News Corporation executive Roger Ailes has told Los Angeles Times reporter Matea Gold that he has advised employees of the Fox News Channel that "all presidents deserve time to get their team on the ground and get organized" and that "we have some obligation in a new presidency not to attempt to destabilize it."
Via TVNewser (paragraph breaks removed):
Ailes responded to the report in the New York Daily News that he instructed FNC to tone down attacks on President-elect Barack Obama. He denied giving specific orders, but said he told staffers "all presidents deserve time to get their team on the ground and get organized." "We have some obligation in a new presidency not to attempt to destabilize it," he said. As for whether the big stars will heed the advice, he tells Gold: "Who knows? Most of them do whatever the hell they want."
What say you, reader? Is Ailes right to urge his staffers to not go full throttle at the Obama transition? Does his advice adhere to the "fair and balanced" motto or risk sending a pro-Obama message? If it is "fair and balanced," is that good journalism or a poor business model given the outright left-wing boosterism other networks, particularly MSNBC, have shown team Obama?
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Of course. The same ideal
November 21, 2008 - 13:44 ET by kgOf course. The same ideal as shown by the media's contempt for Bush when he was first elected.
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
Think Of It This Way
November 22, 2008 - 13:07 ET by Wildcatter1980There may be a methods to Ailes' "madness." Give the new administration some slack. Then, let them decide if they will take advantage of it by, say, giving greater access to the administration for FNC or hang themselves with it by getting cocky and letting something slip that they preferred not get out.
--
Ignorance, our most costly commodity - paraphrased from Rush Limbaugh
It's unfortunate, from our point of view
November 21, 2008 - 13:54 ET by WhoIsJohnGaltthat Obama got elected, but he is going to be our president and deserves the respect due the office. If by some freak of the cosmos, his policies do work, I'd hate to see them derailed because we were behaving as the looney left did to GWB. After all, it is still my country, and I want it to be a success, no matter what idio-...see, there I go.
Nothing wrong with the boss getting everyone focused on what's right. Everyone knows how to do their job, but it's the leaders job to point the way sometimes.
You miss the point
November 21, 2008 - 14:02 ET by rammingspeedAiles is speaking from a perspective that presumes FNC is being unfair to Obama. If he's going to do that, then he better present examples, name names of those misbehaving.
This isn't the first time Ailes has been wimpy - perhaps being outnumbered causes him to give in to the opposition.
What Ailes did is sickening.
The media has an obligation
November 21, 2008 - 13:55 ET by IamTinmanBarack Obama has campaigned on a platform of radical change for this country and the media should be keeping the people of america aware of how closely and how well he is following his campaign pledges.
The media has an obligation not to obstruct the incoming administration, but that in no way means that they shouldn't point out the shortcomings. In fact it is their duty as journalists to make the public aware of them.
It might have some substance if the rest of the MSM had given President Bush that courtesy, but he was hammered unmercilessly from the day he was nominated.
Ailes is being an idiot
November 21, 2008 - 13:58 ET by rammingspeedAiles should be encouraging his employees at FNC to be fair and balanced and let the chips fall where they may. FNC DOES NOT attack the way the other "news networks" do, Ailes should know that, and quit sucking up to some liberal jerks he wants to impress.
he is repubs need to
November 21, 2008 - 14:47 ET by TruthMongerhe is
repubs need to be on a relentless and vicous attack EVERDAY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
It's what the libs always do - it's time to let go of the ankles and stand up straight for a "change"
Dominate education now
So Fox News is going to
November 21, 2008 - 14:02 ET by R D HelmSo Fox News is going to sell out to Obama, too.
Can't say I'm surprised, as they have been sliding leftward for some time now.
Its sad that Obama is going to be able to put his freedom-destroying radical agenda into place without any media scrutiny whatsoever.
-Dave
Did this country just elect Obama/Biden, or was it Soros/Ayers?
Ailes told FNC employees to
November 21, 2008 - 14:07 ET by bigtimerAiles told FNC employees to tone down their attacks on The Chosen One....
ROFLMAO!
Does he watch Fox...at all?
The only time I see real criticism is during the evening with a few critiques from BOR and O's terrorists ties, and H&C, which both shows present both sides, with other people they invite on their shows to add their two cents...
Give me a break here...especially after they refused to even have any debates on Fox...typical of what is wrong with the repub party too IMHO...
I am not advocating anything like what CNN and msnbc have done with their Divide adn Conquer agenda...destroy anyone with an 'R' behind their name game, but really Roger, enough is enough.
Oh what I'd give for a real right wing/or conservative news station, it would be only fair.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Ailes...
November 21, 2008 - 14:08 ET by bailmeoutI'm not sure what he means by "tone down attacks." They are supposed to fairly report on issues, not cherry pick only what is beneficial for the sensitive ears out there in TV Land. We have the right to know the truth, be it positive or negative. These News Executives are getting exhausting. All the people want is the truth. I hope the staff continues to do whatever the hell they want.
bmo... I'm with you on
November 21, 2008 - 14:35 ET by bigtimerbmo...
I'm with you on this, I do have to wonder though if E.D. Hill was let go because of her remarks about the O's making a terrorist fist bump...maybe others will take heed...and we will hear nothing but sunshine and lollipops now.
As far as I am concerned they already have changed enough as it is since they first started, I don't watch that much of them anymore as it is because of this very reason.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I want news
November 21, 2008 - 14:08 ET by katainkentif its not flavored with opinion, whatever. Still want the news. I don't care if its not 'pretty' or if it 'detracts' or 'distracts'. I am so frackin tired of being spoon fed news pablum.
If FOX is going to roll over then they can have the same contempt the rest of them share.
member of the Conservative Independant Witness Protection Program since Nov. 5, 2008
Fair and Balanced huh?
November 21, 2008 - 14:09 ET by Defector01Roger Ailes is a sell out, this won't help him when obama impliments the censorship doctrine on all conservatives
I have only ever made one prayer to God, a very short one: O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous. And God granted it - Voltaire
What is Roger Ailes thinking????
November 21, 2008 - 14:23 ET by PrairieSkyHas he been into the liberal Kool-Aid??
I don't think anyone at Fox News has been inordinately tough on Obama where just reporting the news surrounding him is concerned. If Ailes is concerned about what O'Reilly and particularly Hannity may say about Obama, then he is being disingenuous. It is their job to do analysis, and in Hannity's case, he also does OPINION...If Ailes suddenly has a problem with that (Lord knows why), then he has lost sight of why these people were hired.
Fox News is the only media outlet on TV that even approaches "Fair and Balanced." Without them holding Obamessiah's feet to the fire, there would be NO ONE doing it. Hasn't Ailes been paying attention to what is going on at MSNBC and CNN?
I can't imagine what Ailes is thinking here.
I am just flabbergasted at this...
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Rodger is That naiive!!!???
November 21, 2008 - 14:26 ET by c5thenWhile he is trying to be "fair" and "balanced" and following an unwritten etiquette...the rest of the media are laughing at him and not following any rules or even professionalism or restraint.
Does anyone even think it a possibility that MSNBC or CNN or any of the other alphabet networks would do the same if McCain had won?
Hey, I got the wrong "CHANGE"!
Alan Keyes / Sarah Palin - 2012
I'm confused
November 21, 2008 - 14:31 ET by katiejaneWhen he says We have some obligation in a new presidency not to attempt to destabilize it - that once a Presidency is past its nice new status their job IS to try and destabilize it? That must be the logic the rest of the MSM observed regarding Pres Bush's administration.
Does the Term WORM come to mind?
November 21, 2008 - 14:33 ET by UtherpendHow about holding feet to the fire those that promised to change and reform Washington the moment they hit office. If not then turn the channel over to MSNBC and say good bye to 90% of your audience.
"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquillity of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you"
What an ego...
November 21, 2008 - 14:34 ET by Dan LaHoodthe only thing Fox News can derail is Fox News and that little choo choo train is upside down in a smoking ditch. Unwatchable.
Anyone who has ever heard Santayana's famous quote about History repeating itself is condemned to repeat it.
Wrong
November 21, 2008 - 14:54 ET by rammingspeedFNC is far and away the most watched cable news channel and far and away regarded as the most fair and balanced of all news sources, according to polling results.
You should avoid the typical liberal trap of passing along talking points without knowing the truth.
by the numbers
November 21, 2008 - 15:06 ET by katainkentimportant numbers to know : viewership & fair/balanced coverage
member of the Conservative Independant Witness Protection Program since Nov. 5, 2008
Fox News has become pretty
November 21, 2008 - 15:18 ET by celatorFox News has become pretty much unwatchable for me too. Hannity and Comes has devolved into a screaming match, O'Reilly is a schmuck, the giggley morning shows are ridiculous, the Hemmer show, whatever that thing is called is not worth the time of day. Just not worth watching anymore except for Humes. And he's retiring. The MSM TV shows are completely in the tank for the D's, the MSM print stories are unreadable.
Strolling around the internet for a wide range of news, and websites like NB are the only way to learn what's happening. We read and draw our own conclusions, without the talking heads telling us what we should be getting out of a news story.
Zogby Poll: 37.6% Consider Internet Most Reliable Source of News
November 21, 2008 - 18:44 ET by Rush Fancelator: You are not alone. Many of us have to rely on the internet for our news.
From TVNewser
A Zogby Poll, commissioned by IFC, found 37.6% of those asked consider the Internets the most reliable source of news. 20.3% consider national TV news most reliable and 16% say radio is the most reliable source.
Also revealed:
• 39.3% of those surveyed trust FOX News most for the issues they consider most important, followed by CNN with 16% and MSNBC with 15%.
• 72.6% believe the news they read and see is biased.
• 88.7% Republican and 57.5% Democrat respondents describe the news media as biased.
As for Roger Ailes' "tone down" comment, TVNewser reports: As for whether the big stars will heed the advice, he (Ailes) tells Gold: "Who knows? Most of them do whatever the hell they want."
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"There is no longer a media in this country. There is simply an established propaganda arm for the Democrat Party and any and all who relate to it in any way, elected and unelected." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Now, I need not bother to watch...
November 21, 2008 - 14:44 ET by wnaegele...ANY of the cable news networks.
Exactly...If Ailes takes a left turn with FNC...
November 21, 2008 - 14:51 ET by PrairieSkythere will be NO acceptable cable news channels worth watching.
I gave up on the others years ago...
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
One would hope that FNC
November 21, 2008 - 15:02 ET by celatorOne would hope that FNC would simply report the Obama news as it is, without having either to "pull back" or "go over the top" in criticism. Just report the news, for goodness sakes.
celator..."Just report the news, for goodness sakes."
November 21, 2008 - 15:12 ET by PrairieSkyPerfect!!!
What a concept, huh??? No spin or ideological tilt, just tell me what happened, and let me draw my own conclusions, thank you very much...
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Yep, what a concept
November 21, 2008 - 15:20 ET by celatorYep, what a concept ;+}
In this case,"just reporting
November 22, 2008 - 10:39 ET by billbIn this case,"just reporting the news," would be racist!
What a poo-say
November 21, 2008 - 15:25 ET by SickofLibsLunch with Zucker, Matthews and Olbermann on the schedule to get some "fair & balanced" tips?
Just be "fair and balanced", Roger
November 21, 2008 - 15:38 ET by nkviking75Mr. Ailes, you've just put up a billboard telling the Obamites that FNC can be intimidated. Just stick to your slogan. Be fair and balanced in the objective news programming and let the commentators comment. Obama's incompetence is already showing. It would be nice to have one media outlet which won't be covering for him.
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
I'm laughing. How exactly
November 21, 2008 - 15:49 ET by Jack BauerI'm laughing. How exactly could Fox derail the Obama "transition" to Emperor -- I mean President, even if it wanted too.
We've just endured a two year campaign by the Obama Kamp, anyone notice how any legitimate "negative" news about Obama, exposed by a relatively few Fox News commentators, had ZERO impact?
Anyone see Shep Smith yesterday, the guy's lips must be so puckered, being so firmly attached to the Democrat's rectum?
Anyone heard any of Geraldo recently? He's Obama's Fox Precinct captain.
And that was BEFORE the Ailes dictum.
just wait
November 21, 2008 - 15:55 ET by candanceFNC's ratings are going to slip after this.
No news outlet should be told to bash someone or to "help" them in any sense. The point is to tell us exactly what happens and let Obama answer for himself.
They had a niche in the market as the only channel who told the unpolished truth. Now they will forever be known as the channel that helps Obama succeed.
I'm a typical white person.
Well,well. Mr. Ailes has
November 21, 2008 - 16:22 ET by BonnyscotWell,well. Mr. Ailes has come clean. Of course all Presidents should have time to settle in & get started. Meanwhile, FNC is way past their time to do the same. Shep Smith has become more emotional on air and seems to want to be Olberman lite. Didn't know H&C is still on air. Cammeron must be on leave. Greta & Cavuto remain the 2 hrs. in this home.
Sad for those of us who brought Mr. Ailes to the dance.
Smile at the lions and maybe they wont eat you.
November 21, 2008 - 17:10 ET by CTAiles admonition is like duct taping the mouth of his news organization before a shouting match. If he believes his magnanimity will lead to any fair consideration in future commentary he is sadly mistaken.
Screw that. The friggin
November 21, 2008 - 17:19 ET by Scuba DudeScrew that.
The friggin MSM layed into President Bush his entire tenure with the exception of 9/11 so I say we need to do the same to Coke head Obama.
This country is going down the crapper with his election and we need to hold him to account for every fumble and mis-step of which there will be many.
Department of Information...
November 21, 2008 - 17:56 ET by BiasedGirlSo it begins...We are going to have to fight this tooth and nail or we will be responsible for our own loss of Freedom. http://www.withbias.net
And I wonder
November 21, 2008 - 19:22 ET by BobAnthonyWhat Fox News would do about the Birth Certificate battle brewing in about a dozen states regarding Obama's alleged birth in Hawaii, but may actually be in either Kenya or Indonesia. Even Hot Air a "conservative" blog calls the people who want this, like Philly attorney Phil Berg nuts. Then again, Berg is allegedly a 9/11 truther and Hillary suporter. But his site Obama Crimes, has garnered millions and millions of hits. Even Alan Keyes is getting in on the action. But you won't find it at FNC.
It's even made it to blog talk radio sites, again showing the power of the new media and really taking the corporate fascists, and that now sadly includes Fox News Channel, to task for covering up REAL NEWS instead of reporting on which school Obama's brats, I mean kids, will attend. AND DON'T NOBODY GET ME STARTED ON THAT SALON CRAP ABOUT MICHELLE MA BELLES A$$! MEDIA'S A BUNCH OF ASS***** ANYWAY.
The media is sitting on a possible constitutional crisis nuclear bomb--AND THEY WANT US TO SUPPORT OBAMA AS PRESIDENT?!? NOT ME BROTHER! Just call me a part of the loyal opposition.
For the record, I am NOT RECOGNIZING BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ODINGA AS
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! I would like to become part of a
secession front!
BA... Don't feel alone
November 21, 2008 - 19:39 ET by bigtimerBA...
Don't feel alone regarding a lot of your sentiments...you aren't.
I have been totally disgusted by all of this BS cover up regarding his real place of birth...when Linda Lingle covered this up, and sealed the records, it told me a lot...my question is why would she, a supposed Republican do this...oh, I forgot, there are republicans, conservatives and RINOs.
Link here.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
BobAnthony... We have the
November 21, 2008 - 20:55 ET by Clear thinkerBobAnthony...
We have the beginnings of a secession front right here in Western North Carolina. This part of the state sends 3 times as much money to Raleigh (the state capital) as it get's back. A few years ago when a State lottery was shoved down our throats, it was determined that only 2/3rds of the state would get any of the monies raised by the lottery. Yep, you guessed it, even though they wanted us to buy lottery tickets here in this part of the state, none of the money would be going to any of our schools. I could go on endlessly about how the western part of the state get's treated like a unwanted stepchild, but I won't.
Anyway, we are having serious discussions in our neck of the woods of secceeding from NC, possibly calling our state Western Carolina. We have gone so far as to ask for suggestions from the people as to what should be in our constitution. Most of the suggestions have been very smart and well thought out, and it's an encouraging sign because so many are getting involved in this idea. Even a local talk radio host is helping to push the idea.
One last complaint about NC... The politicians in Raleigh are looking into the feasability of charging North Carolinians a mileage tax on top of all the other taxes we pay for the privelege of driving. They would literally charge us by the mile! Aaaarrrgghh!
Save Conservatism - Dump The GOP?
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
HOLY MOLEY!
November 21, 2008 - 21:58 ET by BobAnthonyClear Thinker, Jesse Helms must be rolling over in his grave. Well there are many
things I can blame for this...namely the cities of Raleigh, Durham,
Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Asheville, the media there (despite the presence of WPTF and WBT) and RINO Repubs like Liddy Dole, who deserved to have her clock cleaned!
I would actually want to seceed from this state after it allowed homosexual activists to come in and force their lifestyle down our throats. I would like to get something going where Fairfield and Litchfield Counties become Western CT. Don't know where the capitol would be, maybe Bridgeport as it is the state's biggest city, but EVEN THAT CITY has corruption problems. So I guess by default I give it to Stamford.
Maybe someone would create Central CT comprising it of Hartford, New Haven and Middlesex Counties with Hartford as that capitol.
And for New London, Tolland and Windham, it's Eastern CT with New London as that capitol.
In other words, from one state come three! If I can't have that, South Carolina, HERE I COME!
For the record, I am NOT RECOGNIZING BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ODINGA AS
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! I would like to become part of a
secession front!
This is getting tiresome.
November 21, 2008 - 20:40 ET by TN MomThis is getting tiresome. Obama already has all the other cable news firmly in his back pocket. Poor little Barack Hussein Obama: couldn't win an honest campaign, and now can't get his team off and running without the help of MSM. I'm pretty sure the rest of the world is laughing...out loud!
Is this about race? He is an African-American so we have to help him be successful...
kool-aid abounds
November 21, 2008 - 20:53 ET by clinging to my guns and my religioni guess roger ailes and chris matthews must have purchased liquid refreshments from the same kool-aid stand! they both now think it is their jobs to make sure the new administration succeeds. what ever happened to "reporting" the news accurately, good or bad, and letting the chips fall where they may? too bad mr. ailes would sentence those of us who have long since left the clutches of the msm to a fate like that of the interviewees on the "howobamagotelected" video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm1KOBMg1Y8
Screw Roger Ailes - We need our own Channel
November 21, 2008 - 21:48 ET by PopularTechThat incompetent moron keeps the economically illiterate O'Reilly employed is absolutely clueless on the economy, energy policy and the environment. FNC is a joke of it's former self.
We need a real Conservative/Libertarian News Channel.
Censored Global Warming Videos
Spot on
November 21, 2008 - 22:24 ET by TechI believe the role of "Loyal Opposition" does require giving the new President a period of time to get his feet on the ground. Once that period of time is over (typically 100 days) then things would return to normal.
Let's all hope and pray that he governs wisely, as opposed to what we are worried he will do.
Translation od Mr. Ailes Comments
November 21, 2008 - 23:10 ET by CapeCodScottKeep your powder dry, give him enough rope, avoid the low hanging fruit. The time will come to Report so The Audience can Decide on Mr. Obama.
www.ScottOnCapeCod.com
"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation"... until they get fed-up enough to finally say something about it!
"...we have some obligation
November 22, 2008 - 12:25 ET by Chris Norman"...we have some obligation in a new presidency not to attempt to destabilize it."
Gee, and all along, I thought it was your obligation to report the news