http://fullist.co.uk/2014/07/russell-brand-devastatingly-rips-fox-news-debate/
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/07/31/russell-brand-gaza-sean-hannity-fox-news_n_5636947.html

I'm from the UK so I hadn't heard of Sean Hannity, though I had a perception of Fox News as being right-biased. After seeing these links though, I can't believe how in such a modern country, Fox News can exist in any state save the bible belt maybe. I'd like to hear from an American an idea of the percentage of Americans who swallow this propaganda - anyone care to tell me?

Also, you can discuss the Israeli conflict and your viewpoint on it. I'm no expert on the situation, and although I'm totally against the use of children/civilians as shields, and the targeting of civilians of the opposing side, I feel both situations are inevitable considering Hamas' capabilities, and Israel is guilty of being too heavy handed. I feel peace should be pursued, though I don't think that will ever happen since Israelis seem to have elected the candidate who offered a hard-line approach and Hamas probably won't be going anywhere either (if there are any people from the region who could comment that would be great too).

Edited 7/31/2014 20:22:58

Hannity is a windbag. Most of Fox 'News' is. I am fine with them being right leaning, we all know MSNBC is the opposite. But Fox News has a habit of ignoring facts all together. You can't respect anything on that channel at all. I remember on election night, someone was predicting Obama to win (I forget who, but it was someone that was on Bush's cabinet) and they mocked him like crazy...even though he was right. They are about as Real News as WWE is Real Wrestling.

I won't touch the conflict in particular, I am not enough of an expert on Gaza matters.

BTW, in Canada they realize how bad that channel is. They don't allow them to use 'News' in the channel title there.

Edited 7/31/2014 21:33:55

I'm American, and I've grown up knowing that Fox News isn't a news site, but rather a place for idiots to get brainwashed into perpetuating their own stupidity. Don't worry, there's plenty of sane Americans out there.

Yeah the Americans I know in real life are all sane and reasonable. It would surprise me if the entire country had no issues with Fox News.

Howdy to you sane Americans! ;)

Well, based on the ratings, there are plenty of people who don't mind the brainwashing. America eats that BS up though. They love sensationalism. There are probably more people paying attention to People Magazine/Entertainment Tonight/TMZ than political news. They care more about whatever the stars are doing than the actual important things. Rather than try to make a difference in life, they just escape to someone else's.

A shame but you get that quite a bit over in the UK too.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ (behind paywall)

You're British. And you're confused how 'modern states' can have media like Fox?

Ska, watch the videos of Hannity. Even BBC News allows the person to speak.

Also, post an example from each showing obvious bias. The Sun doesn't count though.

Edited 7/31/2014 22:34:08

Post an example from the telegraph or the Mail showing obvious bias? Are you for real?

Howdy. I usually get information through satirical shows ( colbert report and daily Show ) , though I take all tv news with a grain of salt when it comes to situations like Israel and Gaza.

You could just as easily ask for an example from the Star showing obvious bias. Your 'even the bbc blah blah' shows your ignorance they are mandated to 'allow the other guy to speak' it's part of the deal with the license fee. The rest of them - like Fox (and CNN as Chris pointed out) are businesses to survive they make money from advertising. Therefore they have to have a point of view, neutrality doesn't sell adverts.

tl;dr Go read some Chomsky

I read the Independent, Guardian and Telegraph and watch Channel 4 News (as well as independent sources for some issues important to me) so if something's only reported in one I know it's BS. But the bias is never quite as evident as Fox.


Hmm yes fair enough. My ignorance is due to the face I've been to America once (and that was a very short trip) and never taken an interest in its media before. The BBC is supposed to be neutral and it is to an extent (letting most sides speak) but it leans one way. Nowhere near as bad as Fox like I said (making it more dangerous?).

Edited 7/31/2014 22:43:25

Do you read Private Eye? Buy it just one time. It's worth it.

Also Reuters / Associated Press is a far better source for news as the wire news is the meat and drink of most papers. They pick up the wire, then add their left / right spin.

By clicking a liberal a labour and a conservative paper and then deciding on the 'best option' you encourage all three to continue in their biases as they earn from your 'clicks' or purchases. By going straight to source you get the news before the opinion is added.

Their is also a plethora of underground news sources you can check out.

Yes but for pleasure. Do you watch Have I got News for You with the P.E. editor on it? Also, which news programme do you watch?

The underground news I find for particular issues which concern me etc, and with the papers yes I'll look into them but continue to read from multiple papers on different angles.

Edited 7/31/2014 22:51:08

Also I'd be interested to learn which way you think the BBC leans. Because I know the common view on that. But I could show you a really interesting article about where BBC reporters move to after working for Aunty which may surprise you.

But ya know if the media repeat something enough you start to believe it ...

You read Private Eye? Then you know our media is as corrupt as any other media anywhere else in the world. It's a you scratch my back ... system. And yet you come here complaining about 'Murica ...

Used to be left wing I'm sure but now it seems to be right wing. I read an article that said the bias was Labour instead of Conservative in 07, but in 12 it shifted more the other way (with a larger bias too). The article was online I'll try and find it.

Ska the blatency of Hannity is what surprised me as most Americans don't seem skeptical.

Edited 7/31/2014 22:55:17

http://leftfootforward.org/2014/02/chris-grayling-is-right-the-bbc-is-biased-but-not-in-the-way-he-thinks/

That's not it but it says something similar.

The blatency is what sells Arun, Media is a business. A business that in general loses money, and the exceptions are the sensationalists outlets. That's why the Mail is one of the biggest online news outlets in the world, and Fox one of the most seen news outlets in the world.

Balanced reporting doesn't make money. CEO's ... well surprise surprise they like to make their shareholders money.

:(