Fox News Cut Out From Questions At Obama's First Press Conference

President-Elect Barack Obama held his first press conference yesterday, one that focused mainly on the current economic crisis. One detail that flew under the radar, however, was which networks and newpapers got to ask questions, or, rather, which one didn't get to ask a question. As Media Bistro notes, one network who was not called upon sticks out: Fox News.

It will be interesting to see how the conservative network adjusts to a political reality in which the Democratic Party holds the White House and substantial majorities in both houses of Congress. Michael Wolff, a Vanity Fair columnist who is writing an authorized biography on Rupert Murdoch's career and family, claims that even Murdoch is embarrassed by Fox News:

Now, with about six weeks to go before publication, Mr. Murdoch has raised objections with Mr. Wolff and his publisher about portions of the book, titled "The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch," that suggest that Mr. Murdoch is at times embarrassed by Fox News, which he owns, and its chief executive, Roger Ailes, and that he often shares "the general liberal apoplexy," as Mr. Wolff writes in the book, toward Fox News and its perceived conservative slant...

...The objections raised on behalf of Mr. Murdoch came after an article on Mr. Murdoch and the book was published in Vanity Fair in the October issue in which Mr. Wolff wrote that Mr. Murdoch was making friends with liberals and that he had soured on Fox News and Mr. Ailes. (A 10,000-word excerpt from the book will be published in the December issue, due out early next month.)

"For a long time, he was in love with the Fox chief, Roger Ailes, because he was even more Murdoch than Murdoch," Mr. Wolff wrote in the October Vanity Fair piece. "And yet now the embarrassment can't be missed -- he mumbles even more than usual when called on to justify it; he barely pretends to hide the way he feels about Bill O'Reilly."

Comments

[Mewcatone]

The problem is not that Fox News is conservative. I'm not so stuck in my own views that I can't listen to what others are saying. Sometimes I even agree with what conservatives have to say if they can present their point of view without all the hateful diatribe. (I emphasize the word hateful)

For me the problem is the Jerry Springer/Pre-Game Show/Entertainment Tonight/WWF fashion in which they convey their message. That and the fact that they seem to have very little journalistic integrity.

I suspect Barack would have no problem answering questions from a conservative news organization that actually took their jobs seriously.

[Eidolas]

Although I agree regarding Fox News, you can say the same thing about the other News Networks. I guess how distasteful it all is depends on which Kool Aid you're drinking.

[Seekr]

Ok MSNBC is hard left. So many say on here that FNC is hard right. Networks are not objective.

Please, without an attack, just one simple question: Where is the one beacon of truth that presents the facts where a person can make their own mind up without any bias? Not the NYT, the Washington Post ombudsman convicted them...so where? I submit that we have become so polarized, that such a media outlet may no longer exist.

FTR, there is a difference between editorial;izing and commentary and straight news reporting. FNC does little straight news reporting. They are always interjecting commentary (theoretically from both sides) into their reporting. I for one would find it refreshing to listen to a straight newscast on TV which is more of the format of the CBS Radio "World News Roundup", just reports and no commentary.

But I guess I'm just a crazy conservative who's tired of all the yelling and interruptions that the media has become. You know, you may have hated William F. Buckley's views, but at least the man was civil on his program.

[cgoodie]

I understand your dilema...we (Americans) have become the "entertain me, I'm bored' nation and theynews media is just giving us what we want. Something to yell and shake our fists at. Must say, I like it. At least they are engaging a lot more people into the dialogue. News used to be b-o-r-i-n-g.

[HillbillyBob]

MSNBC hard left , you gotta be kidding.
They are just barely center.
The hard right has warped the perceptions of most people into believing that fascism is something that is good in the world instead of the crime it represents.
I have been hearing the hard right nonsense for 30 years since ronnyraygun and his nazi star wars space weapons and frankly I m sick of it.

[gloriousglo2]

Try "The News Hour" on PBS.....balanced, intelligent, in depth

[munki]

WELL DESERVED...

[obgynobgyn]

GREAT Cearsar's Ghost, I am happy

[BCubedReg]

Well, maybe when Faux News starts reporting the news instead of fabricating the news, they will be allowed to ask a question.

[That Guy]

Don't hold your breath. We need as many liberals alive as possible.

[PandJonB]

I hear ya loud and clear. Especially with all of those 'investigative reports' that their reporters do. Makes me mad everytime I hear them spew at the lips.

[Pere]

So he chose to only call on REAL journalists... no big whoop

[naeblisone]

WE'LL DO IT LIVE!

[dalittle]

Rupert Murdock is embarrassed by Fox News? Murdock is the boss and part of the problem. At any time Murdock could stop Fox from being a tabloid entertainment network to an actual news organization. His attempt to distance himself from something he clear controls is gauling.

[TheloniousThinks]

I see absolutely NO reason why the Fox Propaganda Network should even be allowed into a press conference, much less allowed to ask questions. Press conferences are for Journalists, not for very loud political action committees.

[tallcoolone47]

I agree the questions and the answers to the questions should be inserted rectally using a phallic hermetically sealed tube into Chris Matthews a$$ at least 2 hours prior to go time then at his leisure he can peruse them and prepare for his role as "Administration worker bee".

There we go problem solved

[DianeBkht]

LOL ConAir where have you been? Bush has done this for 8 years!!!! Even when Bush went overseas there were select people Bush came in contact with...and I know this for sure! Even when he had his press conference, he had a select few to ask him what he felt were appropriate questions he could answer! Get real!!! When it came to the press he did the samething Obama is doing now! WOW...I cannot believe you are just now seeing this! Also, you should also know the world is getting tired of Negativity! Here in Fayetteville NC/Fort Bragg as well as surrounding areas we proved this during the election by voting Libby Dole out and Kay Hagen in. Also watch in the coming days NC turn Blue...the true color it should be!!! Obama won by a Landslide and we all know his message was on change. During Obama's campaign he never allowed boo's or negativity to sneak in...he always told supporters to vote instead to get there message across...McCain/Palin on the other hand were the opposite...so I can see why you are the way you are since you are a supporter of the two!

[Wombaticus]

A Democracy depends on an informed public. The news media is granted special rights and privileges in trade for their fulfilling their mandate of informing the people. Fox News does not even begin to take its journalistic duty seriously, it is merely exploiting the system to make money. It's polluting a natural resource and should be made to stop.

[hope4you]

question...as a middle of the roader...i voted no on 8, believe in helping out my neighbors..and fairness in reporting...Im seriously confused. Can you guys tell me why the one news agency who does voice an opinion different than the left...how can you cut that out without showing that you fear them? If you have nothing to fear and they do have the right to have their opinion)and if you don't believe that for others, how can you believe that for you? If tolerance is what you want, how can you be intolerant of others views? Wouldn't it be smarter and less nannynannynanny if Fox news was welcomed so that the questions of the right could be answered? Without fairness, there won't be change. If there are hater anwers to this question or post, I will lose faith in the fairness and tolerance of the left.

[Dagodevas]

I'm sorry to inform you Hope4; you are not a "middle of the roader". I'll ask you a question. Do you think that the president-elect should field questions from John Stewart? I would say, "Well, of course not. The Daily Show is a comedy program and has no claim to journalistic integrity." In the exact same sense, it is inappropriate to allow Fox News to speak to the president-elect. It isn't the voice of the right. It simply makes things up in the same way The Daily Show can, except that Fox doesn't present itself as comedy. It isn't a matter of "fairness" here. They do not speak for people; they misinform people. Part of their misinformation has reached you Hope4. You only think you are middle of the road because they tell that the middle line is in reality far, far to the right. If the Left/Right line was ten feet long, you are under the impression that "the middle" is at 23' 5".

[sideout1961]

I suppose Dagodevas you think MSNBC is a HOTBED for journalistic integrity? Chris Matthews saying "I am going to make it my misson to see this administration succeds" You call that fair? It is amazing how Fox is the highest rated News channel but everyone seems to hate them. You people just don't like the fact that they didn't kiss the Messiahs butt like all the other channels.

[PoliticalPartyPooper]

unbiased "journalism" no longer exists in this nation. We have on television, talking heads who interject their opinions (and mostly UNINFORMED opinions, I might add) to EVERY bit of news they "report."

Fact is, today's mainstream media (and I include Fox News in that) has CONSISTENTLY violated one of the highest rules of journalism, which is to not only tell the truth, but to ensure that they do not become a part of the stories they tell, or make the stories they tell biased. You can't watch any "news" program today and not get blithering idiocy thrown into it by some talking head or other.

So it doesn't matter who is asking the questions. Bush played the "I'm not going to answer your network's questions because..." game.

Barack Obama ran on a platform of change. As an independent, I find it very enlightening that his first move as President elect is to continue to play the very same game.

Some change indeed. "Change has come to America!"

No...it hasn't. It's still staying away from America until party ideologies have enough rope to hang themselves. Then we'll see REAL change.

Nope, I'm sorry guys, I think we're going to have accept four or eight more years of exactly the same garbage we've seen from Washington for the last fifty. If you had REALLY wanted change, you shouldn't have voted for a leopard with spots that look just like all the other leopards with spots.

[cgoodie]

They absolutely have a right to their views....but they should come with a disclaimer. Not the "fair and balanced" they proclaim. Maybe they should just claim to be the "balance" for all the liberal media.

[cgoodie]

I have watched Fox News since 2000. I was a fan when I backed GWB. Now, I don't so I'm no longer a fan of Fox News....read into that what you will. I've heard about the polls that claim Fox is as fair as any other, but I am a news freak, it's on all day in my house, but I live in the Caribbean so my choices are few. So I watch Fox News. They are totally biased against Barack Obama.

[nunzia]

Not a problem for FOX.
They make up the "news" anyway.

[ckncook]

Of course they were cut out. Did you expect them to be treated otherwise?

http://afencepost.blogspot.com/2008/11/please-dont-squeeze-shaman.html

[gen-x]

Most media are biased but you're mad because Fox seems to be biased against your point of view. So what. Are we all supposed to walk in goose step in this country?

[antiprop1]

If Fox News had their way, plenty of goose stepping would be getting done by the 'permanent majority' Republican fascist regime. But oopps, America finally has had enough.

[troika]

Listen gen-x, I agree by and large media is biased, but the depth of FAUX NOISE bias is beyond pale when compared to the rest. Every evening venom is spewed at 5.00 pm, 6.00 and 7.00 pm (PDT) They have made illegitimate comments about Obama, especially Hannity, so in all fairness why should they be included in the press conference. If you are not fair and balanced how can you expect the rest to be so? No one has asked you to walk in goose step. So what is your point?

[KhartoumHero]

Independent studies have found that Fox is no more biased than other news sources. What you perceive as unbiased is simply your own confirmation bias at work. Because Fox challenges a lot of your preconceived beliefs, you tend to think of it as more biased.

As for the shows like Hannity, I see no difference between that and Hardball or that Olberman guy, or Rachel Madcow. Or that bloviating fool Lou Dobbs ranting about the Curry Peril "t'kin our jerbs!" Or that pompous idiot Christian Amanpour with her poseurish gravitas and her ethnocentric demand that we all say "Pockeystahn" rather than the accepted pronunciation.

[rwt1138]

Ironically, it is Fox news that requires people to walk in goose step, demonizing anyone who disagrees with its viewpoint or politics. No other media outlet goes after people like Fox News. Fox misrepresents facts, fronts discredited rumors as news stories after they are aware the stories are false, and serves as a safe platform for politicians to which it is sympathetic come promote their positions, in the form of infomercial style interviews.

There is no other media outlet that propagandizes on the scale that Fox News does. There is a reason why Fox News viewers consistently score at the bottom of current events awareness tests.

[KhartoumHero]

Wow! Requiring goosestepping? My gosh! No wonder my magazines have been disappearing from my mailbox! I haven't been goosestepping as required, and now they are raiding my mail!

And, oh my gosh, DEMONIZING!! Now I feel bad, because I called the customer service number for an internet provider I was using and informed them I was no longer a customer, and that I should get a refund for an erroneous charge. Little did I know that, instead of merely disagreeing with the charge, I was actually DEMONIZING it!! I think I'll go jump out my window now. Never again shall I commit the sin of disgreeing, I mean, DEMONIZING revealed truths.