The following letter was sent on Friday to Rob Owen, President of the Television Critics Association, in reaction to reports that about 100 TV critics walked out of a presentation by Fox News Channel Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, in protest of Fox’s "conservative spin."
Rob Owen, President
Television Critics Association
Dear Mr. Owen:
I was appalled when I read news accounts about the utter lack of respect that so-called "fair" and "balanced" members of your organization exhibited toward Fox News Channel’s Chairman Roger Ailes Monday night. Such open contempt for Fox speaks volumes about their personal intolerance and disdain for any point of view that doesn’t reflect their liberal ideology.
Sources at the meeting reported that two-thirds of the 150 attendees in the room walked out in protest of Fox’s "conservative spin." Can you imagine the uproar that would follow if even a fraction of those attendees walked out on Dan Rather or CNN’s Ted Turner? Ironically, the very people who promote "freedom of the press," "tolerance" and boast of "diversity of opinion" have demonstrated that they are nothing more than cynical hypocrites. Frankly, they don’t deserve to call themselves journalists.
Perhaps your members should familiarize themselves with the standards and ethics of their industry. Only then can they begin to practice what they preach: fair and balanced reporting.
Roger Ailes is owed an apology.
Sincerely,
L. Brent Bozell III
President, Media Research Center
