FOX News and the New World of Opinion Journalism
How Rupert Murdoch and FOX Are Redefining News In the United States
Nov 5, 2009
Sparking a heated debate amongst the press, the White House's actions prompted the media to approach the subject of what constitutes TV news today, drawing distinctions between so-called opinion journalism and actual news.
However, the press stopped short of examining the story of TV and cable news, or exploring how FOX News became such a powerhouse in the first place.
The Rise of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation
FNC (FOX News Channel) is owned by Australian-American media mogul, Rupert Murdoch, and controlled by FEG (FOX Entertainment Group).
Both FNC and FEG fall under the ownership of Murdoch's "News Corporation," the world's second largest media conglomerate in the world, boasting book, newspaper, magazine, music, radio, sports, studio, TV, and Internet holdings.
Given the company's reach, News Corporation often finds itself at odds with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), which is tasked with regulating all non-federal government use of the public radio spectrum, and all interstate telecommunications.
The agency, directed and empowered by Congressional statute with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the president, first involved itself in regulating TV networks after it issued the "Report on Chain Broadcasting" in 1941, which split NBC (National Broadcasting Company) and led to the creation of ABC (American Broadcasting Company).
In 1996, lobbying efforts by growing media conglomerates prompted a Republican-led Congress to pass the Telecommunications Act, signed by President Clinton, which opened all communications markets to competition and led to the historic split of AT&T's "Ma Bell" monopoly.
That year, two new cable TV networks surfaced, with FEG launching FOX News and General Electric's NBC announcing a joint venture between itself and Microsoft, dubbed MSNBC.
In 2003, George W. Bush’s FCC Chairman appointee, Michael Powell, led a charge to render media ownership rules virtually non-existent, after a 3 to 2 decision, which followed party lines and favored the commission's Republican members.
Within a deregulated environment, media companies had the opportunity to concentrate ownership in whatever markets they chose, with Texas-based Clear Channel Communications and Murdoch’s News Corporation subsequently buying up radio and TV stations across the country, all while throwing heavy support behind Republican power-brokers in Washington.
Blurring the Line Between Traditional News and Opinion
Given the FCC's connections to the White House, its actions tend to follow the political leanings of whatever party holds power, with media conglomerates fostering close relationships with legislators.
According to SourceWatch, the Center for Responsive Politics released data in early 2004 indicating that Clear Channel executives donated $42,000 to George W. Bush compared to $1,750 to John Kerry in that year's presidential election, with Clear Channel's political action committee contributing 77% of their $334,501 in federal contributions to Republicans.
Rupert Murdoch, who's cable network adopted a trademarked slogan boasting "Fair & Balanced" news coverage, is listed by newsmeat.com's campaign contribution report to favor Republican political candidates by a 39% margin since 1987.
As other organizations straddle the line between their own news departments and the entertainment wings of their corporate parents, Murdoch's FOX News Channel embraced a new approach to reporting information, concentrating its operation under one roof and subsequently cross-promoting its content through various media outlets including radio and TV.
Clear Channel, the number one radio station owner in the United States, is the official distribution arm of syndicated conservative talk radio programming like the Rush Limbaugh Show, and FOX News personalities like Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck.
FOX's proprietary news personalities use the extended reach of Clear Channel and News Corporation's combined audiences to offer policially-charged commentary on current events, while FNC's "news" staff often intertwines that commentary with information that they report on the network.
As competing networks struggle to outperform FOX's self-perpetuating "news" machine, they are starting to show signs of following its lead by intermingling news and entertainment, further blurring the line that traditionally separates information from opinion, and redefining news in the 21st century.
Sources
Stern, Christopher. (June 3, 2003). "Bitter Atmosphere Envelops FCC; Under Chairman Powell, Panel Members Maneuver, Criticize." Washington Post.
Clear Channel Communications. SourceWatch. Retrieved November 5, 2009, from:
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Clear_Channel_Communications#Political_contributions
Rupert Murdoch. NewsMeat. Retrieved November 5, 2009, from:
http://www.newsmeat.com/billionaire_political_donations/Rupert_Murdoch.php
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