Fox passes off GOP press release as its own reporting--typo and all

[Gutenberg]

Oopsie! "Fair and Balanced" indeed! One of the onscreen graphics cited a WSJ article from 12/19/09--same as the press release from the Senate Republican Communications Center.

From Media Matters:

"Summary: In purporting to "take a look back" at how the economic recovery plan "grew, and grew, and grew," Fox News' Jon Scott referenced seven dates, as on-screen graphics cited various news sources from those time periods -- all of which came directly from a Senate Republican Communications Center press release. A Fox News on-screen graphic even reproduced a typo contained in the Republican press release."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200902100019?f=h_top

[swampy]

Oh my, Oh dear. The NYT gets away with that kind of stuff all the time. Can you say Jayson Blair?

"Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception"

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/11/nation...319c259463&ex=1367985600&partner=USERLAND;ei=5007&pagewanted=all&position=

[$tevie]

Jayson Blair is a liar. Are you calling FOX News liars, or the GOP? I can't tell.

[Gutenberg]

There is a difference between plagiarism and fabrication, the sins of which Jayson Blair was guilty, and a "fair and balanced" network news operation passing off a political party press release as its own research.

Also, neither Jayson Blair nor the New York Times "got away with it." Blair resigned before he could get fired and is now working as an advocate for the mentally ill (wikipedia). Howell Raines, the executive editor of the Times, was forced to resign. The national editor resigned. The Times took a huge hit to its reputation, which it worked hard to recover by putting in new safeguards in the reporting and editing chain.

[deckeda]

If the quotes in the graphics are accurate, then Fox isn't guilty of any plagiarism or fabrication per se, both of which are patently wrong activities on all accounts.

But by not acknowledging who COMPILED the briefs, Fox's sins here are of their usual kind, picking news and sources pre-shaped to fit their conservative agenda, which has little to do with presenting flat facts that allow readers and viewers to decide how to take the info.

In journalism you can,

contribute text
compile text
write text

The last two are widely considered equal to a byline, i.e. you are the source. By hiding the GOP's compilation they effectively treat it as their own research, analysis and reporting --- implications that are not only untrue but also claim an air of objectivity, the larger casualty.

[Gutenberg]

deckeda, sugar, I wrote that Jayson Blair was guilty of plagiarism and fabrication. I did not write that Fox News was guilty of plagiarism and fabrication.

[deckeda]

I know. I wasn't responding directly to your post above.

[Dennis S]

Fsck Fox News. They are as anti-American as the terrorsists.

[Gutenberg]

Sorry, deckeda.

[Black]