Just as an aside: Fox News is a bit like Two Faces out of Batman. Many members of the straight news division are highly regarded and their election analyst team is very good. But like a Transylvanian village, things get crazy when night falls. That's when they unleash "personalities" like Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, Jeannette Pirro and Laura Ingraham. These on-air personalities go out of their way to say they're not journalists and journalistic ethics don't apply to them.
For instance, when Tucker Carlson and Fox were sued for defamation, the judge summarised the (successful) argument of the Fox News lawyers:
It's astounding that Fox would attack the credibility of its biggest star, but he isn't a news guy.
On the other hand, Chris Wallace, Shep Smith and Neil Cavuto are held in high esteem by journos and hosts on other channels. In particular, Chris Wallace, a registered Democrat, is news royalty given his father Mike Wallace was a big star and former 60 Minutes host and he's a feared interviewer. Shep Smith has now gone to NBC but it's incredible he spent the last 2 years at Fox after coming out as gay; imagine what the Fox viewers thought about that!
I'd expect the same would be true to an extent with Sky News over here (although I've never bothered to watch it). David Speers was a Chris Wallace type at Sky before crossing to the ABC recently. But then you have your Alan Jones, Andrew Bolt & Peta Credlin types who wouldn't claim to be "fair and balanced", the motto of Fox News.
So, when I make disparaging comments about Fox, I'm not putting everyone at that channel in the same boat (but just about every nighttime host is on that plague ship).
For instance, when Tucker Carlson and Fox were sued for defamation, the judge summarised the (successful) argument of the Fox News lawyers:
Quote:Fox persuasively argues that given Mr. Carlson's reputation, any reasonable viewer 'arrive(s) with an appropriate amount of skepticism' about the statement he makes.
...
Whether the Court frames Mr. Carlson's statements as 'exaggeration,' 'non-literal commentary.' or simply bloviating for his audience, the conclusion remains the same - the statements are not actionable."
It's astounding that Fox would attack the credibility of its biggest star, but he isn't a news guy.
On the other hand, Chris Wallace, Shep Smith and Neil Cavuto are held in high esteem by journos and hosts on other channels. In particular, Chris Wallace, a registered Democrat, is news royalty given his father Mike Wallace was a big star and former 60 Minutes host and he's a feared interviewer. Shep Smith has now gone to NBC but it's incredible he spent the last 2 years at Fox after coming out as gay; imagine what the Fox viewers thought about that!
I'd expect the same would be true to an extent with Sky News over here (although I've never bothered to watch it). David Speers was a Chris Wallace type at Sky before crossing to the ABC recently. But then you have your Alan Jones, Andrew Bolt & Peta Credlin types who wouldn't claim to be "fair and balanced", the motto of Fox News.
So, when I make disparaging comments about Fox, I'm not putting everyone at that channel in the same boat (but just about every nighttime host is on that plague ship).