Indivisible Martha’s VineyardMar 3, 2023
Dan Gillmor

Since the Murdoch family launched Fox "News" several decades ago, Big Journalism has consistently endorsed the fiction that the outlet is journalistic in nature. There was an element of truth to that early on.

But for the past decade and longer, Fox "News" has been a thoroughly dishonest, relentless propagandist. It accumulates power and money by poisoning our public sphere.

Yet the journalism trade persists in calling it a news outlet, compounding the dishonesty.

It's disheartening.

Feb 28, 2023 at 4:49pmWeb
Show threadDan GillmorFeb 28, 2023

But it's no less disheartening to watch Big Journalism continue to pour its valuable content into -- and even, good grief, advertise on -- Musk's Twitter.

The blind spot with the evil Murdoch channel reflects many factors, including the trade's powerful inertia and desire -- even in visibly absurd cases -- to be fair.

Supporting Musk, who has declared and acted on his hatred for journalism, is a display of profound weakness -- a combination of timidity and calculation. Shameful but normal.

Show threadTruthtoPowerMar 1, 2023

@dangillmor Does this mean that "Big Journalism" may be motivated by money and advertising dollars instead of actually reporting the truth?

Would that affect the "news" in other more nefarious ways such as creating a reporting slant to drive more readership?

Show threadChristine HallFeb 28, 2023
@dangillmor I've adopted into the stylebook used by the websites I publish that the site is Fox "News" and not Fox News.
Show threadDan GillmorFeb 28, 2023
@BrideOfLinux I recommend "the Murdoch family's Fox 'News'" on first reference and just "Fox" or "the outlet" thereafter.
Show threadLazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈Feb 28, 2023
@dangillmor "Some day they might offer me a job and I like money!"
Show threadRay Gulick, he/him/wtf 🇺🇦 ❌👑Feb 28, 2023

@dangillmor

Unfortunately, there's money to be made in fascism, racism, and white supremacy.

Show threadAlan CampbellFeb 28, 2023
@dangillmor No none should be calling them Fox News, just Fox
Show threadJJ PetersonFeb 28, 2023
@dangillmor and the media personas like Jake Tapper and others who went to war with President Obama on his decision to not allow Fox in the briefing room even now would rather criticize Biden than Fox (or Trump) on any given subject.
Show threadPaul ShreadFeb 28, 2023
@dangillmor when will Google start downgrading it in search, news and discover?
Show threadBethbyFeb 28, 2023
@pshread @dangillmor good question
Show threadFan of Shared Truth & EmpathyFeb 28, 2023
@dangillmor @samlitzinger The #idiocracy demands it’s infotainments in between messages reminding them that Brawndo has electrolytes which is what plants crave.
Show threadblsFeb 28, 2023
@dangillmor @therlam Absolutely. Fox “News” is better, Fox Disinformation Network is better still.
Show threadA Tattered ScrapbookFeb 28, 2023
@dangillmor It is, I am afraid, as though there were, in fact, little distance between Fox and other news outlets. Fox has enabled the others to creep to the right.
Show threadAnthonyFeb 28, 2023
@dangillmor Faux News
Show threadozamidasMar 1, 2023
@dangillmor
I think even Rupert is quite aware of the monster that he has created, but even if he is not against all of what fox news is today, if he ever dares to censor it he would quickly realize how they people that support his product couldn't care less about things like journalism.
Show threadCharlotte OdoyleMar 1, 2023

@dangillmor

BAN FOX ON US MILITARY BASES!
#BanFoxOnBase

Show threadBugGeneratorMar 1, 2023
@dangillmor I call it Fox Noose
Show threadShoqMar 2, 2023
@dangillmor Never mind the fact that with the press's help, our entire political system has accepted this flagrant seditionist organization as a protected news organization, as well. That gets me from disheartened… to depressed :(.
Show threadJeffMar 2, 2023
@dangillmor news should not be about profits
Show threadCharlie GalvinMar 2, 2023
@dangillmor @shoq “There was an element of truth to that” until Shepard Smith left. He was the only person there whom I ever thought was a real journalist.
Show threadニルス・スキニールMar 2, 2023
@dangillmor In 1995 there was little difference between Fox and CNN. In fact for a quick news fix before my commute I preferred Fox. Less fluff. Have not watched Fox, though, since 2000.
Show threadvyMar 3, 2023
@dangillmor in the 1980s i hear al gore speak at Columbia j school and explain how rupert murdoch was a personal freind of his
Show threadMike Stevens Mar 3, 2023
@dangillmor Ha, I imagine most just want to make sure they're never on a list of people banned from ever working there. I'd sooner live under a bridge than take a job from Rupert, but sadly I know many left-leaning journos who work for News Ltd in Australia, bearing the cross as best they can. It's an employer's market when it comes to journalism in this country. ☹️
Show threadstoicmikeMar 3, 2023
@dangillmor Fake news infects all the media, including public radio. It is becoming inescapable. Lobbyists posing as experts manage to get on almost any news program.
Show threadmichiMar 6, 2023
@dangillmor It is.
But it's still important to call it out.
Show threadSpacecoast WaltMar 6, 2023
@dangillmor I don't watch #foxnews for the same reason I don't eat from the toilet