TV Critic:Kidnapping Not Covered Because Fox News "Set Itself Apart" (they die who cares)

NRO ^

[hipaatwo]

Bob Laurence, TV critic for the San Diego Union-Tribune, sent a letter to Romenesko setting forth a couple of reasons for the scant coverage given to the kidnapping in Gaza of two Fox News journalists (via Michelle):

... Fox has deliberately set itself apart from other news media. Starting at the top with Roger Ailes, the Fox sales pitch has been to deride other media, to declare itself the one source of the real truth, the sole source of 'fair and accurate' news reporting. As a result, there's not a reservoir of kinship or good will with Fox on the part of the rest of the news media. You can't keep insulting people and then expect friendship when you need it.

You stay classy, San Diego.

[Politics4Fun]

Despite what Bob Laurence may think, Fox is being supported by several of the other major networks. As people have noted, there isn't much breaking news to report on the story and Fox doesn't want to impede on-going negotiations by airing speculation. However, while Fox is not giving much coverage to the story, at Fox's request, several networks have been covering the story and airing pleas from the FNC reporters' families. All the news agencies have people in the Mideast and Fox's number one ratings or any perceived politcal leaning aren't a factor here. Fox is the best in the business, and while other netowrks may be envious of that fact, ratings fall to the wayside in a situation like this one. The real problem is people like Laurence (a TV critic with no foreign relations experience) who negatively stir the pot for their own gain while possibly making matters worse for those who have been captured. He needs to stick with stories about American Idol and leave real reporting to real journalists.

[mware]

Did anyone get a response from Mr Laurence????

[Brytani]

I'm not surprised CNN didn't do a butcher job on this. Many of the people who are at the CNN Washington bureau have known and worked with Centanni for years.

In fact (no, I'm not throwing name) my stepfather worked for Fox news in DC for 20+ years before retiring as a cameraman, moving on to running satellite transmissions. He personally knows Centanni from those days and says the man was always well like by everyone in the industry. He is not a typical diva journalist as so many are.

I just pray the barbarians who are holding them release both men unharmed.

[mware]

I join you in those prayers my FRiend.

I don't think the kidnappers knew it, but they kidnapped them on the Feast of St. Kolbe, the patron saint of journalist.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

You can't keep insulting people and then expect friendship when you need it.

Like the rest of the media does.

[Vinnie]

As a result, there's not a reservoir of kinship or good will with Fox on the part of the rest of the news media.

In other words, the MSM is for sale.

Pay the price, be it kissing their a$$ or whatever to get their coverage.

Boy, have they proved everything bad written about them.