David Zurawik, a TV critic for The Baltimore Sun, has called for the “TV press...to step back and question how it is covering President Barack Obama.” Moreover, Zurawik gives a laudatory nod to Fox News for its balanced coverage of the President: “I hesitate to write these words, but good for Fox. It must be doing something right, if it has the President complaining about the tiny bit of scrutiny he gets on TV.”
The Sun critic is referring to a CNBC interview this past Tuesday, where President Obama complained that "one television station is entirely devoted to attacking" his administration. While he declined to name the network when asked by CNBC interviewer John Harwood, it is undoubtedly the Fox News Network.
Zurawik opines on this in The Baltimore Sun blog by praising Fox News for “questioning Team Obama as it pushes for the kind of massive change in American life not seen since the era of Franklin Roosevelt.” If not for Fox News, there would be no network scrutinizing the President’s policies, present and proposed. Moreover, Zurawik concedes that “the TV press, as well as media critics like me (Zurawik), should be profoundly embarrassed, and vow to start doing a better job -- immediately.”
Here is an excerpt from Zurawik's June 17 blog; you may read the entire item here.
Perhaps, the best measure of how compliant the mainstream TV press has become is Obama's complaint Tuesday about having "one television station that is entirely devoted to attacking" his administration. Obama declined to name the "station" when asked by CNBC interviewer John Harwood -- what a childish, silly bit of gamemanship by a president. How could anyone not think it is Fox?
When Harwood said he assumed Obama was speaking of Fox, the president replied, ""That's a pretty big megaphone. You'd be hard pressed if you watched the entire day to find a positive story about me on that front."
Given all the reckless and irresponsible words uttered by the likes Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, I hesitate to write these words, but good for Fox. It must be doing something right, if it has the president complaining about the tiny bit of scrutiny he gets on TV.
On the other hand, if Fox News is our last, best TV watchdog on the White House, then the TV press, as well as media critics like me, should be profoundly embarassed, and vow to start doing a better job -- immediately.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I'm so sick of the obambi
June 18, 2009 - 17:06 ET by RowaneI'm so sick of the obambi cheerleader squads on the MSM that I simply will not watch the propoganda any more.
Obama
June 18, 2009 - 17:17 ET by adamsmithHitler and Stalin didn't like being questioned either. Amazing how people wonder how they got to power, we're watching it happen yet again....
Hitler and Stalin are the
June 18, 2009 - 20:43 ET by TjexciteHitler and Stalin are the two most envious people looking up from hell to how Obama has the media under his thumb. Only if Obama came before Hitler and Stalin, they could have take lessons.
Sounds like
June 19, 2009 - 08:45 ET by 24enaksounds like something you would here on the FNC. That 'comparison' is ignorant Hitler and Stalin killed tens of millions of their own countrymen, and then millions more with the war they started.
sounds like something you
June 19, 2009 - 13:40 ET by Dan The Man 2sounds like something you would here on the FNC. That 'comparison' is ignorant Hitler and Stalin killed tens of millions of their own countrymen, and then millions more with the war they started.
The comparison is between Satlin's and Hitler's control over the meida. Your statement is ignorant at best and I believe you meant to be Trollish. However we might just see millions killed besides the abortions. Remember Stalin and Hitler did not start out killing bunches of people, first they got the people enslaved or cowed then they proceeded to do what they wished.
Now that sounds like what Duh One is doing now. First control the media and the message then you have the people then the chaos starts.
On the other hand, if Fox
June 18, 2009 - 17:23 ET by bigtimerOn the other hand, if Fox News is our last, best TV watchdog on the
White House, then the TV press, as well as media critics like me,
should be profoundly embarrassed, and vow to start doing a better job --
immediately.
Three Cheers for Zurawik and the Baltimore Sun for printing this...
too bad other msm outlets of all venues do not pay attention...
Fox isn't Number One for nothing.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
“I hesitate to write
June 18, 2009 - 17:28 ET by Chris Norman“I hesitate to write these words, but good for Fox."
Boy,what does that say when giving credit to Fox News for balanced coverage makes one hesitate before doing so, like one's about to praise Hitler for something? Or does the writer expect to be tarred, feathered, and run out of the newsroom?
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
MSM
June 18, 2009 - 17:31 ET by KellyRshould indeed step back and take a hard look at their coverage. They are supposed to be watchdogs for the public, not lapdogs for the government. The current administration is coopting the press, who are all too happy to accommodate. Sad, and very scary . . .
I find it interesting that
June 18, 2009 - 17:56 ET by Willis_Leon_Johnsonthe arab thinks fair and HONEST REPORTING is an 'attack' on his dictatorial regime.
On the other hand, if the msm doesn't pander, how long would it be before stalin jr would nationalize the media and fire everybody that is not friendly to his agenda?
http://gjresult.com
Considering the O in O'Reilly
June 18, 2009 - 18:15 ET by jdripperStands for Obama I agree with Mr. Theodosopoulos we are in great trouble.
Jack
"If at age 20 you are a conservative then you have no heart. If at age 30 you are a liberal then you have no brains." Sir Winston Churchill
ripper... Why don't you
June 18, 2009 - 18:25 ET by bigtimerripper...
Why don't you go play elsewhere..where you belong.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
FO.............................
June 19, 2009 - 04:34 ET by old cro.
Sounds a little passive agressive to me
June 18, 2009 - 18:34 ET by nwahs"Given all the reckless and irresponsible words uttered by the likes
Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, I hesitate to write these words, but
good for Fox. It must be doing something right, if it has the president
complaining about the tiny bit of scrutiny he gets on TV.
On the other hand, if Fox News is our last, best TV watchdog on the
White House, then the TV press, as well as media critics like me,
should be profoundly embarassed, and vow to start doing a better job --
immediately."
Newsflash - this isn't a compliment.
http://newsbusters.o...
Ah Shawn
June 18, 2009 - 18:37 ET by BKeyserAt last, we are in complete agreement.
WFB was a master at this
June 18, 2009 - 22:12 ET by nwahsWhen I was in my young 20's I used to dispatch tug ( actually push boats - technical difference) boats on the Mississippi River 5:30 in the evening to 5:30 in the morning. Firing Line was my lunch hour show on Sunday nights/Monday morning.
I used to get a kick out of Buckley leaving guests wondering if they were complimented or insulted. They'd seem to walk away, glancing back a little confused :)
http://newsbusters.o...
Welcome to Balmer, hon.
June 18, 2009 - 18:36 ET by BKeyserHaving been born and raised within a stone's throw of B'more, and living only 30 miles from Charm City now, I thought we were all Baltimore Sun Critics.... unless you mean... oh... this guys a Critic FOR the Baltimore Sun... I get it.
I read some of the comments on this guys blog and some of them perfectly illustrate the state of public schools in this fair one-party (blue) state. Dolts- almost all of them.
BK... Glad you did that
June 18, 2009 - 18:49 ET by bigtimerBK...
Glad you did that regarding reading some of the comments...I was tempted, but decided I didn't want the aggravation today...you filled me in just fine.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Crikeys David, get yourself
June 18, 2009 - 18:39 ET by kangarooCrikeys David, get yourself a vest and go into hiding, you could come to my joint, but my neigbours are nosey nasty gossips,
Ulterior Motives?
June 18, 2009 - 20:34 ET by BarkerIt may just be that David Zurawik, and others in his profession, see pink slips down the road from the unprofitable liberal outlets they work for, so they're hoping to score points with the fast growing FNC.
Who knows?
Barker... Very well could
June 18, 2009 - 20:52 ET by bigtimerBarker...
Very well could be.
Job protection.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
So, this guy apparently
June 19, 2009 - 00:54 ET by RR GOPSo, this guy apparently recognizes the problem...yet he's going to keep going on being a part of the problem.
Hmmm.
One of the 34% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 61% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory (yep...approval for Congress now at 39%...do you believe that!?).
See Right Through Him.
June 19, 2009 - 05:51 ET by flyingmonkeyI'm surprised more people can't see how transparent this man is given his thin skin.
The 'msm' should be
June 19, 2009 - 09:08 ET by 24enakThe 'msm' should be critical and ask tough questions of the president and his policy. The 'msm' hasn't done so thus far, I will agree. But FNC is anything but 'fair and balanced' they weren't critical of the Bush adminstration as they are with the Obama administration. They are republican leaning without a doubt.
But if 'msm' were critical of the Bush administration, and the media is supposed to do that, then why did FNC always complain about the unfair and unbalanced reporting. They can and should complain NOW about the coverage of Obama because the media hasn't been, thus far, as critical of the Obama administration as the media were with the Bush administration.
But FNC is anything but
June 19, 2009 - 13:48 ET by Dan The Man 2But FNC is anything but 'fair and balanced' they weren't critical of the Bush adminstration as they are with the Obama administration. They are republican leaning without a doubt.
24, your problem is you need to get right with the world. Your perpective is off. FNC is pretty much fair and balanced but you lean so far to the left it looks off. But if you stop drinking the koolaid you might be able to understand.
Leaning Republican only solidifies my point. This is not about Republican or Democrat but left and right or socialism/communism and democracy as forms of government. Capitalism is the vehicle for democracy and Duh One is destroying it and FNC is the only network shouting the emperor has no clothes.
I actually try to watch
June 19, 2009 - 16:10 ET by 24enakI actually try to watch some of FNC, O'Reily, Hannity, Shep, and watched all three of the cable networks throughout the election last year. The most 'fair and balanced' one was probaly CNN, with MSNBC being left leaning and FNC being right leaning.
"capitalism is the vehicle for democracy and duh one (Obama I take it) is destroying it" That would be a true statement if the economy wasn't already in the tanks last fall, when Obama wouldn't take office for another 5 or so months.
Q: If Capitalism works then why did it fail without a Democrat in office? A: There wasn't enough government regulation and greed is not good (gordan gecko).
Obama (duh one in your parlance) isn't a socialist or communist or marxist as you hear everyday on FNC. He is a Democrat.
Oh Good Lord
June 19, 2009 - 16:12 ET by BlondeAnother economic illiterate.
Someone, please, put me out of its misery.
I hope he fails, too.
Enak
June 19, 2009 - 16:47 ET by Another Dead KennedyAre you a fan of Slawomir Idziak? Not to change topics, but I noticed your unique name and had to ask, especially if you're a fellow fan of his work.
No I have never heard of
June 19, 2009 - 23:16 ET by 24enakNo I have never heard of him, until I searched his name. my 'handle' derives from the day of my birth (also one of my favorite tv shows), 24, and my first name spelled backwards.
Disingenuous
June 19, 2009 - 09:55 ET by RoloTO reminds me of the athlete who has had their butt kissed since 7th grade and can't understand when, as a pro making millions of dollars, a few fans have the nerve to boo them. What thin skin. His FOX remarks were so disingenuous for one reason. If he really feels that way, it would take his people about 3 minutes to be granted a one hour interview with any FOX talent of his choosing. Then he could leave the telepromter at the WH and actually have an unscripted interview to defend his performance. Instead it's just easier to whine and blame the cable network with, by far, the highest ratings. The FOX ratings alone should tell his handlers something. What a bunch of amatuers.
"You were given a choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war." (Churchill to OBama...sorry I meant Chamberlain)
Re Disingenuous
June 19, 2009 - 10:31 ET by slickwillie2001Agreed, much like a professional athlete, but in the case of the Bamster, it's called Affirmative Action. All his life he has benefitted from AA, every job, every college admission, every grade, every degree, every office he held. Living in that cocoon insulates a person from the real world, from any pointed criticism.
Now that occasionally he is on the receiving end of some real critique, it's new to him and he can't handle it. He gets angry, flustered, on the defensive. He of course sees it as racism because what else could it be?
Zurawik
June 19, 2009 - 11:58 ET by jessieHjessieH Great story, sir. After the SOB gets you fired, I hope FOX will find a place for you. Keep up the good "reporting" of the news.