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

[lagumbo]

I hope President OBAMA never give FOX NOISE an opportuinty to ask questions or never give an interview. Why give them any credential? They tried for two years to destroy him. They told lies, they made up lies. And besides none of the hacks on FAUX Noise are journalists anyway. FAUX NOISE is a place for has beens or wantabes. Just goes to show you how we got in this mess the country is in.
FAUX NEWS had an inside pipe line to the BUSH ADMN. That really tells you something about the fix we are in.

[diogeron]

When Fox "News" starts behaving like a real journalism outlet worthy of respect, they should be treated as such, but not until then. These guys are just the National Enquirer on tele without the scoop.

[barriosbabe]

National Enquirer is more reliable.

[TurkerB]

But the problem with Michael Wolff's analysis is that it doesn't match reality. Why does Mr. Murdoch still has Mr. Ailes on his payroll and is paying big bucks to keep Bill O. on the air?

If Murdoch is so embarrassed by Fox News, why isn't he getting rid of Roger Ailes and the rest of the hyenas who are passing themselves off as "journalists" or "political commentators" on Faux News? Guess the money and power trip is just too much for the louse to handle....­.

[jjoshaugh]

Simple. Fox News is still profitable and its his link into the American market. It generates a huge proportion of NewsCorp's revenue. If He cancelled his his dept ridden company could collapse.

Fox pays for his other interests worldwide that are not nearly so profitable but ensure that Mordoch's message is pumped into the world consciousness daily.

[schicklett3]

Fox News should be boycotted! It is the worst and most vile show on TV.
I hope they never get to ask questions, also that they're barred from all Obama press conferences.

[WilyTrax]

We're already making progress.

http://www.wilytrax.com

[nippyfan]

Keep cutting.

[bioluminescence]

Mr. Murdoch should consider a merger between FOX, the Cartoon Network and the WWF. That way all viewers interested in simulated reality can tune into one network.

[barriosbabe]

Good one.

[nighthawk808]

But then you'd just end up with a 24/7 O'Reilly Factor channel.

[MizLiz]

Where was Helen Thomas? I didn't hear her.

[ceasespin]

Reward good journalism and let the market place punish poor journalism.
learn about the innovative "news quality rating system" proposal at FCCLIESINS.org
Sign the FCC News Rating System petition
spread the word...

FixTheNews.org

[CORiverRat]

Helen Thomas should have her front row seat back any day now... Hope Faux News enjoys the view from the back row.

[mari2JJ]

Imagine how stunned Fox is when they are pushed aside. I mean, every hateful thing they said about Obama, even including gross exaggerations, and they are surprised of back row treatment? My advice is for the to get a life. They asked for censure by their lies about Obama. Only the stupidest person would not understand tat the rule is, do not bite the hand that feeds you. But then Fox has this sad idea that somehow they are so entitled. Let them learn that they are NOT!!!!

[Jim318jesus]

What happen to freedom of the press? Having a differnet opinion does not make you an outsider, talk about in tolerant, so much for every body getting along.
You all are not even prepared for what is to come from our new president and the "change". Barring a press agency from questions is a really sad statement for the future of this once great country. Having an open mind includes actually using it. What question could FOX possibly ask that could not be answered?
The blatant mainstream media bias we are witnessing is off the scale laughable and ridiculous and most of you don't even see it. Please check out the staged video from the prop 8 confrontation in Palm Springs, CA, by KPSP local 2 news, made my skin crawl. if you believe that, well, I am guessing you will. God does not hate gay people and neither do Christians, I should know, I am one. And Christians don't walk into gatherings brandishing crosses, that is not God's calling. May God bless the USA inspite of our apparent collective desire to remove him completely from our society. Here is the truth, I Love each and every one of you and your diametrically opposed views, because God loves every one of us more than we can grasp. That is who God is and taht is what Christians are about.

[Solja]

I don't know how you jumped from Fox being cut out of the questions to Christianity and Prop 8. The article isn't about either.

Throughout the campaign, Fox News twisted the truth to an unrecognizable shape. Everyone complained but they only got worse. They called both Edwards and Obama names, disrespectful names, lied and twisted their positions through the primaries and general election campaigns. They were subsequently protested by Obama and Edwards. Hillary Clinton did not respect the Democratic protest because it suited her needs. It wasn't fair or balanced "news", and there were protests against them and their sponsors.

Obama sat down with that one dude, then O'Reilly. These people have no concept of "truth in journalism". O'Reilly is a sensationalist from "Entertainment Tonight" who likes nothing but vulgar drama, all lies, which is why he spent the entire primary begging for an Obama interview. After months of being "on punishment", Obama finally sat down with him. O'Reilly acted differently after that towards Obama. Sean Hannity is puke. Period. Nobody will sit down with that slimeball, and for good reason. If you watch Faux Noise for your news, then of course you don't understand the problem. If you watch any other broadcast, you'd get why they are banned, and should remain that way throughout the Obama Administration. Any respectable news organization knows that Obama demands respect, and he will shut them out if he doesn't get it. SOMEBODY has to have some kind of principle these days.

[ScooterTwo]

FOX News -- an oxymoron like Religious Tolerance and Ethiopian Cuisine. It would shock most of its viewers if it ever said a kind thing about the apparent majority of people who voted for a Regime Change. It would certainly seem as if they are pretty far away from mainstream America and niched up into a radical conservative political agenda.

I watch flubs like this one and their sports and that is about it. "News" reporting, how laughable. Hey, did you know that Obama is really a Muslim? That he won't salute the flag? You heard it there, first (and last), by god.

[just4shiggles]

Fox "news" has been boycotted in my house since the beginning of the election. I used to watch Shepard Smith's show, and sometimes Greta's too, but I decided to quit watching that network at all after they began their campaign for the gop. I don't think that the Obma administration should legitimize that network at all since they aren't actually giving us the news, they have an obvious agenda.

[cat3]

Just4 shiggles I also stopped watching Fox, only I stopped during the Primaries.
As long as Hannity is on Fox "News", I will not watch any channel connected to Fox.

Hit them where it hurts, in their ratings. When the advertisers see the fallout, you will
see how quick they change their tune.

Hannity had it easy the last two years, every program began with the words "Barrack
Obama. He didn't have to work too hard. Just kept spewing the hate every night!

I hope Barrack never goes on Fox or ever gives them an interview.

[jyakubow]

I stopped watching Fox in 2004 when I realized they helped to dupe the American people into an illegal war.

[dizmo4]

I suspect that this is a shot across the bow of Fox News -- which is to say to them, if you want access. Be Fair. Actually live up to your "fair and balanced" mantra.

I don't expect Fox News to be cut out in the future, but you can't have fox and friends hammering trivial, idiotic points day after day, or Sean Hannity devoting just about every second of air time to smears against Obama without some consequence or push back.

IF they want access, they need to be fair and report the news.

[KhartoumHero]

Ahh yes, they should be more fair. Perhaps they could hire those fine exemplars of fairness like, hmm, Chris Matthews, or Keith Olderman, or Rachel Madcow. Or see if the execrable Bill Mahr or his doppelganger, Jon Stewart, are available for hire. Maybe they could get Lou Dobbs on there too so he can rant about the curry peril "t'kin our jerbs."

Maybe they can get some of those journalists that say that their job is to make Obama's administration successful. Yeah, that's the fairness we need. Goosestepping into the happy hopey fairy future where not a challenging word is uttered.

[Adrio]

Fair and balanced. Fox News [sic] has been getting a pass … only journalists from legit news outlets should be allowed at press conferences.

[boz561]

Payback is a bitch! Love it!

[MJT1030]

During the election, I watched CNN, MSNBC, and FOX News, to get a complete view of the candidates, the issues, and the mood of the public. I had already made up my mind who would get my vote, but I was looking for accuracy, objectivity, and clarification of positions. While I gave high marks to CNN (for accuracy and ojectivity), MSNBC was informative and entertaining. However, Fox News constantly presented such hostile, inflammatory, and in some cases, outright lies, I would find my self either getting angry or sick. Brett Hume, who I remembered from ABC News, somewhat disappointed me as I expected him to steer the on-air guests objectively. He let the right side go on, while cutting off the other side. The disgust and repulsion I feel for Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity for their venom would mak a potential journalism student change majors. Rush Limbaugh just gives me hemorrhoids. The bottom line is this: the media has an OBLIGATION to present both sides as objectively as possibly. Fox continues to fall short of the mark. This is why America resents Corporate America so much...hin­t, hint Rupert Murdoch. Clean up Fox News and make it respectable again.

[AdGuy]

The media's obligation goes deeper than simply presenting both sides objectively. They need to tell us the facts behind what both sides are saying and when one side is spewing lies (hmmm, I wonder which side that most likely would be....), the obligation of the media is to tell us these are lies, not present the lies as "one side of the story." All too often the lie becomes the story.

[slaxx]

"All too often the lie becomes the story."

you're totally right. they slant things to make the stories seem more important and juicier than they really are.

[killpack]

Come on, people. All of the media are biased one way or the other. Don't trust any of them.