Fox newsman in "Outfoxed" discusses Faux News

[Catshrink]

This was in the Arizona Republic this morning:

Former Fox newsman not afraid to be honest
Richard Ruelas, Republic columnist
Aug. 23, 2004 12:00 AM


"Jon Du Pre had to be honest during the job interview when Roger Ailes, head of the Fox News Network, asked him what he thought about "what we do." Du Pre told Ailes he hadn't seen the network because, at the time, it wasn't available in Phoenix, where he worked as a news anchor. Ailes then half-coughed to clear his throat. The outgoing air flapped his jowls. He then asked Du Pre, "What's your political preference?" ... Du Pre answered the political question this way: "Respectfully, Mr. Ailes, it's none of your business." Ailes told him he liked that answer. Du Pre was assigned to the network's West Coast bureau. Ailes' reason for asking about his politics would become clear over the next few weeks.

"Only as time went on, did I begin to realize that Fox News Channel wasn't a news-type organization," Du Pre said. "It was a political propaganda machine."

<snip>

Du Pre hit pause. "This is presented in here as some sort of nefarious or hidden agenda," he said. "It wasn't so subtle." In reality, his bureau chief, who would have been a recipient of the daily memos, would relay the messages to him in much more colorful and blatant language. Reporters knew who the enemies were. They were ordered to deliver stories that made Democrats look bad and Republicans look good.

Du Pre said most Fox News Channel employees figured the bias was so obvious that audience would be able to see it as well. "Nobody thought that what we were doing was 'fair and balanced,' " he said, quoting the network's slogan. It was more "an attempt to balance out what everybody else was doing." He also said such rationalization was "survival." "Their point of view is their point of view, and they have every right to it," Du Pre said. "But to hold themselves out as a fair and balanced source of news and information, let alone the truth, is abhorrent."

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0823ruelas23.html

[AspenRose]

1. I wanna hear from Ashleigh Banfield too

She was MSNBC, but like that, *POOF* she was gone. And she was pretty vocal against the war.

[daa]

3. She is married or getting married

but she was over there in the middle east and poof. I would like to hear the rest of that story.

[Catshrink]

5. Didn't she say something anti-Bush?

I think I heard something like that. Could be wrong.

[Lex]

7. She had the audacity to speak the truth is what happened.

.
Reuters News Story below. She was essentially blackballed.

--------------------------------


All Reuters News

Banfield Lashes Out at Own Network


NBC News correspondent Ashleigh Banfield has ripped television news networks, including her own, for their "glorious" coverage of the Iraqi war and a lack of focus on international news overall.

In a speech Thursday at Kansas State University, she also attacked NBC News for hiring right-wing radio talk-show host Michael Savage to do a show on MSNBC. Savage recently called Banfield a "slut" after her reports portraying the radical Arab point of view.

Banfield, who won her first notoriety for her coverage from the World Trade Center on 9/11, might be in some trouble for her comments. In a statement issued on Friday, NBC News said, "Ms. Banfield does not speak for NBC News. We are deeply disappointed and troubled by her remarks, and will review her comments with her. In the meantime, we want to emphasize how proud we are of the journalism produced by NBC News and of the men and women who worked around the clock, even risking their lives, to bring this story to the American public."

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/va/20030428/105152224100.html

[Catshrink]

8. Thanks...

I knew I'd heard something. Journalistic integrity = getting canned. What a sad commentary!

[jonnyblitz]

6. thats right!! i forgot all about her!! she DID disappear...n/t

[cthrumatrix]

2. they are liars in thier shrub propaganda and they know it

[Catshrink]

4. Du Pre makes the case that it's done deliberately

with no attempt to hide it.