Fox News – Fair and Balanced?

“Fair and Balanced” is not something easily associated with Fox News, but how does the US broadcaster live up to its self-imposed motto?

As is the case with all outlets under the News Corporation umbrella, Fox’s editorial direction is guided by the aging yet firm hand of Rupert Murdoch.

“In evidence to a House of Lords select committee in 2007, Murdoch even said that he acted like “a traditional proprietor” in regard to the Sun and the News of the World by “exercising control on major issues, such as which party to back in a general election or policy on Europe.”

This guidance also applies in the US, with Fox appearing to be a staunchly Republican channel. The attitude Fox took towards Barack Obama during his campaign for the US Presidency, as well as throughout his first year in the White House, only serves to highlight this:

Oh, and this…

By taking sides, this completely negates journalistic objectivity and neutrality and converts their output into a form of propaganda. This does not seem to bother Fox, who staff their studios with right-wing presenters, including Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, and long-time contributor Ann Coulter. It could be argued that it would amount to censorship if Fox didn’t let their non-journalistic contributors state their opinions. However, a counter-argument is that they chose their guests specifically to cater for their own point of view. Any guests that do offer a counter-argument end up as a recipient of aggression and anger,  as this clip of Bill O’Reilly shows.