FNC’s 10th: Another overview…
The Boston Globe’s Joanna Weiss writes about FNC’s 10th Anniversay…
And Shepard Smith, the anchor of the evening news show “Fox Report,” points to his own reporting from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and the way he sparred with the right-wing Hannity, who was anchoring the coverage, over the speed of the federal government’s response.
“All right, Shep, I want to get some perspective here, because earlier today — ” Hannity had said during one live broadcast.
“That is perspective!” Smith had shouted back. “That is all the perspective you need!”
By phone from New York, Smith said he hopes that moment was a turning point for viewers. “It so happened that, on that day, there were millions and millions and millions of people who were watching us,” he says. “And they were stunned to find that all we were doing was being journalists.”
Critics, he says, need to recognize that the network offers two different kinds of shows.
What Shepard Smith said is not even the best evidence of the fairness in FNC programming. You tune in to prime time programs - The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, Brit Hume’s program - in tandem with other programs starting at 9am, and it’s clear that there is always a balance on viewpoints from both the conservatives and liberals. Guests appearing on FNC programs come from both sides of the aisle, as you regularly see on Fox News Sunday. Today we had Jane Harman (D) and Newt Gingrich (R), along with a three-man panel (Benjamin, Schuer, and Wright) - all of whom represent a spectrum of opinions. And that’s true too for the panel of four who regularly disagree with one another (Hume, Kristol, Liasson, and Williams.)To say that FNC is biased towards conservatives just does not hold.
The misperception lies in the fact that the two dominant figures on Fox, O’Reilly and Hannity, are conservative, which is something we can say of other TV channels we view as liberal.
Comment by RGL — October 1, 2006 @ 10:13 am
RGL, Colmes’ sole purpose is to make the dems look weak. How about replacing him with Jeff Cohen?
Comment by Terance — October 1, 2006 @ 10:49 am
Terance, I think you are misunderestimating Alan Colmes. While I don’t often agree with his opinions, he represents the liberal viewpoint quite well. He is intelligent, articulate, and over-all is a good counterpoint to Hannity.
Some have suggested he be replaced with Bob Beckel or Susan Estrich, who have subbed for Colmes on the program, but both of them will not do a better job. Besides, both have full-time jobs.
Comment by RGL — October 1, 2006 @ 11:37 am
Terrance, I am often FURIOUS at Colmes and feel like throwing something at the TV when he speaks.
In other words, I think he represents the liberal POV very well!
Comment by Missy — October 1, 2006 @ 11:53 am
Terance: I guarantee that if you ever listened to Colmes’ radio show, you would have a very different opinion.
Comment by Ira — October 1, 2006 @ 12:22 pm
“Millions and millions of people”? Don’t kid yourself Shep..
Comment by Jordan — October 1, 2006 @ 1:29 pm
Actually, I imagine that Shep is correct about millions and millions of people viewing during this time period. As I recall the ratings were phenomenal for all of the cable news networks during this time, doubling or more of their regular viewership. Given Fox’s dominance already in the ratings, plus a 100-150% gain in ratings, yes I imagine they did in fact have millions watching.
Comment by Alison — October 1, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
I would also point you to Alan Colmes radio show Terance. I believe you can hear it online live by going online to the FNC website right after H&C. It’s true that Hannity dominates on H&C; but nobody takes him (Hannity) on better than Alan Colmes; and on Colmes’ radio show, Colmes does indeed dominate: Alan Colmes unleashed!
Comment by erljr — October 2, 2006 @ 12:41 am
Is Hannity on Colmes’ radio show? The point I am making is Colmes is no match for Hannity….And if he acts differently on his radio show this further proves my point that he’s HOLDING back on H&C or being muzzled…either way, he’s ineffective and once again i’ll call for Jeff Cohen to replace him.
Comment by Terance — October 2, 2006 @ 7:34 am
Has Jeff Cohen ever subbed for Colmes? What I was saying is that every person they’ve had subbing for Colmes pales in comparison (to Colmes). Hannity for sure is a commanding presence. If you think Jeff Cohen can take him on, lets see how he does before just dumping Alan Colmes.
Comment by erljr — October 2, 2006 @ 11:23 am
Erljr, I was responding to basically everyone in this thread, not intending to single you out. I haven’t heard of Cohen subbing for Colmes. I think someone with equal skills should be on the “left” therefore creating a true fair & balanced show. I don’t expect republicans to want anyone but Colmes since he is making Hannity and the repubs look great. Since i’m an Independent, I see the show through a clear lens.
Comment by Terance — October 2, 2006 @ 11:38 am
According to Cohen’s book, he originally applied for the position before it went on the air but that Hannity specifically wanted Colmes.
Comment by Spud — October 2, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Spud: There are probably two logical reasons why Hannity preferred Colmes to Cohen:
1. Sean knew Alan from their days knocking around talk radio in the early 1990s.
2. In addition to his having no radio experience, F.A.I.R., Cohen’s left-leaning media critique group, wrote a critical, but misleading report about Rush Limbaugh in 1994, a definite no-no with Hannity.
Comment by Ira — October 2, 2006 @ 7:36 pm
Missy,
I agree with you about Alan Colmes invoking anger in some viewers. He has a mean streak and makes me furious.
Alan can’t make his point well enough by being reasonable. He simply doesn’t have the verbal skills or perspiquity. His statements seem to have to be prepared ahead of time, and are uninspired. I rarely see any spontaneity from Alan. So, IMO, he tries to provoke responses by making incendiary remarks.
With a new co-host, the ratings for this show would go through the roof! I have a long list of suggestions!!
Ah, but no body asked me. Rats!
Comment by cella — October 3, 2006 @ 12:29 pm