NPR's Media Reporter Studies Months of Bret Baier Show to Expose Fox's Conservative Tilt
You would think after the Juan Williams debacle, NPR would keep away from bashing Fox News again. But even as NPR's liberal bias remains controversial in Congress, NPR is still waging war on Fox. It's apparently the only national news outlet worth questioning. On Thursday night's All Things Considered, NPR media reporter David Folkenflik profiled Bret Baier, but delighted liberals by announcing that he had studied six months of guest lists for Special Report with Bret Baier, and he insisted liberals were underrepresented:
FOLKENFLIK: I reviewed six months' worth of Baier's panels, and the same mix typically prevailed: two clear-cut conservatives and one other analyst, sometimes a Democrat or liberal but usually a journalist from a non-ideological news outlet. As I told Baier, that would seem to under-represent the left and also to cast reporters as though they're surrogate liberals.
BAIER: I understand your point. I think numerous people can make the case of what the administration is trying to do, trying to say, that provides a perspective, not perhaps advocating for that position but analyzing it.
Folkenflik said the night he was allowed in to observe, the panel was Stephen Hayes of "the conservative Weekly Standard," plus "a conservative who's a former senior aide to President George W. Bush, and a political reporter for the Washington Post. I asked Baier how that lineup reflected the fairness that he promises." The Post is a "non-ideological news outlet"? See the arrogance of media liberals on display. Fox is a right-wing propaganda house, but NPR and The Washington Post are meticulously "non-ideological."
Notice how in his complaint that Fox is casting reporters as "surrogate liberals," Folkenflik never suggested in this piece that one of the Baier regulars is NPR's own Mara Liasson -- perhaps because NPR's liberal listener base hates NPR people "dignifying" Fox with their liberal presence. Why Fox News would allow NPR in, considering their recent record in whacking Fox, is a mystery.
Folkenflik did allow former CNN Pentagon reporter Jamie McIntyre to praise Baier when they each worked at the Pentagon: "I remember thinking that if you took the average Bret Baier report at the end of the day, and you took mine, and you stripped the names out so you didn't know who was producing them, I'm not sure you could tell which report was generated by CNN and which report was generated by the Fox News Channel."
But the overall impression Folkenflik left was that Baier is struggling to maintain his position inside a right-wing opinion channel.Michele Norris introduced the piece: "As NPR's David Folkenflik reports, the 40-year-old Baier is at the forefront of a younger generation of stars at Fox News, but he inherits some lingering questions about the network." NPR always has "lingering questions" about Fox. The story began:
FOLKENFLIK: If all you knew about Bret Baier was that he was a Fox News anchor, the moment that might stick in your mind would be his interview a year ago with President Obama the day before the vote on the landmark health care bill.
BARACK OBAMA: So the notion...
BRET BAIER: You guarantee that they're going to be able to keep their doctor.
OBAMA: Well, you've got to let me finish my answer.
BAIER: But sir, I know you don't like to filibuster, but...
OBAMA: Well, I'm trying to answer your questions...
FOLKENFLIK: Fox's often caustic conservative opinion hosts have had tough words for Democrats and their liberal allies, but the network's executives say their news programs are fair and balanced, as the slogan goes. Nonetheless, Baier's intense back-and-forth with Mr. Obama has been added to a list of complaints that Fox's hard news reporting is often unfair to Democrats, too. Baier tells me he was promised a 30-minute interview that got whittled to 20 minutes and then 15 just as he sat down.
BAIER: So we started, and there was a White House aide over my camera, in the distance, holding an iPhone that was clicking back from 15 minutes over the camera. So I asked the first question, and the president kind of gave this stump answer that I'd heard earlier in the week about health care that was taking a long time.
FOLKENFLIK: That wasn't combativeness, Baier says, just an anchor's need to get the questions out in the time allotted.
See the transcript here if you want to assess how Baier did last year. Liberal media analysts were upset that Obama would be interrupted, when the usual Brian Williams approach is to allow him to speak for as long as he wants – after you’ve praised him in your question.
- Tim Graham's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
to cast reporters as though
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 8:48am.
to cast reporters as though they're surrogate liberals.
Maybe that's because they are.
Perfect example, just a few days ago: NBC news correspondent Luke Russert "reporting" that
Democrats are for women's health.
And don't political reporters offer "analysis" of politcal stories? So why can't they be considered commentators?
The one thing that would stick out about Bret Baier is his interrupting The One???
Is Folkenflik joking???
"Is Folkenflik joking?"
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 4:10pm.
Unfortunately, the answer to your rhetorical question is "No."
I believe it was former CBS correspondent Bernard Goldberg who defined the problem in his best-selling book Bias. To paraphrase his point, it isn't that MSM journalists see the left, center, and right positions on a issue and deliberately choose the left. It's that from their perspective, the left view is the 'centrist' or neutral view, and therefore in their own minds, what they are selecting to report is unbiased.
It's like watching a snake eating its own head...
Submitted by evets11 on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 9:10pm.
Folkenflick carefully documented that Baier's lineups, over time, were always skewed to the right. Read very carefully: this isn't about individual commentators, it's about cumulative effect, ie, more air time for conservative ideas. The conservative reaction is, "How dare you study our bias! You must be biased against us."
Back in the day before the
Submitted by MidAmerica on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 9:10am.
Back in the day before the rise of the boomers to power and influence, even the MSM (the only media in existence) was not wholly owned by the Left. There was a tilt against the Right-wing but keep in mind the Republican establishment had a tilt against the Right-wing also. (that is still there)
With the events of Watergate and Viet Nam the boomers who went into 'journalism' saw journalism as an active role in shaping history not just recording it. Now the MSM has developed such an ingrained activist Leftward tilt they see anyone near the center as Right-wing.
There are three political forces in the country, Republicans, Democrats and the MSM. There is a tendency to think the MSM is owned by the democrats but it's actually the other way around. It was the MSM who intentionally saved Bill Clinton during his scandals and made him into a celebrity star. The democrat party would have been helpless to save him if he had gotten bad press.
So the problem the MSM have with FOX is that since MSM is a political force operating through 'journalism' they are fighting Fox because Fox is undercutting the MSM's political influence. They do not want to compete with FOX by copying what FOX does to attract a larger audience because that would mean compromising their political principles.
Spot on!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by adamsmith on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 10:20am.
Great summary of media. I wonder if the study mentioned above includes the fact that anytime a "Liberal"(commie statist) gets to debate on Fox, they get they're asses handed to them when not allowed to push prepared talking points and actually have to come up with facts? Look at Bill Maher's show for comparison. He will have a Conservative on occasionally and leaves Donkeyface flustered and unable to respond intelligently or factually. No "Liberal" thinking can pass a test of truth or common sense. Statism is a disease............
Except that
Submitted by dgv on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 7:42pm.
Fox has by far the best ratings. Fox is the mainstream media
If Clinton got bad press?
Submitted by evets11 on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 9:01pm.
If Clinton got bad press? Where were you between '96 and '99?
repeated by error
Submitted by Farley on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 9:55am.
repeated by error
Yeah
Submitted by Rukus on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 11:25am.
That's what I said about electing a liberal... sigh. : (
News reportage
Submitted by Farley on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 9:53am.
It used to be that when one entered someone else's house in the fifties to early sixties and the news was on the TV – you wouldn't know what your hosts' politics were. It is so different today. One look at their selected channel and voila – all is known.
I have “educated” liberal friends who know nothing about certain important events that may have occurred – solely because the MSM did not deign them “fit to print”. We are religiously reading opposing political tracts and relying upon them for the truth.
I see no improvement for the future.
Fox lies.....
Submitted by adamsmith on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 10:27am.
Anytime the left starts chanting the mantra of "Fox lies" it's because Fox shows the half of the news the remaining communist sympathizing media outlets conveniently leave out as it doesn't promote the agenda. They don't see it on MSNBC, so it CAN'T be true!!! I'd see that on "Meltdown with Kommisar Olbergoebbels" every night that Cretin had a show. I look at all outlets and discern the truth for myself. I don't want any agenda...I want the truth. You have to wonder how our history would have been different if the media had a conservative slant all these years of television news. Looking back, even Cronkite was a Commie.....
I have said for years...
Submitted by Plumb Bob on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 11:42am.
I have said for years that the definition of "democrat" is "An American who believes that what he hears on the evening news is actually factual."
For my entire adult life, television news (with the exception of Fox) has been broadcasting whatever will support or amplify the Democratic party's talking points. In order to become a Republican, an American must (1) deliberately obtain descriptions of historical events that are more accurate than what was in their high school textbooks, and (2) deliberately find news sources that report what the mainstream reporting elements systematically omit. That roughly half of America actually does this and becomes Republican is a remarkable testimony to the power of truth.
Bullbleep, Kirsten Powers is also a regular as is Juan
Submitted by Tomorama on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 9:58am.
Baier is the best show on Fox bar none (Red eye and Greta a close two and three).
Maybe for this D bags next in depth reporting........................................................ he can look at the guest list on Kitchen Cenks show also on at 6:00 (though nobody watches it).
Not just a checklist of guests either, Cenk opines far, far, far left and Baier opines a lot more moderate and indeed fair and balanced.
His "what ifs" are not always asked from the right side.
Tom - agree with your favorites
Submitted by mom_rox on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 11:32am.
I don't watch morning or daytime cable TV, so I can't add any of those programs. My other favorite Fox (FBC) program is Stossel. I wish his show would move to FNC - even a rerun of his show on the weekend would be great.
Comparison
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 4:23pm.
Chris Wallace's show had a typical panel: On the right: Brit Hume and Bill Kristol. On the Left, NPR's Mara Liasson and former NPRer Juan Williams. NPR would naturally say that Liasson is neutral.
On NPR's twin sister PBS (WETA in Washington DC), Inside Washington's panel is Charles Krauthammer on the right, and NPR's Nina Totenberg, Colbert King, and Evan Thomas on the left. NPR would naturally claim that Totenberg is neutral.
But can they argue that Wallace's panel is conservative and BS's is balanced? I dare say they actually would.
Galvanic...about your "comparison"...
Submitted by Jer on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 4:46pm.
The Inside Washington panel is clearly slanted to the left. The McLaughlin Group on PBS is generally balanced but occasionally slightly tilted to the right.
Regarding FNS: Mara Liasson is arguably the least passionate, least partisan regular "lib" pundit currently on the air. Juan Williams is a moderate liberal but has also demonstrated a maverick streak which often puts him at odds with the left. On the other hand Hume/Krauthammer and Kristol are reliable conservatives. So, I think it's reasonable to conclude Fox News Sunday leans a bit to the right.
Jer
Not quite
Submitted by Plumb Bob on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 11:55am.
Krauthammer is a reliable conservative. Kristol is a reliable NEO-conservative who usually represents the party Republicans. Those are two different positions, and they frequently disagree.
I do agree that Liasson and Williams is perhaps the most thoughtful and independent pair of liberal commentators on the air -- for which I applaud the producers at Fox. The left's frenetic reaction to Williams' maverick streak explains why producing thoughtful liberals is so difficult, and at the same time so praiseworthy.
Using the McLaughlin Group for contrast, listening to Eleanor Clift deliver reflexive sound bites in her crone's croak and her supercilious attitude is like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. And McLaughlin always has Pat Buchanan on board for the right, defending the Paleo position that represents, so far as I can tell, nobody but himself.
GOOD HEAVENS.......
Submitted by Herbster on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 10:11am.
Luke Russert?.......David Flickenford.....Findelfram......Folkenflik? Is this what reportage has come to? Unfortunately, yes. Six months of checking on a show's guests? Little David had a really tough assignment here. Still trying to denigrate Fox. NPR is angry because Baier was truly sinful in interrupting Obambi during an interview. Baier is tops in my book. Excellent delivery done in a professional manner. He is one of only a few today. I suppose one could consider it a compliment when NPR spends so much time (And OUR money) on such imbecilic reporting. Who's next? Meagan Kelly? Keep going little David.....you are only going to help Fox in the ratings. BTW, whether you like Trump or not, he deserves kudos for the way he slapped down Gail Collins in the New York Times after she wrote a snarky article about him. I guess the state run media is afraid of Trump so they will attempt to destroy him. I think they picked on the wrong person. He won't take any of their crap sitting down. Wouldn't you love to see a republican on Meet the Press get up and smack the snide grin off David Gregory's face after he asks a "When did you stop beating your wife" type question? It's time to put these lowlifes in their place. Good for you, Donald Trump!
I will grant you
Submitted by zenman1661 on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 10:14am.
I will grant you that on the panel there is a conservative slant, but Fox has never denied that its opinion and commentary is conservative. The straight news is non-partisan. But can NPR say they have the even the same or less conservatives on their discussion panels than Fox.
And what were Folkenflik's findings on ABC, CBS, NBC and NPR?
Submitted by krendler on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 10:19am.
And what were Folkenflik's finding on ABC, CBS, NBC, MS-NBC, CNN, PBS and NPR itself? Conservatives "under-represented" by any chance (or effectively banned from the network, in the case of MS-NBC)?
Oh, he didn't bother. Just singled out FOX for scrutiny. Interesting.
But I'm sure when he does a profile of say, David Gregory or Bob Shiefer, he'll do a similar analysis of guests on the panel, and ask them why they were so "caustic" when interviewing a conservative politician.
A very wise man once said you
Submitted by ricklail on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 11:32am.
A very wise man once said you need to remove the beam from your eye before telling your brother to remove the mote from his. Good advise there for NPR I think.
I agree
Submitted by dpc1212 on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 1:12pm.
I agree that the Allstars lean right...always two right-leaning guests and one liberal.....and Bret often jumps in with a right leaning opinion. I wouldn't mind if they put two left leaning guests on a couple of times a week as long as those chosen had some gravitas and were capable of defending the left's positions with respect and decency......not just spewing talking points, making outrageous blanket statements and rudely interrupting while others speak...........i.e. Alan Colmes. I can't stand that IDIOT!!! He's a perfect example of why I am convinced that Liberalism is a Disease!
Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.
Submitted by The Vet on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 2:13pm.
Fox News and Brent Bair's show is the most conservative network and show EVAH. Hands down. Yes. Yes. Yes. My dear sweet Lord in Heaven Yes.
You see this thing in my hand. It is called a remote. A remote for a DVR (DEE VEE ARE). You lie to me. I will NEVAH listen to you again.
And guess what. I got a brain and I have heard your lies. I will skip over anything you say and you got exactly no input into it.
Here is what the I watch with my Zippy Button. Charles Krauthammer's answering of questions on Special Report, oh and there is that Weekly Standard guy and sometimes the Turtle Glasses guy but mostly it is the KRAUTHAMMER SHOW.
Get with the times BoogerFlicker. I don't watch the idiot liberals even when they are in the minority. I. DO. NOT. HAVE. TO. Not when I got a thumb, a brain, and a zippy button.
Darn, I hoped he WATCHED some episodes!
Submitted by Beckiboo on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 2:50pm.
I think it would be very very educational for NPR "journalists" to actually watch Bret B. Just looking at his guests wouldn't be as helpful. Interesting that David F did not do a comparison of his own guests. Every time I watch MSNBC or CNN it is all liberal. Never watch PBS news so can't comment on that. LOL!
Easily said
Submitted by Tomorama on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 6:35pm.
Baier does NOT always ask the question from a "right mindset", nope, nope, nope.
But if you watch ANYTHING and I MEAN ANYTHING on MessNBC, ABC, CBS etc, etc the "what if's" as ALWAYS asked from the left viewpoint and the right "counter argument" HAS TO BE INTRODUCED or it doesn't get looked at all.
Brett easily can ask "Do the Democrats have a point here".....
NEVER EVER do you hear that from the Mummy, Kichen Cenk or Armapoorexcuse.
I have seen a few of his panels have two lefties on there, and if Charles is on, it is still no contest.
non-ideological...
Submitted by michiganruth on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 6:41pm.
here's the thing: anything other than straight-up left-liberal we-heart-Obama news is considered "conservative" by the lefty journalists of NPR? at least the liberals Fox has on ARE liberals--Kirsten Powers, Juan and Mara from NPR, the annoying Alan Colmes. whereas the "conservatives" that NPR and NYT love are people like David Brooks, who is NOT a conservative.
Baier's show is simply the best news show on TV anywhere, cable or network. the left knows that. so they're trying to paint Bret as a good man trapped by an evil network. really ridiculous.
I heard the whole piece, and
Submitted by forest on Sat, 04/09/2011 - 8:19pm.
I heard the whole piece, and it wasn't too bad until this:
"I told Baier, that would seem to under-represent the left and also to cast reporters as though they're surrogate liberals."
I literally laughed out loud and hard when I heard that one. Other drivers must have thought I was a nut.
Everyone knows they aren't "surrogate liberals", they're full-blown progressive activists.
And that dumb ass NPR...
Submitted by Patriot II on Mon, 04/11/2011 - 10:50am.
Actually PAYS the dim wit to study to see if they are conservatives? How freaking stupid can you get? Hey bubala!! They are not only conservative, they are patriots and republicans with a good smattering of Christians among them...........if you weren't so stupid, you could have listened and figured that out for yourself.......dam these people are pitiful!!!