# Which has had better coverage: CNN or Fox News? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 16, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965 "2001-09-16T13:05:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Powers106](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@Powers106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Powers106)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/1 "2001-09-16T13:05:05Z")
I’m living in Paris and only have access to CNN (as Fox News hasn’t been picked up by French Cable Television). **In your opinion, which of the two has had better, more informative coverage in the U.S., CNN or Fox News?** Has one of the other networks proven to be better than either of those two channels? I’m sure everyone is “channel surfing” a lot, but has there been any trend as to who’s been the best? **Other thoughts:** Fox News must be bummed that they terminated Paula Zahn’s contract instead of keeping her on the payroll but off the air - (after she breached her contract by negotiating with CNN to become an anchor for them), has she been prominent on CNN? I’ve only seen her a few times myself but maybe that’s due to the fact I’m watching the CNN “International”. The BBC’s coverage has been very good - they’ve outdistanced CNN (IMHO) by going behind the scenes to solid experts who have raised interesting issues before I’ve thought about them. **The Internet** CNN’s website is updated more quickly than Fox News, but DrudgeReport has the big newsbreaks first. They have proven consistently to have the news first - very impressive. During the election crisis, I found it went Drudge, Fox, then CNN - so CNN has improved (and the layout of their site is better). So, which has had better coverage: CNN or Fox News? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/2 "2001-09-16T13:17:45Z")
I vote against Fox because I loathe their right-wing bias. The worst low they ever sank to was on Tuesday evening, when they put on Ollie North to talk about war. This despicable fascist ass-wipe is a convicted traitor for his covert operations utilizing the White House. The good voters in my beautiful state of Virginia rejected him in his Senate campaign in 1996 and no one had heard of him since then until Fox News dredged the gutters and brought him back. I spit on them, _ptui._ ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/3 "2001-09-16T13:26:27Z")
I usually would go against cnn due to their left wing bias. But I have to say that I think that cnn had better coverage during the 1st few hrs of the attack. Fox did better later on due to the guest speakers. But that’s just my humble O ---
**Author:** ![Spider\_Woman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Spider\_Woman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spider_Woman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/4 "2001-09-16T13:31:35Z")
We are switching between the two to try to filter out the bias. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/5 "2001-09-16T19:15:42Z")
I have been trying to stay away from either one of those networks (CNN and Fox)due to each having such a tabloid-type mentality. The constant graphics drive me nuts as well. I got a lot more out of coverage from ABC and MSNBC, Peter Jennings and Brian Williams were both excellent and calming–the very definition of what a news **anchor** should be. They seemed the most “human” to me, professional, but not trying to be detached or necessarily objective. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/6 "2001-09-16T19:43:31Z")
I vote for CNN. Fox is too biased and I got a lot of international opinon on CNN. Sometimes it helps to see the situation from people removed from the event. CNN has more international viewpoints. ---
**Author:** ![Thrasybulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Thrasybulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thrasybulus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/7 "2001-09-16T19:57:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\*and no one had heard of him since then until Fox News dredged the gutters and brought him back. I spit on them, _ptui._ \*\* He has an incredibly popular syndicated radio show (why I can’t exactly explain) and has been a commentator on many stations (including CNN) for years now. My wife and I have been watching both, but not to filter any bias as I have not recognized any of CNN’s left leaning or Fox’s right leaning bias in the coverage. They both genuinely seem to be trying to address the story without resorting to massive editorializing (which is true pretty much of everybody except Katie Couric in my opinion). The true differences come through in the guests they have on. Fox has much closer ties to the New York area and has much better expertise and access with some of the WTC businesses, NYFD & NYPD, Mayor Giuliani and then also better ties to Bush Administration officials because of Bush’s affinity for Brit Hume. CNN has better ties internationally and can get some guests that Fox hasn’t had (experts on bin Laden, the Taliban, Afghanistan and Pakistan, NATO, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/8 "2001-09-16T20:18:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\*I vote against Fox because I loathe their right-wing bias. The worst low they ever sank to was on Tuesday evening, when they put on Ollie North to talk about war. This despicable fascist ass-wipe is a convicted traitor for his covert operations utilizing the White House. \*\* I agree. Here is a man who made his name shipping guns to terrorists (and lying to Congress about it) and then Fox brings him on to talk about how bad terrorists are. I was amazed. ---
**Author:** ![AMM9132](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@AMM9132](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AMM9132)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2001, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/9 "2001-09-16T22:25:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HelloKitty \* > \*\*I got a lot more out of coverage from ABC and MSNBC, Peter Jennings and Brian Williams were both excellent and calming–the very definition of what a news **anchor** should be. They seemed the most “human” to me, professional, but not trying to be detached or necessarily objective. \*\* I agree 100%. Well said, **HelloKitty**. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/10 "2001-09-17T02:16:46Z")
On the day of the attack, I started with ABC but the local station was constantly cutting away from NY and DC to give reports from California officials, so I eventually switched to CNN. I’ve didn’t watch Fox News at all, and I haven’t seen any more TV news since Wednesday. On the web, I think that [cnn.com](http://cnn.com) has the best coverage while the [The Economist](http://www.economist.com) has the best commentary. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/11 "2001-09-17T02:25:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > \*\*I agree. Here is a man who made his name shipping guns to terrorists (and lying to Congress about it) and then Fox brings him on to talk about how bad terrorists are. I was amazed. \*\* Holy crap, that never even crossed my mind. What an excellent point! ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/12 "2001-09-17T18:44:56Z")
Oh yeah, Fox had the most “accurate” coverage. Like for example, when they reported the Fire Chief had discovered two massive bombs in the WTC and that the building collapsed due to explosive detonations. Or when they reported that the terrorists had biological weapons with them on the plane. Oh yeah, Fox really set a new high standard for accuracy. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Toole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5ac83/32.png) [@Mike\_Toole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Toole)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/13 "2001-09-17T18:51:13Z")
From my viewpoint, both CNN and Fox have been shoving forth nothing but sensationalist crap all week. It’s sickening, I keep hoping Edward R. Murrow will come back from the dead to throttle these goons. As stated elsewhere, MSNBC and ABC News have actually done a sterling job. But to be honest, I’ve gotten most of my news from ACTUAL PEOPLE in New York, who were posting in forums like these. (I was at work when the planes hit, and a dude on another forum I read-- somethingawful, to be exact-- actually had a webcam taking photos of the disaster from his window. As someone in the first big “Ahh, WTC is exploding!” thread stated, “Man, cnn and Yahoo news are totally sandbagged, and I come to somethingawful to find eyewitness reports and LIVE PHOTOS. I love you guys!”) As for analysis and commentary, I’ve been sticking with the Economist, as stated above. Very good stuff there! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2001, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-has-had-better-coverage-cnn-or-fox-news/81965/14 "2001-09-17T22:10:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by TV time \* > > \*\*I agree. Here is a man who made his name shipping guns to terrorists (and lying to Congress about it) and then Fox brings him on to talk about how bad terrorists are. I was amazed. \*\* > > Holy crap, that never even crossed my mind. What an excellent point! \*\* Oh, but that was different-remember, they were trying to help the fight against the commies in Nicaragua. :rolleyes: Oliver North should be sitting in prison as McVeigh’s bitch.