How low can Fox News go? – Follow-up

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Oct 012004
 

More from Josh on the story here and here.

Earlier Friday, FOXNews.com posted an item purporting to contain quotations from Kerry. The item was based on a reporter’s partial script that had been written in jest and should not have been posted or broadcast. We regret the error, which occurred because of fatigue and bad judgment, not malice.

So, Carl Cameron wrote a petty, marginally funny parody of Kerry and then it somehow finds its way on to their site? Nice edit-approval system, guys.

EDIT: TPM updates one more time with a Fox News internal memo that went out regarding this incident.

For that reason, we are implementing a number of changes: first, and immediately, the scripts queue is OFF LIMITS for editorial use until the item has been broadcast or the script is approved for use. Second, the use of scripts queue for humor, sarcasm, parody or other unprofessional conduct is strictly forbidden.

Apparently, there is no edit-approval system for the script queue. They’re “fair and balanced”, but they’re not very “smart”. Note that Mr. Cameron wasn’t fired, something they’d be calling for if another news organization did the same thing. It reminds me of a particular administration that doesn’t seem to want to fire anyone when they screw up.

 Posted by on October 1, 2004 at 10:52 pm

How low can Fox News go?

 Politics  No Responses »
Oct 012004
 

Talking Points Memo has some interesting stuff on Fox News right now. You can read the posts here, here and here. I’m sure there’ll be more. It sounds to me like someone was messing around at FoxNews.com and posted something that they shouldn’t have. Even I can’t believe that they’d try such an obviously dishonest tactic, especially in light of the CBS/Texas National Guard memo fiasco.

On the other hand, before the debate last night, I was flipping between Fox News and CNN. O’Reilly had Newt Gingrich on and they were actually making fun of Kerry for getting a manicure yesterday before the debate.

Fox News analyst Newt Gingrich criticized John Kerry’s decision to get a pre-debate manicure. “I can’t imagine a dumber thing,” Gingrich asserted. “It assures that everyone will be looking at his fingers; and it kind of jars people who are looking for an excuse to vote for him.”

Disgusted, I flipped back to CNN. They were talking about the assault on Samarra that began last night as well. Seemingly legitimate news, but they were asking if the offensive was politically motivated, implying that somehow the Bush administration was timing it to coincide with the debate. I think the Bush administration is a bunch of weasels, but I can’t see what they would gain from doing something like that. It seemed a little to partisan of CNN. I don’t really have a description for what Gingrich and O’Reilly were doing.

 Posted by on October 1, 2004 at 9:28 pm

Bush-Kerry Debate #1

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Oct 012004
 

Ezra nails it. While I’m on the topic of everyone’s favorite privileged frat rat, I’ve been meaning to link an article on what one of his professors at Harvard Business School thought of him (it’s on Salon, so you’ll need a subscription or you’ll have to sit through an ad). It’s worth it.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and The Wife sent this to me earlier today. Good advice. Perhaps they’ll take the momentum from last night and finally get those balls back.

EDIT 2: I totally forgot about this. Just what the hell was he talking about anyway?

 Posted by on October 1, 2004 at 3:53 pm