Many commenters don't seem to understand the difference between bias and propaganda, and that's pretty troubling. Bias is a part of human nature, and it's impossible for this not to be reflected in news, because simply deciding what facts to cover (given endless possibilities) will reflect explicit or implicit biases.

There is, however, a difference between bias and propaganda. A person can be exceptionally biased but independant from a political party or the state. For instance, the the Washington Post plainly slants towards the left, but we have no evidence that the DNC or the Obama Administration is actually calling the shots at the Post. For instance: <link>. By contrast, the Bush Whitehouse apparently sent Fox News talking points to direct their coverage. <link>. Fox News could have been fairly described as an arm of the executive branch during the Bush Administration, at least for the first 6 or so years.

The fact that Fox actually receives and obeys orders from a political party means that we cannot count on them to ever uncover wrongdoing or discipline the government when their party is in power. That's a problem. Some conspiracy-minded folk think that this is the way that all news works. Some people also simply lack the mental capacity to distinguish between bias (normal) and propaganda. That's sad.

Ummm.... The WashPost is a slightly leftish paper with a right-wing fleet of editorial writers.

One must learn to discriminate.

Shepjack

Knee slapping post where the proof that Fox isn't independent comes from MSNBC zombie Chris Mattews. Do you even think about this stuff before posting? Liberals have no sense of irony! Fox is more independent than Keller run Ny Times or GE run NBC or CNN or just about anywhere else.

Mr. Kraus draws the imaginary line in the sand with the "Fox isn't independent!" argument. Oh, he admits other news services "may" be biased like Fox, but they are different because they are "independent". On what planet is Mr. Kraus living on? You can almost see when MSNBC's Morning Joe gets their marching orders from their brass (their actually pretty moderate most times). MSNBC's nightime line-up is practically white house talking points. All of a sudden every show hates the Chamber of Commerce? When has any network even mentioned the Chamber of Commerce until now? Does Mr. Kraus think anything gets into the NY Times without Mr. Keller's say so?

On the fliop side, does he really think O'Reilly listens to Roger Ailes? Really? REALLLY??? Hannity? Oh Please... Yeah they really got behind that amnesty bill Ailes wanted! More like O'Reilly tells his bosses what to do and they kiss his boots. He is their network, if he walks Fox becomes one of the pack instead of the ratings leader. I believe he may be arrogant enough to think so to (sarcasm)

Another lame attempt to hide liberal bias by a liberal site. I read this site all the time because I'm open minded and I have a mind and can enjoy other points of view. Why can't the left? So Fox is right, who cares? If they are not a "news" organization, than neither is anyone else. Obama is thinned skinned and has egg all over his face because his czars are loons and the only ones who caught it is Fox. Subtext of White House's sudden war against Fox,"Please poodles, keep being poodles and stop reporting on all the embarrassing stuff Fox keeps finding out about us, we may actually look bad!" Rest of media, "yes, master" Its almost embarrassing, do your job Mr. Kraus! As Glen Beck stated today, if the media wants him to dissapear, all they would have to do is to do their jobs!

Glunked reading comprehension again, I take it? Explains why you get your NEWS from talk radio.

SHepjack

shep:

Glunked reading comprehension again, I take it? Explains why you get your NEWS from talk radio.

SHepjack

Well, there's no G in flunked, so I'd say you two are about even.

"... as Glen Beck stated today..."

I don't want to be all liberal and closed minded, but Glen Beck is an idiot. For sure.

I also have been reading most of the fraysters' defenses of FOX independence, and, by my estimation, there is one incident of FOX coverage where they didn't go along with their masters bidding (Ailes, immigration, etc).

Oh, in a completely unrelated anecdote, I cheated on one (and only one) HS biology test. I had all the answers, a 100% score just sitting in my lap. But, I was a crafty student, so I threw in some incorrect answers to throw teach off my trail... True story.

Not up to date on your slang, bro? Glunked is a word... and you understood half of it.

Now, can you guess the source of the G???

Jackshep

Well, I can read Urban Dictionary and your use of the "word" doesn't fit anything there. And, as we all know, if it's not approved by Urban Dictionary, then it's not approved.

Or maybe the Internet isn't up-to-date on it's slang either. haha