't happy about that slogan.  Even before an angry Bill Clinton exploded at "Fox News Sunday" anchor Chris Wallace in September of 2006, accusing him of "a nice little conservative hit job" after getting lightly pressed (for Wallace) about his record on fighting Al Qaeda, Democratic politicos and advocates have relentlessly attacked the cable network, accusing it of being a Republican propaganda mill. Al Gore has likened Fox to a right-wing "fifth column." Leftist groups, including [[MoveOn.org]], funded the semi-documentary "Outfoxed," which purports to expose the channel's nefarious Republican agenda, and petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to ban Fox's use of its famous "Fair and Balanced" slogan as deceptive advertising. It was denied.

A recent comprehensive study by [[UCLA]] political scientist Tim Groseclose and University of Missouri-Columbia economics professor Jeffrey Milyo found Brit Hume's "Special Report" — Fox's most straightforward news show — more centrist than any of the three major networks' evening newscasts, all of which leaned left. [http://rcp.missouri.edu/articles/milyo_media.html] The program is a model of smart news television.  

A recent comprehensive study by [[UCLA]] political scientist Tim Groseclose and University of Missouri-Columbia economics professor Jeffrey Milyo found Brit Hume's "Special Report" — Fox's most straightforward news show — more centrist than any of the three major networks' evening newscasts, all of which leaned left. [http://rcp.missouri.edu/articles/milyo_media.html] The program is a model of smart news television.  

And although it's true that the network's opinion shows (as opposed to its news shows) are, as they're supposed to be, frequently bombastic and opinionated, it's equally true that Fox's biggest super-star, Bill O'Reilly, is not a mainstream Republican. He regularly charges the oil companies with price-gouging and attacks big business for squashing the little guy. Who can say what host Greta Van Susteren's politics are? She mostly covers the lurid murder-of-the-day stories.  Geraldo Rivera has always been Liberal on most issues, with the exception of being a strong stupporter of the military and stiff penalties for perverts.

And although it's true that the network's opinion shows (as opposed to its news shows) are, as they're supposed to be, frequently bombastic and opinionated, it's equally true that Fox's biggest super-star, Bill O'Reilly, is not a mainstream Republican. He regularly charges the oil companies with price-gouging and attacks big business for squashing the little guy. Who can say what host Greta Van Susteren's politics are? She mostly covers the lurid murder-of-the-day stories.  Geraldo Rivera has always been Liberal on most issues, with the exception of being a strong supporter of the military and stiff penalties for perverts.

Liberal commentators go in and out of the Fox studios all over America, every day — some of them, like host Alan Colmes and news analyst Marvin Kalb, and Eleanor Clift affiliated with the channel. There's no doubt, of course, that Fox News is more conservative than CBS, ABC, NBC or CNN. But, after all, that was its founding mission.

Liberal commentators go in and out of the Fox studios all over America, every day — some of them, like host Alan Colmes and news analyst Marvin Kalb, and Eleanor Clift affiliated with the channel. There's no doubt, of course, that Fox News is more conservative than CBS, ABC, NBC or CNN. But, after all, that was its founding mission.

In April, 2006 the White House selected Tony Snow, Fox News Anchorman, to be the new White House press secretary. "Snow, who in his roles as a pundit on Fox News and elsewhere has rapped Bush on several occasions, joined the White House only after extracting a promise that he would become an adviser to the president on day-to-day strategy...the former columnist will be the first outsider to become part of Bush's revamped inner circle.", said the Washington Post. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/26/AR2006042600558.html]

In April, 2006 the White House selected Tony Snow, Fox News Anchorman, to be the new White House press secretary. "Snow, who in his roles as a pundit on Fox News and elsewhere has rapped Bush on several occasions, joined the White House only after extracting a promise that he would become an adviser to the president on day-to-day strategy...the former columnist will be the first outsider to become part of Bush's revamped inner circle.", said the Washington Post. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/26/AR2006042600558.html]

Snow, 50, worked most recently as a commentator for Fox News and as host of his own radio talk show. He was a director of speechwriting for President George H.W. Bush and has worked as a [[USA Today]] columnist, editorial page editor of the [[Washington Times]], deputy editorial page editor of the [[Detroit News]] and frequent substitute for radio host [[Rush Limbaugh]].[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060426.html]

Snow, 50, worked most recently as a commentator for Fox News and as host of his own radio talk show. He was a director of speech-writing for President George H.W. Bush and has worked as a [[USA Today]] columnist, editorial page editor of the [[Washington Times]], deputy editorial page editor of the [[Detroit News]] and frequent substitute for radio host [[Rush Limbaugh]].[http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/04/20060426.html]