Fox News - Real Journalism or Propagandic Twaddle?

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Nightwyrm

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#12605 27-Mar-2007 10:02

With freitasm's blog on The Mainstream Media Dilemma, several opinions were voiced regarding Fox News and whether they provide actual news or propaganda. This peaked my curiosity as to what others make of this channel

Personally, even though I'm fairly centrist (liberal on some issues, conservative on others) in my thinking, this channel regularly angers me with what and how they portray current events - especially when one of their "respected" commentators was advocating the invasion of Iran. Not to mention, their regular health news updates, or as I like to call them... what health problem can we scare people with today? It's actually gotten to the point where I refuse to have it on in the house (rare for me to make that sort of stand).

What do you think?

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#65124 27-Mar-2007 10:12

Al Jazeera is more balanced but I can't get it on Sky. Don't watch Fox, it angers me.

bradstewart

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#65154 27-Mar-2007 14:03

Jama: Al Jazeera is more balanced but I can't get it on Sky. Don't watch Fox, it angers me.

Ironic really but it's true.

Despite repeatedly saying the Democrats want the terrorists to win, the Republican administration and Fox News (thats an unholy civil union if there ever was one) cause more fear than Osama bin Laden could ever hope to.

Jama

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#65160 27-Mar-2007 15:49

Unfortunately you could be branded a traitor and sent to Guantanamo Bay for even hinting that the Neo-cons might be a terrorist organisation in disguise.

Nightwyrm

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#65164 27-Mar-2007 16:07

I did find disturbing the coverage of the Shawn Hornbeck kidnapping affair where they got all sorts of psych and legal analysts spinning the story so it appeared he was a willing accomplice in his own captivity.

Where were the hours of legal analysis when Dick Cheney shot his mate in the chest (hello, "Negligent Use of a Firearm Leading to Injury" charges anyone?).

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Jama

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#65166 27-Mar-2007 16:12

Dick Cheney is a neo-con. He is allowed to shoot people including his mates.
Lets all sing along to Cheney got a gun

freitasm

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#65167 27-Mar-2007 16:14

Interesting that the Land of Freedom (TM, used under licesing, all trademarks belong to their respective owners) use some tactics that reminds me of older socialist regimes, such as secret letters to request information including gag orders on people receiving those letters, trials without reading of charges, no presence of defence lawyers, etc...

The worst tactic is the "if you are not with us, you are against us". This creates a real problem because people don't feel free to express their disagreement with current governments, being labeled "anti patriotic" if anything is said.

As someone pointed out once in a private discussion, patriotism is not a sentiment for the government, but for the country. Actually, if the government is not doing its job, the patriotic duty is to vote it out. Assuming voting is still allowed.

All that paranoia... Sheesh.

But we should really look at our country, and leave other people's problems to themselves. What can we do here to make our country better?

Nightwyrm

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#65168 27-Mar-2007 16:16

freitasm: if the government is not doing its job, the patriotic duty is to vote it out

Except when you can get your brother to make thousands of poor people ineligible to vote. Whoops, this isn't the Chomsky forum! Certainly don't want to end up a US-bashing session.

Going back to the original line of enquiry, does Fox News really have a place/home in NZ?

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Jama

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#65170 27-Mar-2007 16:21

Crickey Mauricio well that is going to open a whole new topic...

In my humble center right opinion to make this country better we need to go back 'First Past the Post' so these insignificant parties stop holding the government to ransom and then hopefully the Greens will fade into eco-oblivion.

freitasm

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#65171 27-Mar-2007 16:23

lugh: Going back to the original line of enquiry, does Fox News really have a place/home in NZ?

I doubt. If you want news, get BBC.

bradstewart

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#65172 27-Mar-2007 16:26

First we can overthrow the government (by proper democratic means of course, I don't need to be arrested for sedition) and then install one that will do the following:

- Imprision violent criminals for real prision terms ie life = life. I'm not a proponent of the death penalty although some richly deserve it.

- Will not interfere in our private lives - criminalising smacking is ridiculous, yet another example of PC taken to far by a government held hostage by an fringe party thats views for the most part are not consistant with the values of this country.

- Will seek closer ties with a democratic led United States (after next year - Vote Barack Obama or Hilary, I haven't decided yet)

- Restore our military, New Zealand could play a huge role in peace keeping around the world. I see more and more troubles arising in the next decade thanks to the rise of extremism.

- Repeal the nuclear ban. Build nuclear power plants. Its a much better alternative to unsightly huge wind farms and hydro dams.

lokinz

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#65173 27-Mar-2007 16:30

See look at that, we need more people like brad running our country.

I personally would like to see immigration tightened. Far too many foreigners here. (No offense any of you)

barf

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#65174 27-Mar-2007 16:34

but Fox news gives us both sides of the story! the President's and the Vice President's!

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bradstewart

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#65178 27-Mar-2007 16:49

lokinz: See look at that, we need more people like brad running our country.

I personally would like to see immigration tightened. Far too many foreigners here. (No offense any of you)

Immigration is a tough one to get right. I believe in much tighter immigration rules. Allow people to come here who have to skills to add to New Zealand. Not ones who will come here and live off our welfare system.

I remember a case a few years ago where a very successful farming couple from Zimbabwe who had their farm seized were not allowed in as refugees (they are the type we want) but we allowed 1000's from the Island nations to come here and for the most part live off our tax dollars.