Question about proving news channel bias.

[VLC98]

I hope someone might be able to offer advice on how to convince a silly old fool that Fox news is not "fair & balanced". My husband has kept in touch, via e-mail, with an older man he used to work with at Little Rock AFB. Now my hubby knew that this man was no fan of Clinton, but politics was not often the talk of the office.

Recently this old twit has been sending my husband crap putting down John Kerry, not realizing he is a Democrat, (my husband). In response, my husband asked him what news he watched and did he ever listen to Lou Dobbs, knowing that Lou is leaning away from the right nowadays.

Well, the reply was something like, "NO, I don't ever watch liberal Clinton News Network...I only ever watch Fox news because it is fair & balanced...they show the liberal side too..." This man was a good friend to my husband, so he doesn't really want to tell him to piss off, instead he's asked me to ask the good people of DU if there are any ways or websites to help him educate this man. Can anybody help or is my husband wasting his time?
Thanks in advance!

[Goldom]

1. Ask him what liberal side they have on Fox.

Let him know that Colmes does NOT represent the left-wing.

[sadiesworld]

2. Alterman's book on media bias might be a good start.

[Lefty48197]

3. abc, nbc, cbs, cnn, cbc, itn, bbc, pbs, reuters, ap, and upi are all lying

only faux is telling the truth. These people see, hear, and believe only what they want. It's pointless to try to rehabilitate them.

[smcmike]

4. I suggest

he just not talk politics with this guy, it is possible (theoretically) to be friends with the other side. Generally when i hear someone who actually believes fox news, I have to assume that they are just stupid... makes it hard to maintain a friendship i suppose

[LDS Jock]

5. dont know if it will help but...

Here is something

http://www.fair.org/reports/fox.html

An article from someone who used to work there. Doesn't sound fair and balanced.

http://poynter.org/forum/?id=thememo

Not much but you might find something useful there.

[VLC98]

7. Great sites.

Thank you very much! I'll show them to my husband.

[SoCalDem]

6. No hope.. Don't bother

Brainwashing and propaganda work, and there is not enough time in the day to "cure" them.. When I hear the c-span callers, I know what they will say next, because they all have the same mantra.. It's drilled into them, like the "multiplication tables" were drilled into us.. Remember the "ABC" song?? Try repeating the ABCs without that song going through your brain..

The "Fox" watchers will never accept that they are getting lies.. Propaganda is insidious, and it always works..eventually.. Fox's methods are very similar to child molestors.. They appear nice and friendly, they look fairly "common" , they speak in soothing tones, and they gradually reel these gullible folks in.. Once they have them, they are always there to give their "friends" the truth..

We know they are lies, but the avid Fox people will never believe us..

We must all teach our kids and grandkids how to watch for the "buzz words" and the slant.. It's there in most broadcasts these days, and once they learn the methods, they can be objective..

I used to do this with commercials and news when my kids were little.. By 4, they all knew that the stuff they heard was not necessarily true, just because someone said it was..and that commercials were made to make money for some rich guys, and that most of the stuff that was advertised was junk..

Critical thinking is a rare thing these days.

[VLC98]

8. Sadly I have to agree with you.

Two things in particular that you are spot on about...the friendly persuasion of Fox news, based on the fact that this old fool mentioned being "in love with" one of the "news" readers...Karen something I believe. If I were my husband I would cease communication with the freeper.

Also the over the top advertising, particularly aimed at kids. My kids are savvy, but I do worry that I'm encouraging them to be miserable cynics! It's tough on them at school, being different.

Thanks for responding, btw, it was my first ever message.