Posted on 04/25/2017 9:05:07 PM PDT by OneVike
How the mighty have fallen!
The biblical lament has particular relevance this week, as Bill OReillytrusted by millions of Americans every weeknight since 1996 on his spin-stopping Fox News program The OReilly Factorwill not return to the network following an exposé of alleged sexual harassment incidents over the past decade.
The announcement follows other high-profile departures from the nations top cable news network in recent months. Notably, prime-time anchor Megyn Kelly will soon debut as a news commentator for NBC Newsfollowing her lead role in last summers resignation by Fox News president and founder Roger Ailes, who was forced out by sexual misconduct charges similar to those facing OReilly.
Its a confusing moment for many Americans. Without doubt, loyal viewers of Fox News played an outsized role in the historic election of President Donald Trump. Many are now evaluating his administrations first 100 days, enumerating what accomplishments to trumpet in defense of their electoral choice while grappling with the former reality TV stars limitations as a statesman.
Without OReilly to look out for the folks (as he often stated was his driving factor), the 24/7 fair and balanced coverage suddenly seems less reliable to help cable TV viewers in this evaluative process. What will the networks future hold? The answer will surely take cues from its past, including the unprecedented events of 2016.
The easy route for conservatives would be to dismiss the upheaval at Fox Newslong anchored by OReilly, perched atop the ratings behemothas another mainstream media plot, a coordinated effort to take down what many on the right consider the only truth serum in news media. That perspective has factual elements, but its not the entire story.
Those who welcome even some of how Fox News has changed the national media landscape should think critically about recent events and what knowledgeable critics are saying. In the Unresolved Problem segment tonight, here are five reasons why trust in Fox News has eroded over the past year.
1. Cozy Relationship with Trump Campaign Bordering on Promotion
Back in 2011, Fox and Friends began an unusual feature for a morning variety show every week, New York real estate mogul Donald Trump would call-in and banter with hosts regarding the news of the day. As reported by New York magazine, this segment came about as a favor from Roger Ailes to Trump.
Fast forward to spring 2016, when the Republican field was still large. Coverage of Senators Cruz and Rubio was drowned out on Fox News and its competition, while unpredictable yet camera-ready candidate Trump seemed to get wall-to-wall attention.
During frequent on-air interviews, Bill OReilly and Sean Hannity offered Trump friendly deference delivered with a collegial tone. Why are we successful? Whats the reason? Part of the reason is people like me, Hannity said in an interview last October with the New York Times, questioned about his support of Trump. This is the spice! Were getting back to the spicy part of the network, the one that pays the bills.
The eventful, at times bumpy, relationship between Fox News and Donald Trump in recent years is too lengthy to fully recount here. But its climax is unmistakable, when President Trump became leader of the free world roughly 100 days ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at Christian Headline News ...
Fox was NeverTrump except for a couple people the entire campaign.
Yea, they should have given Eric Boling the hour
BS article. Fox is finally getting back on track with hosts like Tucker, Watters and Hannity. I had stopped watching years ago but I occasionally watch again now. Couldn’t stand Megyn, George Will, Kristol and O’Reilly.
I stopped watching recently because I'm sick and tired of the same old liberals on every show with the exact same talking points and the Fox news hosts always treat them like they're really great Americans.... Which they're not. I just can't take them anymore.
Haven’t seen you around in a while.
Since I have no life I pretty much know who’s coming and going :)
Hope all is well.
And yes, the points you make are even more reason to stop watching.
At least Beckel wasn’t taken seriously :)
They are the only liberals they can get to come on. So they treat them good to get them to come back, otherwise they will b exactly what the left is.
Literally the only thing good about "the 5" is Guilfoyle's legs. The rest is useless drek. So Fox puts them on in prime time? Hilarious.
I’m in here everyday now for 18 yrs or so. Sometimes I don’t see anything I want to contribute to or have other things to do. But I do check in every day and even more at night.
As long as this daytime trend holds—with an apparently diminishing desire on Fox's part to distinguish itself from its competitors due to new, more liberal management emerging—I expect Fox to blend in with those competitors increasingly.
Simultaneously, I believe networks like OAN—which proudly wears a conservative mantle—to become much more nationally prominent and "mainstream" in the minds of many Americans. There is clearly an appetite for alternatives to the Democrats and Media (but I repeat myself).
While Fox still has some conservative personalities in its evening lineup—as well as in the morning in some instances—it'll be interesting to see if the new management places value on populist/conservative demographics, or whether—which seems more likely—the focus will instead shift to an increasingly liberal slant, as the phasing out of overtly conservative voices proceeds apace.
Yeah, well I want Austin Goolsby and quite a few other Fox news liberals punched right in the mouth.... And that’s just for starters.
Like I said earlier here. I just can’t stand to hear them anymore.
18 years. Wow.
I started following during the 2000 election but joined only a few years ago :)
I understand, but I find myself conveniently ignoring them, or fast forwarding because I never watch a live show. We TIVO everything so we only watch what we want to, but FOX is actually more conservative now than they were when O’Reilly, Humme, Kelly, and a few others were there before.
My wife likes the Five, although I think it belongs in the earlier afternoon not prime time.
Bullish is actually a newbey
LOL :)
If a person does not have God as their compass, what compass do they use... society allows more and more.. and using society as a compass is just being a follower... it’s easy to be a follower.
Several mentions of One America Network here. I am still mad at DirecTV for the way they use OAN as a stick to beat their legacy customers. Has any Freeper had success with DirecTV’s Retention department on this issue?
Like you! :)
Great home page BTW. Great dogs. Great 9/11 tribute.
As long as I’m breathing it won’t be forgotten. Loved working in those buildings (wasn’t during the attack. Was up at Rock Plaza by then)
Liked the post at the end about being addicted to God.
Beats the hell out of booze, gambling and whatnot.
Thanks. I keep telling myself I need to add to it, but life gets hectic.
The pups are now 103 and 108 pounds. My wife calls them my groupies.
I can’t go anywhere without them right there.
If anything, Fox News was anti-Trump; Sean Hannity being the notable exception. The idea that Fox News had a pro-Trump bias is laughable. The reason trust in Fox News has decreased is that the Murdoch family has taken direct control. Since then, the network has looked less like a Conservative alternative to the Liberal Media and more like Shepard Smith.
He’s right on #3.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.