Other Titles • Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004)
Synopses for Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004)
1.
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism uses the inflammatory tactics of the Fox News Channel to demonstrate the conservative bias that's handed down by Fox's owner, media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The documentary gathers interviews from media watchdogs and former Fox employees (including a former anchor, Jon Du Pre, who describes his flailing efforts to create a celebration for Reagan's birthday when the one he was sent to cover never materialized), but their overwhelming condemnation of Fox's skewed news practices isn't half as effective as footage taken directly from Fox itself--an appalling montage of pundit Bill O'Reilly telling guests to shut up; repeated efforts to paint Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry as weak and waffling, while President Bush is captured in respectful, reverent images; and management memos dictating language, subject matter, and point of view. Outfoxed is unlikely to persuade Fox News fans to change their views, but it may spur outraged liberals to take action. --Bret Fetzer
(20 votes)
2.
In this scathing documentary from Robert Greenwald, the Fox News Channel comes under fire. First the film illustrates the way that its owner, Rupert Murdoch, has dominated the media, buying up TV stations, cable channels, and newspapers worldwide. Next, Fox's reporting tactics are looked at with a fine-tooth comb, revealing a clear pattern of nonobjective journalism. On talk shows and in other debate forums, hosts push conservative points of view. Former employees give anonymous interviews confessing that they were instructed to put a right-wing slant on their work. But the dominant message of the film concerns the mantra of "fair and balanced," which Fox uses to promote itself. By examining the way that Fox collects and reports news, this film shows that it is simply not fair and balanced. For instance, on Bill O'Reilly's talk show, he repeatedly tells guests to shut up rather than allowing them to disagree with his agenda. Layering of quick clips--so that we hear O'Reilly tell guests over and over to "shut up, shut up, shut up,"--is one of the most amusing tactics used in the film. But the reality is that by refusing to allow certain opinions to be expressed, and by tainting information to promote a conservative plan, Fox's viewers are being deprived of the truth. These issues are put into context through informative analytical commentary from media professionals like David Brock (author of THE REPUBLICAN NOISE MACHINE: RIGHT WING MEDIA AND HOW IT CORRUPTS DEMOCRACY), Jeff Chester (of the Center for Digital Democracy), Jeff Cohen (founder of FAIR, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting), Al Franken (a host on Air America Radio), Robert McChesney (host of the radio program Media Matters), and Chellie Pingree (president of Common Cause).
(20 votes)
3.
For the first time ever, this documentary reveals the secrets of Former Fox new producers, reporters, bookers and writers who expose what it's like to work for Fox News. These former Fox employees talk about how they were forced to push a "right-wing" point of view or risk their jobs. Some have even chosen to remain anonymous in order to protect their current livelihoods. As one employee said "There's no sense of integrity as far as having a line that can't be crossed."
"Outfoxed" examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a "race to the bottom" in television news. This film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public's right to know.
"Outfoxed" first examines media mogul Rupert Murdoch and the Australian company, News Corp., tracing how the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) helped Murdoch break the rules to establish a fourth network in the United States. The film explores Murdoch's burgeoning kingdom and the impact on society when a broad swath of media is controlled by one person.
Media experts, including Walter Cronkite, Jeff Cohen (FAIR), Bob McChesney and Chellie Pingree, provide context and guidance for the story of Fox News and its effect on society.
The team behind "Outfoxed" created a system to monitor Fox News 24 hours a day for months to discover exactly how its shows worked. A team of volunteers around the country scrutinized every hour of Fox News programming, noting examples of bias in its coverage. The result is an intense examination of Fox News and the lie inherent in it favorite motto: "Fair and Balanced."
(20 votes)
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