Study hits war views held by Fox fans (moronic study alert)

Baltimore Sun ^ | 10.4.03 | David Folkenflik

[mhking]

Heavy viewers of the Fox News Channel are nearly four times as likely to hold demonstrably untrue positions about the war in Iraq as media consumers who rely on National Public Radio or the Public Broadcasting System, according to a study released this week by a research center affiliated with the University of Maryland's School of Public Affairs.

"When evidence surfaces that a significant portion of the public has just got a hole in the picture ... this is a potential problem in the way democracy functions," says Clay Ramsay, research director for the Washington-based Program on International Policy Attitudes, which studies foreign-policy issues.

Fox News officials did not return repeated requests yesterday for comment on the study.

Funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Ford Foundation, the study was conducted from June through September. It surveyed 3,334 Americans who receive their news from a single media source. Each was questioned about whether he held any of the following three beliefs, characterized by the center as "egregious misperceptions":

[mhking]

Just damn.

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[Publius6961]

"Egregious misconceptions", huh?
This should be good.
I better go read that study.

[GoGophers]

Oh geez! Say no more. Bleeding-heart pinkos with trust funds, all of 'em!

Did you bother to read the article?

[snooker]

Hate only gets you so far. You have to fall the rest of the way by yourself.

[sauropod]

Well there you have it. The Ford Foundation funding the study that is reported in the Blight For All.

Unbiased? Suuuuuuuuuuuuure...

[BSunday]

demonstrably untrue

According to what source?
The article cites government studies (probably the mischaracterized prelim WMD report) and public opinion polls.

[coloradan]

The three false beliefs:

# Saddam Hussein has been directly linked with the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

# Weapons of mass destruction have already been found in Iraq.

# World opinion favored the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

[...]

Twenty-three percent of those who get their news from NPR or PBS believed in at least one of the mistaken claims. In contrast, 80 percent of Fox News viewers held at least one of the three incorrect beliefs.

Among broadcast network viewers there also were differences. Seventy-one percent of those who relied on CBS for news held a false impression, as did 61 percent of ABC's audience and 55 percent of NBC viewers. Fifty-five percent of CNN viewers and 47 percent of Americans who rely on the print media as their primary source of information also held at least one misperception.

______________

A reasonable response from FOX would be a similar survey, with different misperceptions:

There is conclusive proof that gun control makes people safer.

For a majority of years the program has been in effect, welfare has reduced the absolute number of people living in poverty in this country.

There is a loophole that allows criminals to buy guns at gun shows.

Bush's tax cut takes money from the poor and middle class, and gives it to the wealthy.

Columbine killers Harris and Klebold bought their guns at a gun show.

How do you suppose people who only listened to NPR would fare on this test?

[SONbrad]

Saddam Hussein has been directly linked with the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

There are many people that believe this whether they
watch Fox News or not. And it hasn't been proven
NOT to be true.

Weapons of mass destruction have already been found in Iraq.

H*ll, Saddam USED chemical and nerve agents on his own
people. He also used missiles that he was not author-
ized to possess. He had them, he used them. Where
they are now is yet to be determined.

World opinion favored the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Who gives a rat's behind what the world's opinion is?

[Pete]

When evidence surfaces that a significant portion of the public has just got a hole in the picture ... this is a potential problem in the way democracy functions," says Clay Ramsay, research director for the Washington-based Program on International Policy Attitudes, which studies foreign-policy issues.

This piece is nothing more than the latest shot by liberals at trying to silence conservatives (along with recent attacks on Limbaugh and the revisiting of the Fairness Doctrine.)

For those who didn't read the article, they have three statements they claim are false. The second is that WMDs have been found in Iraq. Didn't Kay say they had found some already - e.g. a vile of botulism toxin? I am sure there are other Freepers who have paid closer attention that could answer that.

The bottom line is that this "study" was conducted by a couple of far left organizations with the intent to discredit what they view to be conservative media and to boost the far left NPR.

Note one more thing. They say that 80% of Fox viewers hold one of the three opinions they claim is false. However, 71% of CBS viewers and 61% of ABC viewers also fall into that category according to their study. Of course, that doesn't make it into the headline. The question arises. Given those percentages, could it be that NPR is incorrect?

[Steely Glint]

Yet another transparent bogus assault on the Right by the anti-American Left.

Hey, Leftists! Move to Cuba where you belong!

[Howlin]

The PIPA study suggests a strong link between people's understanding of the news and its source. That link held true throughout different demographic segments, such as those based on education level, viewing habits, and partisan leanings, Ramsay said. "It proves that what we're doing is great journalism," says NPR spokeswoman Laura Gross. "We're telling the truth and we let our audience decide."

Absolutely, positively RUBBISH.

In fact, it might be an out and out lie.

[big gray tabby]

That's exactly the point. The Ford Foundation has singled out the Fox Network by funding a study that hits their viewers where their bias lies. One could just as easily fund a study such as the one you propose but the Ford Foundation appears not to have done so

Well done.

[Reeses]

"It proves that what we're doing is great journalism," says NPR spokeswoman Laura Gross. "We're telling the truth and we let our audience decide."

Laura Gross is totally delusional. The Iraq war was always about regime change, not about locating stockpiles of WMD. Most Iraqis are happy to be rid of Saddam. Who cares if Old Europe is unhappy with the change.

[Howlin]

A Read It To Believe It bump!!!

[Pete]

One more comment.

The good news from this 'study' is that it shows that the left has failed at getting out their Anti-American propaganda. In that we can take comfort.

[Publius6961]

Saddam has been linked directly to Al Qaeda.
Weapons of mass destructions have been found in Iraq.
The "whole" world was in agreement in attacking Iraq.

The focus on these three "beliefs" tells me all I want to know about this so-called study.
Only a propagandist or a peace activist would word "beliefs" that way. Some study.

First of all I don't believe any of those things. I still support the war in Iraq, and a couple more ASAP.
Adults make choices every day, made by inferences, experience, prior knowlege, a grasp of history and an mature grasp of human nature.

For example, if you own a dog and a rabbit, and the rabbit turns up dead, and you find fur stuck between the dog's teeth, you have no "direct" link of who the perp is; no one saw the deed and the dog isn't about to confess. But I know who killed the rabbit.

In a world of children, or academics, that might be a "serious" study.
Logic and reason are circumscribed by the limitations of the mind that addresses complex questions.

[GSWarrior]

Danger Will Robinson.

Theoretical groundwork for the inevitable upcoming assault on the internet, talk radio and the free exchange of ideas?