# Fox News, Empirically the place to go for fair and balanced election coverage **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 2, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660 "2008-11-02T00:32:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/1 "2008-11-02T00:32:15Z")
As a consumer of news, CNN, Fox, MSNBC and such, I am often taken aback by the hatred and the accusations made against Fox. As it turns out, their election coverage is the fairest: > **[The Color of News](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2008/10/29/the-color-of-news/)** > > How have different press outlets covered the 2008 general election? Do cable news channels have clear ideological differences? How does broadcast coverage compare to print? A follow up study to PEJ’s Winning the Media Campaign study focuses on the... On MSNBC over 70% of the McCain stories were Negative versus only 12% Negative stories about Obama. Fox News had 40% negativity for McCain and 40% for Obama. CNN was 60% negative for McCain and 39% Negative for Obama. The overrall media had 59% negative stories about McCain and only 29% negative about Obama. On the postive side Fox News was 22% positive on McCain versus 25% positive on Obama. Fox news is demonstrating a slight bias in favor of Obama, yet nevertheless, as measured in terms of evenhandedness of coverage Fox News has empirically been found to be more fair and balanced than either CNN, MSNBC, and the overrall media in terms of election coverage. Glad we could clear that up. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/2 "2008-11-02T00:35:24Z")
a parody thread should include a link… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/3 "2008-11-02T00:37:47Z")
Forget it, **Scylla**. Around here Fox News is sneered at, proof of non-bias notwithstanding. You might as well ask **Hentor** to have a polite tea party with Sarah Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/4 "2008-11-02T00:46:10Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Forget it, **Scylla**. Around here Fox News is sneered at, proof of non-bias notwithstanding. You might as well ask **Hentor** to have a polite tea party with Sarah Palin. Nonsense. Liberals are fair-minded and rational people. When confronted with facts that contradict their beliefs, they are unfailingly quick and courteous in acknowledging their mistakes and correcting their viewpoints. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/5 "2008-11-02T00:48:00Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > [http://journalism.org/node/13436](http://journalism.org/node/13436) > > … > > Glad we could clear that up. Yes, I’m glad you cleared up that the Project for Excellence in Journalism is funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, a conservative organization. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/6 "2008-11-02T00:49:18Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Nonsense. Liberals are fair-minded and rational people. When confronted with facts that contradict their beliefs, they are unfailingly quick and courteous in acknowledging their mistakes and correcting their viewpoints. Just like conservatives. ---
**Author:** ![JonScribe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JonScribe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonScribe)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/7 "2008-11-02T00:49:59Z")
Or you could read newspapers. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/8 "2008-11-02T00:52:30Z")
([taken out of context, but, hey! it’s your cite, **Scylla** ) > [@](#): > > On the Fox News Channel, the coverage was both more negative toward Obama and more positive toward both McCain and Palin than we found in the press generally. . Just to be fair and balanced. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/9 "2008-11-02T00:54:07Z")
From Scylla’s citation: > [@](#): > > On the evening newscasts of the three traditional networks, in contrast, there is no such ideological split. Indeed, on the nightly newscasts of ABC, CBS and NBC, coverage tends to be more neutral and generally less negative than elsewhere. So, among the standard broadcast media, Fox remains a slanted source while the elderly standby groups are actually neutral. - ::: shrug ::: \* I’ll be gald when all these pissing contests move on to some other topic. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/10 "2008-11-02T00:54:45Z")
Thank goodness- at long last, someone has done a survey about media bias! Surely this will end all arguments forever. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/11 "2008-11-02T00:55:07Z")
While it’s generally considered “negative” to say, “Yo, McCain, you’re losing!” he’s still losing. There really isn’t a positive way to say that he’s trailing, that people despise Palin, and that a number of prominent conservatives have backed Obama. Reality can have a negative slant. You should _see_ the way they talk about typhus! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/12 "2008-11-02T00:55:44Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > I’ll be gald when all these pissing contests move on to some other topic. In three days we’ll move on to the topic of which side stole the election. Feel better now, do you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/13 "2008-11-02T01:02:19Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > From Scylla’s citation:So, among the standard broadcast media, Fox remains a slanted source while the elderly standby groups are actually neutral. It’s interesting, they say that, but their data suggests otherwise. NBC was 54% negative on McCain versus 20% negative on Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/14 "2008-11-02T01:04:22Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Yes, I’m glad you cleared up that the Project for Excellence in Journalism is funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, a conservative organization. So? If you have evidence that this has created a bias that leads them to distort facts, then please show it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/15 "2008-11-02T01:06:25Z")
[FAIR - FAIR is the national progressive media watchdog group, challenging corporate media bias, spin and misinformation.](http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1072) Here is a Fair analysis of Fox guests. Lean to the right a mere 8 to 1. Fox fans want that 1 out of there. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/16 "2008-11-02T01:08:29Z")
Wouldn’t this tend to indicate bias only if there were precisely the same amount of actual negative and positive stories about McCain and Obama (and their campaigns) to report on? I’m not saying there is or isn’t, i’m just thinking that surely that’s a factor that needs to be taken into account. Balanced reporting doesn’t necessarily indicate fairness or accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/17 "2008-11-02T01:08:49Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [FAIR — Page 1072 — FAIR is the national progressive media watchdog group, challenging corporate media bias, spin and misinformation.](http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1072) Here is a Fair analysis of Fox guests. Lean to the right a mere 8 to 1. Fox fans want that 1 out of there. You don’t have the [moveon.org](http://moveon.org) analysis? ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/18 "2008-11-02T01:09:14Z")
Echoing **jsgoddess** , your interpretation is bizarre. Why _should_ we expect stories to be equally negative and positive about both candidates? I guess you could call that “balanced”, but depending on the facts, it may be highly undesirable. ETA: And now echoing **Revenant Threshold** as well… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/19 "2008-11-02T01:09:24Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > So? If you have evidence that this has created a bias that leads them to distort facts, then please show it. The fact that it’s a conservative organization is enough for them to dismiss it. Hell, once I posted a link to some info and it got dismissed because the site had _American flags_ at the top. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660/20 "2008-11-02T01:09:48Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Forget it, **Scylla**. Around here Fox News is sneered at, proof of non-bias notwithstanding. You might as well ask **Hentor** to have a polite tea party with Sarah Palin. I don’t know if I count (seeing as I’m not a major player in the liberal handbook here), but I watch Fox News from time to time and don’t have any huge problem with them. I think they _can be biased_ and I also think they\* can shoot straight\*. Pretty much like anyone else is capable of doing. Do I think some specific representatives (or their programs) of their station can be biased? Sure. But, I feel that way about anything. I think you have to do independent analysis and then make a determination individually, on a case-by-case basis. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-empirically-the-place-to-go-for-fair-and-balanced-election-coverage/470660.md?page=2)