horvendile
Regular
I discovered that one of my TV-channels here in Sweden broadcasts Fox News. Out of curiosity, I sat down and watched. Now I've done it several times for relatively extensive periods.
I've found it quite hard to put words on my feelings, but I think a fairly accurate description would be:
Have they no shame?
There is not a trace of objectivity, something that should be ethically required for calling something "news". The very label "news" implies that this is what's happening in the world, as unfiltered by opinions as possible.
Okay, so what do I mean with objectivity? Aren't we all biased in some way?
Yes, we are. And it's probably not entirely easy to be objective when one's own country goes to war. But these guys aren't even trying!
Some - not all - examples:
*US / British troops are almost exclusively called "our" troops. While possibly not theoretically impossible to maintain objectiveness when using such a nomenclature, I'd say it's impossible in practice. They have done away with the necessary distance, so to speak.
*The language is riddled with emotionally charged words.
*Video shown: US troops preparing to enter Bagdad. To this, they have added exciting drum music.
*Related to #2: The heading of the entire program / channel seems to be "Operation Iraqi Freedom". That may be what it's called by the military, but that doesn't really matter. It's only to expect that the military should choose an emotive name.
*When there is a message from the Iraqi information minister (or suchlike) they deride him in the studio, even before relating what he has said.
I could go on. The studio is strikingly similar to a gathering of sports supporters.
Just to avoid a predictable argument, I'd like to point out that it's not the war in itself I'm questioning.
Also, I'd like to say that it's OK to be supportive of one's own troops. It's OK to ridicule the other side. It's even OK to do it on TV. But you can not do that and call the program "news", giving it an air of objectivity. Call it Fox Propaganda or Fox Cheerleading, and I have no protests. But Fox News; that's disgusting.
Are people to any extent actually using Fox as their main news source? Are they always like this?
I've found it quite hard to put words on my feelings, but I think a fairly accurate description would be:
Have they no shame?
There is not a trace of objectivity, something that should be ethically required for calling something "news". The very label "news" implies that this is what's happening in the world, as unfiltered by opinions as possible.
Okay, so what do I mean with objectivity? Aren't we all biased in some way?
Yes, we are. And it's probably not entirely easy to be objective when one's own country goes to war. But these guys aren't even trying!
Some - not all - examples:
*US / British troops are almost exclusively called "our" troops. While possibly not theoretically impossible to maintain objectiveness when using such a nomenclature, I'd say it's impossible in practice. They have done away with the necessary distance, so to speak.
*The language is riddled with emotionally charged words.
*Video shown: US troops preparing to enter Bagdad. To this, they have added exciting drum music.
*Related to #2: The heading of the entire program / channel seems to be "Operation Iraqi Freedom". That may be what it's called by the military, but that doesn't really matter. It's only to expect that the military should choose an emotive name.
*When there is a message from the Iraqi information minister (or suchlike) they deride him in the studio, even before relating what he has said.
I could go on. The studio is strikingly similar to a gathering of sports supporters.
Just to avoid a predictable argument, I'd like to point out that it's not the war in itself I'm questioning.
Also, I'd like to say that it's OK to be supportive of one's own troops. It's OK to ridicule the other side. It's even OK to do it on TV. But you can not do that and call the program "news", giving it an air of objectivity. Call it Fox Propaganda or Fox Cheerleading, and I have no protests. But Fox News; that's disgusting.
Are people to any extent actually using Fox as their main news source? Are they always like this?