The news: A nation divided(Fox news is most biased news org since yellow journalism era")

LATIMES ^ | 07/07/04 | TIM RUTTEN

[Pikamax]

The news: A nation divided

TIM RUTTEN If the American news media are lucky, 2004 will be remembered as the year of living dangerously. If not, then this election cycle may be recalled as the point at which journalism's slide back into partisanship became a kind of free fall.

Presidential elections always challenge the press: The pace of events and competitive pressure invariably war with the media's duties to provide balance and perspective. Readers, viewers and listeners inevitably become more critical news consumers as their personal preferences solidify. This year, the polls instruct us, the country is likely to approach November so exquisitely divided that serious analysts actually wonder whether Michael Moore's anti-administration agitprop may tip the electoral scales.

This situation — with all the extraordinary demands it is bound to make — comes at a time when an ever-growing share of the news media is increasingly unsure of its direction and when the public's trust in what it reads, sees and hears has fallen to levels unmatched in recent memory.

The issues can be seen most clearly in the knock-down, drag-out fight among the all-news cable television networks. What began as a normal struggle over ratings has become the contemporary media equivalent of the Spanish Civil War, a vicious battleground in which new technologies and strategies are being tested with daunting implications for the future. Actually, the war is between Fox and CNN. The third network, MSNBC, is sort of like the Catalan anarchists — slaughtered by everyone.

Its slogan notwithstanding, Fox News is the most blatantly biased major American news organization since the era of yellow journalism. But by turning itself into a 24-hour cycle of chat shows linked by just enough snippets of news to keep the argument going, Fox has made itself the most watched of the cable networks. One American in four now is a regular viewer.

[tallhappy]

This from LA Times? Ha ha.

[Terpfen]

"But by turning itself into a 24-hour cycle of chat shows linked by just enough snippets of news to keep the argument going, Fox has made itself the most watched of the cable networks."

Wow. They really don't get it.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Its slogan notwithstanding, Fox News is the most blatantly biased major American news organization since the era of yellow journalism.

"In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."

[sphinx]

Delusional, but you already knew that.

[dirtboy]

Fox News is the most blatantly biased major American news organization since the era of yellow journalism.

Rutten, your editor called, he wants your input as to how much they should skew the next LA Times poll to make it seem that Kerry is still leading.

[ChadGore]

NOTE THE SOURCE: LA TIMES

The LA Times, now an active wing of the democrat party, thinks any non-communist entity is "right wing"

[Vision]

the country is likely to approach November so exquisitely divided that serious analysts actually wonder whether Michael Moore's anti-administration agitprop may tip the electoral scales.

hehehe, the vote is for our defense or best hair.

[You Dirty Rats]

POT-KETTLE ALERT!!!!

[TXBSAFH]

Can we say the pot calling the kettle black.

[brewcrew]

But by turning itself into a 24-hour cycle of chat shows linked by just enough snippets of news to keep the argument going, Fox has made itself the most watched of the cable networks. One American in four now is a regular viewer.

Denial's not just a river in Egypt.

[smiley]

If this wasn't so stupid...it would be positively funny....what ignoramuses they are.

[Dan from Michigan]

WTF is the LA Slimes doing complaining about biasness. They are as bad as the NY Slimes and "Solidarity".

[norwaypinesavage]

"Fox News is the most blatantly biased major American news organization since the era of yellow journalism."
Me thinks the LA Times protesteth too much.

[Liberty Valance]

LOL, the LA Times must be losing circulation numbers badly to come out with such a blatant attack.

[Navy Patriot]

The LA Slime is green with envy over Fox's success.

[goldstategop]

FOX NEWS. The liberal media's nightmare. They want it to go away but it keeps on growing. After ignoring it for years, finally the Los Angeles Times has had to come out and slam the network. Hoohah, the folks in the partisan media elite don't get why they're hemorrhaging in audience and print circulation. FOX NEWS is balanced compared to the rest cause conservatives get a real opportunity to present THEIR side of the story to the American people and no wonder Rutten and his fellow liberals are aghast. It ain't supposed to be happening!

[rwfromkansas]

loil

[Poohbah]

POT THIS IS KETTLE FLASH TRAFFIC FOLLOWS

POT THIS IS KETTLE FLASH TRAFFIC FOLLOWS

POT THIS IS KETTLE U R BLACK RPT UNIFORM ROMEO BLACK

KETTLE OUT

[KarlInOhio]

Can we say the pot calling the kettle black.

More like the pot calling the corningware black.