SOME SAY....
By Henry O'Donovan

These are the words used by many TV News presenters to "cloak" their own views - especially on America's Murdoch-owned Fox News. You see, when you are doing "live" TV News these days, the tele-prompter is hardly used at all. Things are happening too fast. Ad-libbing is the order of the day, especially if you are interviewing politicians and the like.


Of course interviewers are supposed to be neutral.They are not permitted to have any political opinion on air. The way around this? Example from Fox News' E.D. Hill, co-host of 'FOX & Friends "Some are saying that Kerry's "flip-flops" will result in a swing towards Bush". So, who is saying this? We don't know because E.D. never told us. But, as a viewer it is our nature to accept that this is a valid view. This is a classic example of an interviewer putting their own view on the air. And it's rife over at Fox.



"Outfoxed - Rupert Murdoch's war on journalism" is a Doco recently released by Robert Greenwald. In it he interviews disgruntled Ex-Fox News employees about their time at Fox and how they had words put in their mouths through memos sent via email. The video portrays Fox News as a right wing mouthpiece for Murdoch, the Republicans and of course, the Whitehouse. It's shocking stuff. Not just because of the nature of the material, but also because Fox News on US cable attracts more viewers (off Network) than any other station. Can you imagine the pulling power this station has for the Conservatives?

To add insult to injury, the stations call-sign is "Fair and Balanced". As I write the elections are taking place in the US. Top presenter for FOX Bill O'Reilly has recorded three interviews with Bush. He desperately tries to sound impartial, but when you look at it from a broadcasters POV, they are like two little lovebirds playing out a word game for the viewers. O'Reilly thinks Bush is God. And Bush knows he ain't gonna have to deal with any sticky questions from O'Reilly. Bearing in mind that Fox News is supposed to be "fair and balanced", this treackly attempt at a political interview nearly had me throwing up.

Some say Bill O'Reilly is a vitriolic right-wing broadcaster. The only thing curtailing this man is that Fox has to be seen to be impartial. But he fails miserably all the time (as does Fox News). I actually think he is totally insane, or should I put it: "Some say Bill O'Reilly is insane". Currently an ex-producer on his show is suing him for sexual harassment. She claims he wanted her to do phone sex, amongst other things. I am not at all surprised when I read this.

I strongly recommend you buy "Outfoxed". It is credible stuff and will open your eyes to Fox's agenda. Because of the nature of the material, it never got mass distribution, but you can get it from outfoxed.org. Or if you want, email me and I'll see what I can do to help.

I really think it is so sad that ordinary people are not seeing the News anymore. They are seeing a product generated by corporate business, who disseminate their own political views for financial gain. The Fox News "product" to an uneducated US audience, is like a shiny toy to a child. They present their news in a magazine format, with "Fox News Alerts" every time a cat gets caught up a tree. The idea Murdoch has, is to keep the masses on the "right" side of the political fence. It makes financial sense to do this. Big business is usually calling from the right. Murdoch is not a political man. He's a businessman. If he thought his empire would gain by promoting left-wing values, he'd kick O'Reilly and his lot out of Fox News, and bring in a bunch of real journalists.

It's only hours from the US Elections as I write, and I'm guessing that Bush will win. Not because more people voted for him of course. That bears little on who gets into power in The United States of America. Year 2000 elections. Lest we forget.

4th November update - Well, in all fairness, Bush DID win by a believable majority. I believe in democracy. The problem is that democracy goes a little wayward when the masses don't actually KNOW what's really going on. Fox News did its job perfectly.