Fox giving more coverage to RNC Convention? [BARF ALERT]

US Newswire ^ | August 31, 2004 | MMFA

[ejdrapes]

MMFA: FOX Gives 33 More Minutes to Republicans at RNC, Almost Twice the Time Given to Democrats at DNC; FOX News Channel Breaks Promise to Viewers for Equal Time of Both Conventions

To: National Desk, Political and Media reporters

Contact: Naomi Seligman, 202-390-0700; or Beth Kanter, 773-551-7044, both of Media Matters for America

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- On the first day of the Republican National Convention, Media Matters for America found that FOX News Channel showed 74 total minutes of primetime speech coverage at the Republican National Convention -- 33 more minutes than was shown of the speeches at the first night of the Democratic National Convention.

Following the announcements by FOX News Channel (FNC) hosts Bill O'Reilly and Cal Thomas that FNC will devote the same amount of coverage of live speeches at the Republican National Convention as it did at the Democratic National Convention, Media Matters for America (MMFA) found that on the first day of the Republican National Convention, FNC gave substantially more time to the speeches at the RNC than it did at the DNC.

MMFA will monitor FOX News Channel's live speech coverage and will produce daily a chart comparing the coverage, holding FNC accountable for its hosts' comments and its motto of being "fair and balanced." The findings will be posted to http://www.mediamatters.org.

During the Democratic National Convention, which took place between July 26 and July 29, MMFA monitored coverage by FOX News Channel, CNN, and MSNBC and calculated the amount of time each aired convention speeches live. FOX News Channel aired one hour and 16 minutes less of speeches from the convention live than did CNN and one hour and 47 minutes less than did MSNBC.

"FNC hosts made a promise to their viewers at the DNC that there would be equal time given during both conventions," said David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters for America. "FNC has broken that promise on the first night of the convention and we will continue to monitor to see how they progress. This certainly would not qualify as fair and balanced coverage."

[pgkdan]

Who cares? This isn't exactly news to any regular Freeper.

[HamiltonJay]

I caught parts of the DNC convention on CSPAN during its week, and I caught both McCain and Rudy last night... Dems should be thanking their stars that broadcast TV is ignoring largely both conventions... because Last night the Republicans offered a more solid, logical and cogent argument for the Republican Party than the Dems could muster in an entire week of their own self flatulation.

[auboy]

Cannot tolerate Mr. O'Spinner Zone. Mr. O'Spinner's first guest last night, Lanny Davis. Watch FNC less and less. Screaming heads (talking over each other) are a big waste of time. Even Brit has gone a little soft lately.

I plan to watch the rest of the convention on CSpan. Frankly, I'm tired of the media telling me what I just saw and just heard. Like viewers don't have a clue without their analysis. And I don't care to hear what the Dems have to say about our convention. I'd rather see the live coverage and make up my own mind.

Talk radio is gaining more and more of my ear. And thanks to Jim and the crew in Fresno for Free Republic. Coming here is my attitude adjuster and mood elevator. /rant over

[Happy2BMe]

Nice rant. I like it.

[Happy2BMe]

I'm willing to say that 90% of all FReepers are not aware that the man who owns Fox News Channel is staunchly and openly campaigning for John Kerry for president.

[rs79bm]

The only one with good coverage last night was C-Span, who actually played the whole thing un-edited without a bunch of anaylists talking over people who were talking over those who were on the stage.

Their were lots of good parts last night that Fox didn't even bother showing, such as Ron Silver, Lindsay Graham, and the other guests. And when they did show them, they were too busy talking over them with an anaylist that you couldn't even understand what they were saying.

[The Wizard]

Shep is a prick

[rs79bm]

I guess they showed more coverage because the Republicans actually had something to talk about, the Democrats didn't.

[auboy]

I feel better now.:-)

[auboy]

Shep is a prick

Absolutely. I call him Little Bill.

[outfield]

I really liked the analysis Hume, Hannity and Co. gave. FNC was much better than any other coverage out there. MSNBC was a joke.

[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my FoxFan list. *Warning: This can be a high-volume ping list at times.

[Cableguy]

I don't trust anything from far-left wing websites like this one. Just waste of bandwidth.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!