Existence of Fox News "The Memo" confirmed

[Logansquare]

Since the beginning of the Bush admin, Fox staff receive a daily talking points memo that keeps them in line. This is burning up the wires at Poynter.org, by the way:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/10/31/fox/index_np.html

"Oct. 31, 2003 | When veteran television journalist Chris Wallace announced this week that he was leaving ABC for Fox News, reporters asked him whether he was concerned about trading in his objectivity for Fox's rightward slant. "I had the same conception a lot of people did about Fox News, that they have a right-wing agenda," Wallace told The Washington Post. But after watching Fox closely, Wallace said, he had decided that the network suffered from an "unfair rap," and that its reporting is, in fact, "serious, thoughtful and even-handed."

It was all too much for Charlie Reina to take. Reina, 55, spent six years at Fox as a producer, copy editor and writer, working both on hard news stories and on feature programs like "News Watch" and "After Hours." He quit in April, he says, in a fit of frustration over salary, job assignments and respect. Since that time, he has watched the debate over whether Fox is really "fair and balanced." He held his fire, bit his tongue. But when he heard Wallace proclaim the network fair, Reina couldn't remain silent any longer."

[Wickerman]

1. another link, another take

I don't have a subscription to Salon, so I went lookign for another link - try this one, its good reading - Reina's complete memo.

http://www.guerrillanews.com/media/doc3306.html

Thanks for posting this Logansquare

[Logansquare]

2. For dessert, here's Fox's snarky reply

I'll link to Romanesko, but trying to find the good stuff in there drives me crazy. Here's Sharri Berg's reply, complete with unsubstantiated smear:

10/30/2003 5:30:53 PM
Posted By: Jim Romenesko

From SHARRI BERG, VP-News Operations, Fox News Channel:
"Like any former, disgruntled employee, Charlie Reina has an ax to grind. He was employed at Fox News Channel for six years as the Producer of NewsWatch and of many different specials, including shows on MLK, Robert F. Kennedy, John Glenn and Newt Gingrich. During that entire period, we were unaware that anyone at Fox News was holding a metaphorical gun to his head.

Earlier this year, Mr. Reina objected to an adjustment in his assigned duties -- duties which he was qualified to perform and paid to do. That very inaction is what affects morale and sends the wrong message to the entire newsroom. If you asked any of the people he refered to as "grunts" but we refer to as "producers," "writers," "desk assistants," they resent his characterization. One of them said this morning, "Charlie actually NEVER had a job in the newsroom. He worked out of some space up on 17 or 18 reserved for overpaid feature producers on career life support. The 'grunts' knew him mainly as one of any number of clueless feature producers who would call the desk at random and ask 'do we have...' The kind of calls where after you hang up you say to the phone 'go f-k yourself.' In fact, its not editorial policy that pisses off newsroom grunts -- its people like Charlie."

How could Mr. Reina have worked at this company for six years if the picture he paints of life at Fox News is true?

Mr. Reina's premise about "the memo" is unfounded. People are proud to work here. They are proud of the product we produce and understand our daily and future goals. Among many, many others, Mr. Reina's memo has a glaring omission, in that Fox News Channel has a very low turnover rate and very high morale. In other words, people who work here WANT to work here."
http://poynter.org/forum/default.asp?id=letters&DGPCrSrt=&DGPCrPg=4

[benburch]

3. You don't need a subscription!

You can get a "free" one day pass in return for looking at some ads...