Fox News Channel: Thugs posing as journalists
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Fox News Channel: Thugs posing as journalists

My policy on Fox News Channel has always been to defend their right to exist -- I think there's nothing inherently wrong with America having conservative or, um, liberal news outlets -- and to use my free speech to attack them when they get things wrong, which seems to be a lot. I had no idea until reading this NYT column by David Carr that they're also lowlife thugs who use an M.O. straight out of "the Sopranos":
Earlier this year, a colleague of mine said, he was writing a story about CNN’s gains in the ratings and was told on deadline by a Fox News public relations executive that if he persisted, “they” would go after him. Within a day, “they” did, smearing him around the blogs, he said. (I did not ask him for a comment because the information was of a private nature.)
Some of the avenues of attack are easier to anticipate than others. Right now, there are advance copies circulating of a reported memoir I wrote about my times as a drug addict and drunk. I’ve already been called a “crack addict” on Bill O’Reilly’s show, which at least has the virtue of being true, if a little vintage.
Read the whole thing -- there's other outrages -- and then spend the day talking between yourselves again.
It's an open thread. I'm off writing a book, and I...am...outtahere!
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Hey Will, after this, can we expect abook deflating the mythical status of the Kennedy's? Ramon
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flipped over to the FNC Morning show yesterday and saw former Channel29 bozo Clayton Morris sitting on the couch with his scowling look. Not much journalism from old Clayton there. shoeshineboy
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"Thugs posing as journalists" Are we talking about Will? doorspj24
"Thugs posing as journalists" Are we talking about Will? doorspj24- This means nothing because it comes from the pages of the New York Times, who have been known to bully people around with their factually challenged stories such as the McCain affair with the lobbyist hit piece that came out earlier this year. jmc
Thugs?, there you go again with your Sarah Bernhardt,drama queen , "we're the victims here", theatrics. As if you have'nt "gone after" those you politically disagree with, ad nauseam. E Plebnista
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hey hack ... stop ripping of miller's sign-off Mojo Thunder
Funny how the we hate America and Republican news and media outlets focus on just FOX News. Isn't it? They want to preach free speech; but only when it agrees with them. thelastRepublicaninPhilly
So Will is angry about FNC, yet he has no problem with the NYT and its history of bias and fraud. If Will Bunch wants to see a thug posting as a journalist, perhaps he should look in his own mirror. From reading his writing, I have a strong feeling he does that a lot anyway. PhilaRocks
"Will reports, Will decides" shoeshineboy
Those "Beltway Boys" look like a couple of rough customers... yobill626
What did they do, refill the Kool-Aid today? SteveMG
More whining... Patrick M
Hating on Fox....eh...it's getting old. Think of some new lines of attack on conservatives. Be creative. chrissmith
Uh...excuse me, but can someone show me evidence of other television news organizations doctoring photos of reporters writing stories that that organization doesn't like in an effort to belittle the reporters? Oh, and you want us to criticize other "liberal" media besides Fox? Sure. Isn't it just peachy that Glenn Beck of "the most trusted name in news" is telling everyone who will listen that we should just shoot Guantanamo detainees in the head and be done with it? And journos "sipping Chardonnay and eating brie"? Maybe at The Old Gray Lady or the Murdoch Street Journal, but I've never seen that anywhere else. Damn, Will, you've got some ugly trolls. wek
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Comment removed.- What I love about this thread (so far) is seeing the right wing commenters try to engage in exactly what the NYT story accuses FoxNews of doing. Notice that not one comment from the right attempts to dispute the factual content of the story. Just another daily reminder that the right wing is all flap and no flight.
So... this is a reporter from the same NYT who threatened that, if not given original access to McCain's medical records, they would cover the story more harshly? The same NYT that published a story with no named sources wherein the "journalists" accused McCain of having an affair (something not even the sources said)? Matt Drudge has more credibility than the NYT, and Matt Drudge does not have much credibility. bon
Comment removed.- Vince Bugliosi is now accusing George Bush of murder in his new book. Let the contest begin.....
MSL. RE: "Notice that not one comment from the right attempts to dispute the factual content of the story." Here's my comment. I couldn't care less about the factual content...assuming that it even is "factual". What did he think would happen in this climate that we live in now? He put himself out there by writing a book about his favorite subject: himself. It sounds like he's trying to drum up attention for that forthcoming memiors. Hmm. Sounds familiar. Patrick M
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Will, after you finish writing your book (which no one will read), don't come back. thelastRepublicaninPhilly- "Is there any evidence that this fool has actually stopped using crack and abusing alcohol?".......Stay tuned to FoxNews and let us know Patrick.
Rheinhard: To be clear... in your "land of the free" reporters would be free to say whatever they want, but individuals would not be free to poke holes in the reporter's argument or impune their credibility? I am afraid you have it quite backwards. Questioning the press, government and all other (supposed) authority figures is what makes us free. bon
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Is it any wonder why these liberal rags (Inquirer, NYT et al) are in a death spin? Pot meet kettle...he's black. I'll look for you as I drive by the unemployment line. Dope. LOL. KarlMarx
MSL. I didn't write that. And fake b atkinson, I wrote "I couldn't care less about the factual content..." because Montana pointed out that no one attempted to dispute the factual content. I don't care about it because I'm not about to search some blogs to see if this overly sensitive writer is right or simply paranoid. Why? Because it doesn't matter. Try to read the comments before tripping over yourself & your keyboard trying to post something clever. Patrick M- Patrick, sure, your comment says it doesn't matter to you, but yet you joined the right wing chorus to discredit the writer. I simply note that this is how FoxNews operates. Apparently it all matters enough to you to attack the writer, so you can see how a casual reader might think your proclaimed disinterest seems a bit phoney.
How is the right's attempt to discredit a particular writer any different than the left's continual attempts to discredit a particular broadcaster? legatus
If there were one word to describe neoconservatism, it is lazy. Why bother arguing the facts when you can just go after the writer? It's so much easier. Why bother worrying about plans when you can just blame your mistakes on the liberals? It doesn't matter what the subject of the day is, they just post the same talking points over and over again. SteveMG
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Whew! Some serious hatin' going on here. All on board the Hate Express. Why hold your ideological brethren accountable when you can be hatin' on libz instead? Talking point sleuth
To be clear: none of you are defending the NYT's history of thuggery and bullying, you are just ignoring it? (It is sad that both Will and the majority of the left wing commenters are so happy to accuse everyone working for Fox News of being "lowlife thugs." I guess the left feels entitled to fire off personal insults scattershot, in the hopes of hitting someone who deserves it?) bon
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Fake batch you're just as lame as fake plebby... Politburo
Come on now, we all know that a great majority of newspapers are left leaning, and you can just taste the liberal flavor of all those NYT articles. Last time I checked, in very general terms, roughly half of those who vote in the general election vote Democrat, while the other half votes Republican. But it sure seems like the media is way skewed towards the liberal side of things. TheRock2020
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Will's just miffed because FNC doesn't follow the mainstream media policy of liberal bias. As such, FNC must now be attacked and discredited at all costs so that the non-liberal voice will be silenced. So much for free speech in the cradle of liberty. chadsexington
About time Fox was called to account. phillyphilly10
From the comments here it looks like the conservative name-callers can't take it when the shoe's on the other foot. phillyphilly10
Why are you wasting time on this stuff when I am sure there are some updates on "Bonnie & Clyde" you can be giving us right now! C'mon.. get back to the hard nosed journalism you are known for! daddyimscared
Must have been a slow news day....the media is now making itself the story. msmame
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Why is everyone jumping into this argument? It really, really has nothing to do with actual news but rather media types fighting for ratings. Maybe if we let them keep at it, they'll destroy each other and then we can get some new, unbiased reporting of actual news (not dressed up crap these two sides seem to think will win them ratings). Remember people, this entire dust up is about MONEY - advertising money, specifically - for both sides and none for any of you. msmame
How come this "journalist" doesnt mention the obvious bias of MSNBC and Keith Olbermann's vicious personal attacks against anyone who disagrees with him? Oh, thats right. He's a left wing parrot. I wonder if him and Dick Polman are going to wear a skirt and get a pair of pom poms the next time Barry comes to town. beeron
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You might want to question the source, considering the New York Times record of just making things up over the past few years! lakebill
Finally, signs of a BACKBONE! Kudos to Philly.com for posting this story! And for those that repeat the Limbaugh claim of MSM left-wing bias, take note: FOX NEWS IS THE MOST WATCHED MSM OUTLET IN THE COUNTRY! The news is now phony, right-wing, bully-tactics and pure lies fed by the Bush administration. You are now officially under mind control, my friends ... makrom
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Will Bunch - welcome to the real world of politics, the press, and their corporate masters! American IDOL is for politicians and the press too. Peter of Manassas
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I find it hilarious, the breadth and scope of the comments left on this site. Just one question, what newspaper, news agency, or media outlet is good to you people? Ha! What a joke, do you realize yet that you will have something bad to say about every single media outlet because its the fashionable thing to do in all of your rant and rave pea-brains? Capsulef
So to continue the neocon theme of laziness, what moves the product is the idea that it's so easy to be a neocon. You don't need to do anything, because they've got all the answers for you before the questions are even asked. Expensive oil? Drill more. Economic problems? Cut taxes. Exploding deficits? Hey, did you see what the radical left wing New York Times said this morning? SteveMG
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I think Will needs anger management. And maybe a few lessons in logic. For the rest of us, the best way to deal with this clearly incompetent "journalist" is to ignore him. I only read him now once a fortnight. Soon it will be zero. hairball
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"smear campaigns against reporters that wright bad things about the channel." The editing on this site is atrocious sometimes. greenbuff
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Any News Channel that employs Geraldo Rivera has a serious credibility problem right from the start. The most glaring example of his lack of credibility was the Iraq assignment he was on where he stated that he was being fired on by the enemy, in a particular location. It was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was at a location hundreds of miles from the alleged incident. There was actually film of him in a different location. With that knowledge, & the fact that he embarassed not only himself but the Network also, Fox continues to employ him. He must have dirt on one of the executives in order to hold his job. klschs- let's talk about the uber-liberal stance over at MSNBC. And the unwatchable crap at CNN. I'd rather watch Simpsons Reruns and Kerri-Lee on Fox29. dpcoz
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I guess freedom of speach only applies to the ones speaking these are the same people who will try to stop someone else from saying something they don't like. unknownblogger- Thank God the NYT doesn't do crazy things like report on the suspicions of appearances of infidelity of presidential candidates or anything.....If you trust the motives of Foxnews, the NYT or any other reporters, you are naive. Scholes
SLEEZEBAG JOURNALISM. thats what the people want. GARBAGE. Let them see it so the rest of us can pity them. q2again
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The Inquirer and Daily News rarely reported on the dominance of Fox News in the ratings war. Now that its ratings have dropped they cant wait to get in on the action. For example, dopey Gail Schister has written up Olbermann and Matthews many many times even though MSNBC ratings are in the toilet. If I were Brian Tierney, I'd go fing nuts in the newsroom and demand the editors and the leftist writers get a little like Fox News and Rush and The NY Post. If they won't comply, I'd fire them and film the firing and put it on philly.com Satullo would be fired first- can't wait to see him bawling like a little girl. Why is that ? Don't they have editors at these two fine newspapers? justablogger2
Just another left-wing journalist opining! Fox News gives their followers opinions from both sides of the street, unlike the vast majority of the media. Mohave_Sun
Do so called "liberal media outlets" engage in the same alleged thuggery? It's hard to believe that they are squeaky clean. And thuggery implies real and physical violence anyway. I have to agree with E Plebnista: too much drama. Either way, it's all very petty and childish; if you put yourself out there, you had better be ready receive criticism as well as praise. fogboy10
Fox News, fair, balanced, and unafraid. What are you afraid of Will, the truth? BobbyD
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blah blah blah rbpeeple
The funny thing about Fox News is that their slogan of "fair and balanced" is, for the most part, dead right. Most of their commentary shows have both points of view. And for their other shows, if it's a conservative show, their pretty darn clear about it. It's unlike the mainstream media, which pretends to be fair but we all know that this veneer is a joke. chrissmith
Fascinating how quickly and vehemently people leap to the defense of Fox News. It's almost as if it were a coordinated effort. Of course, that couldn't be true. PhillyCooke
Edward R Murrow is rolling in his grave watching the horse droppings they call network news these days. Turn the TV off and get outside and see what is really going on in your neighborhood. Now they write about themselves...pathetic... wildebill
oh who cares, watch whatever news ya choose. hey that rhymes ! Will.i.Am
Bully? Have you seen Olberman lately? mijou6
It's funny how the only people who think Fox news is 'fair and balanced' are decidedly far to the right. It's a matter of point of view. When the 'facts' are reported on NBC, CBS or ABC about someone like George Bush or Cheney, all the neocons scream that it is 'slanted' or 'liberal'. The facts in this case are 'inconvenient' and therefore lies. Like Steve said, it's easy to be a neocon. You don't even have to think for yourself. James TL
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Will, nice of you to remind us why the mainstream newspapers and networks are losing subscribers and viewers, and Fox News is gaining them. It is not by being a thug, but the public is tired of the left wing bias. Happy writing Will! Bush3
I believe Geraldo was ASKED TO LEAVE when he revealed US troop movements during a time of war. That usually just gets you shot on the spot. For him - he gets a job with the news outlet of patriots. What a world! JimR
No. I think Will Bunch bullies everyone with whom he disagrees. These attacks on Fox are to be expected. Other media outlets try to compete, and yet they fail every time. So, the natural defense mechanism is to attack the competitor to reflect away from one's own shortcomings. Whatever Fox's legacy, at least it doesn't betray national security initiatives and clandestine programs like the NY Times does. We used to have reporters like Ernie Pyle; now we have the borderline-treasonous NY Times. So there you go, Will. PennGuy86
I LOVE this neocon replies! You can always tell which ones are from the Limbaugh and Oreilly mindless legions. They cannot think for themselves. They just spew hatred and threats. Real nice. BTW, FoxNews IS the MSM media: biased, incorrect and propaganda. When you are the most watched cable news show, you ARE THE MSM! makrom
Bush3 I hope that wasnt directed towards me, Your username is a disgrace just like our president, On top of the fact I didint even argue with a single person in here, Simply stated why dont we all just watch the news we choose to Will.i.Am
I see Will (if you don't agree with my liberal crap) than your thugs is at it again... Apparently he doesn't like it when they find dirt about his liberal left-leaning morons, you know the ones that can have nothing said about them without being racist. Get a grip, it is the only decent news station available. And guess what genius, you can use the remote and turn it off if you don't like it, that's one of the perks of living in a free society!!!!! Get over it and go watch your Clinton News Network (CNN). Mike S.
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I don't like Fox News because they're horrible reporters, but the NY Times column, and thus this blog, is pointless. WHO CARES if Fox doesn't return a reporter's call, reporters should not be doing stories about Fox News in the first place. TU Owls
I don't like Fox News because they're horrible reporters, but the NY Times column, and thus this blog, is pointless. WHO CARES if Fox doesn't return a reporter's call, reporters should not be doing stories about Fox News in the first place. TU Owls
Democrat-robovoter union goons don't "bully" their competition? Try posing as a Republican and work a polling place in Philly. Or try running a non-union trade business in Philly - see how long the silly rat blow up doll shows up. Call the waaahmbulance. But they are OK with Will The Shill because they bully his party into office. fafafooey
Who cares? How's Bonnie making out in prison? What's new with Mendte and the e-mail story? Where are the bikini pictures? jimmymack
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From the left, it's "hard-nosed" journalism. From the right, it's "vicious attacks" ... By the way, your blog is on my "must read every day" list, Will, even though I see things from the economic right and social center. Col. Nathan R. Jessep
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Wow, really struck a nerve with the conservatives. Deep inside, they know Fox is just a PR firm for the neocons. It's sad when even I, who's no conservative by any means, would find an honest, true conservative like Barry Goldwater a breath of fresh air. At least the man had some kind of decency. Today's conservatives are mindless wimps that'll "ditto" any idiocy this administration and its shills like Fox and Limbaugh hand them to justify naked powergrabs. phillyphilly10
Fox News is just very popular. That's what really make liberals cringe. There is now an alternative news network. I don't have to suffer through CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, or CBS anymore. Sorry liberals, go cry to mommy, Fox News is here to stay. chrissmith
Bill O'Reilly is by far the most shameful journalist I've seen in my lifetime. He is a thug and a bully and maniacally pounds out the conservative drumbeat. What a hypocrite. He was called out for sexual harrassment which I don't doubt but somehow he carries on. A little like Rush Limbaugh and his pain killers. You have to wonder. Who feels compelled to pay these blowhards ?? MJPD345
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Talking points and sound bits is all that 50% of Americans can understand anyway. Half the nation has ADD. The small words FOX News uses is particularly interesting to the conservatives living among us. Don't try to interject critical thought or logical reason into a political debate or the recalcitrant neocon will being braying like a donkey on crack. xxx
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Will reports Will decides. Ironically, the words fair and balanced are not in his lexicon. shoeshineboy
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I love it. The Republicans are frothing at the mouth now that - finally! - their mouthpiece has been called out. And there's no comparison between your claims that NYT and the Inquirer are "biased" and the kind of overt partisanship that goes on at Fox. If you're so concerned about "bias," the only reason you could be watching Fox is because you agree with the opinions you see there, which is exactly what you love to complain about on the left. phillyphilly10
Brainwashed Philly Demo, probably union because the other kids took his money on the way to school that set the tune for later life typing neo blah blah. As stated FOX is here to stay. Enough of the Liberal/Demo kool aid swiggin' nutz. Put the blunts down and let the spotted owls go..... STIII
The great thing that we still have in the USA (for how long-who knows!!!) is the right to change the channel when we wish too. As much as I think FOX News is a blatant microphone for "chicken hawk" neo-cons (warhawk commentators and politicians who are too cowardly to put themselves or their familes in harms way). I can still turn off my TV and put on BBC world or CNN International and get somewhat unbiased coverage. When did TV journalists become nothing more spineless jellyfish devoted to only getting a story out first without any consideration for journalistic integrity? Lastly, why almost pundits middle aged white men?? Being 35 year old white man I want to know. Id like to have some more perspectives. fjgorman020772
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Oh no.... there is a channel that speaks for the regular every day people. Why do you think it has so many viewers? (this is where all the "really really smart" people call us all stupid)Sure fine, FOX is a bit on the right but.... everything else is left these days. stevo8drum
b.atkinson - - Carr doesn't argue that FoxNews shouldn't respond to criticism. Carr says that the FoxNews PR team coordinates attacks on those who criticize it - even when the criticism is factual and mild in tone (for example, the widespread criticism of FoxNews polling methodology). FoxNews doctored a photo of a NYT journalist to make him look like a troll, and arguably anti-semitic, showing the photo on "Fox and Friends". Others include sophomoric emails to a NYT reporter and his supervisor. Carr argues that FoxNews operates less like a news outlet and more like a political campaign. p-diddy
Are you kidding me? Will, you need to look in the mirror... are you telling me fox is worse than MSNBC or the NYT when it comes to being bias? easytiger
It's not that FoxNews doesn't return reporter's calls. It's that it didn't respond to numerous phone calls, then sent an email to the NYT reporter's supervisor, asking why no one had contacted them. It's this type of vindictiveness that is unprofessional. p-diddy
Let's look at the roll call of Bush water carriers on FoxNews: Sean Hannity, Brit Hume, John Gibson, Neil Cavuto, the stooges on "Fox & Friends", Karl Rove, Bill O'Reilly. Did I leave anyone out? Also, FoxNews' ratings don't hinge upon its nightly news broadcast. FoxNews' ratings come from Hannity and O'Reilly. But their ratings are down slightly. p-diddy- Jesse Helms is still dead. As dead as McCain's campaign, as dead as republican power in Washington, as dead as the brain that planned the Iraqi War, as dead as the as the hope of every conservative scumbag that reads the print media while the internet fuels hundreds of millions of dollars to turn back Voodoo economics, to raise the social security payin limit to include all of the millionaires, to put solar panels on every rooftop from sea to shining sea, to watch GM go bust and all of the factory workers get jobs with a future with Japanese and Koreans car makers, and to pry from your cold dead hands your Rush Limbaugh neckties. Amen
p-diddy --- You forgot my favorite, William "Always Wrong" Kristol. What a pompous blowhard that clown is... yobill626
Wow, the right-wing nut jobs can't take it when they go Ann Coulter on them. phillyphilly10
I thought that SAN FRAN NAN was going to stop this/////Earmarks are viewed by many as a symbol of wasteful government spending. But the House slipped $278 million worth of earmarks into the Labor/HHS appropriations bill it passed before the July 4 recess. The group Citizens Against Government Waste says that is a 122 percent increase in the amount spent on earmarks from last year's bill. Included were $25 million for the something called the National Writing Project, for teachers. The Education Department didn't ask for the money because $3 billion already exists to improve teachers' writing. $150,000 is designated for the American Ballet Theater in New York, which has already brought in $28 million from private fundraising. And, $100,000 will be spent on a community gardening outreach program in Toledo, Ohio. The top three earmark requesters were Democrats Neal Abercrombie of Hawaii, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota. takisha
Howard Wolfson has become the latest prominent Democrat to join forces with Fox News Channel during the general election, hailing it for its "comprehensive and fair and evenhanded" coverage during the primaries. takisha
Liberalism is a mental disorder! Super5
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b.at --- Puh-leeze! The Clinton people were "using" Fox to get to the Right --- & Fox smartly reciprocated. Are you saying that Davis or Wolfson will be getting their own show, or at least the same in-House status as a Karl Rove? Highly doubtful... yobill626
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