In a must read, the L.A. Times’ Scott Collins writes about the Democratic boycott of the CBC Institute/FNC debate setting a dangerous precedent…

But the activists’ battle cries notwithstanding, Fox is a news network, even if many liberals don’t like the way it spins political stories. If Democrats get away with spurning Fox News now, there’s nothing to stop campaigns from barring other news organizations whenever they feel like it.

Leading Democrats have in the past accepted its journalistic bona fides; Clinton and Edwards did separate prime-time interviews with the network in January, although Obama has been far more chary with his Fox News appearances. Fox News says Edwards has appeared on its air at least 33 times in the last seven years. When exactly did the network’s “right-wing agenda” become so offensive to him?

The boycott is questionable on both tactical and strategic grounds as well. As the No. 1 cable news network, Fox News could provide a critical forum for the Democratic contenders. And as Mayer pointed out, the boycott will have the unintended effect of teeing up the eventual GOP nominee to make a noisy demand to meet his Democratic rival on Fox News before the election.

But those are matters best left to political advisors. The main point is that it’s a horrible precedent to allow presidential candidates to boycott and pillory major news organizations as propaganda machines. Are politicians free to play favorites and punish transgressors in the press corps? Sure; remember that George W. Bush was caught on a live microphone calling a New York Times reporter “a major-league….”

Shutting down a legitimate debate, however, is carrying things way too far and does a disservice to all Americans. Movie stars such as Jolie can ban Fox News or any other outlet all they want. but those who would lead the nation shouldn’t be able to get away with it.

Nancy Grace beat swept Paula Zahn Now & Countdown with Keith Olbermann. On The Record with Greta Van Susteren doubled Anderson Cooper 360 in the Demo. Fox and Friends had more Demo viewers than American Morning had Total Viewers…

Cable News Ratings for June 22, 2007

P2+ Total Day
FNC – 880,000 viewers
CNN – 417,000 viewers
MSNBC – 285,000 viewers
CNBC – 165,000 viewers
HLN – 226,000 viewers

P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 1,585,000 viewers
CNN – 588,000 viewers
MSNBC – 451,000 viewers
CNBC – a scratch with 97,000 viewers
HLN – 522,000 viewers

25-54 Total Day
FNC – 280,000 viewers
CNN – 148,000 viewers
MSNBC – 106,000 viewers
CNBC – 64,000 viewers
HLN – 100,000 viewers

25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 371,000 viewers
CNN – 178,000 viewers
MSNBC – 167,000 viewers
CNBC – a scratch with 45,000 viewers
HLN – 190,000 viewers

Morning programs P2+ (25-54)
FOX & Friends – 890,000 viewers (426,000)
American Morning – 397,000 viewers (167,000)
MSNBC Live (7-9 AM) – 212,000 viewers (79,000)
Robin & Co. – 199,000 viewers (115,000)
(more…)

TVNewser is reporting that Tucker’s 4pm timeslot will be discontinued on July 9th and he’ll only be on at 6pm. This partially corrects something I never thought was a good idea when Rick Kaplan began double shifting The Abrams Report and Hardball in the afternoons (Tucker inherited Abrams’ slot when Abrams was promoted to GM).

From FishbowlDC…

The die-hard conspiracy theorists might posit that it’s because of the Politico’s new debate partnership with CNN, after having first teamed up with MSNBC (and they might latch onto the fact that no Politico employee — save Roger Simon on yesterday’s MTP, which we addressed above — has appeared on such NBC/MSNBC shows as “The Chris Matthews Show,” “Tucker,” “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” or “Scarborough Country” since the June 11 announcement of the CNN/Politico partnership).

I hadn’t realized this but it’s true. Jim VandeHei was a regular fixture on MSNBC Live during the weekday hours. I haven’t seen him in weeks. Is it really a case of NBC not wanting to give the Politico any free advertisement with the CNN debates forthcoming? Or is there another explanation?

UPDATE: FishbowlDC finds some information explaining some of this…

The reason “Meet the Press” had to identify the Politico’s Roger Simon as a “syndicated columnist” instead of “Politico’s chief political columnist” on yesterday’s show is because of Politico’s relationship with CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Because of that partnership (whereby Politico staffers appear every other week), no Politico employees are allowed on either “Meet the Press” or “This Week with George Stephanopolous” (”The Chris Matthews Show” does not apply here).

Ok. That explains MTP. It doesn’t however explain MSNBC. Does CNN have a deal with Politico like what CBS has?

UPDATE 2: There is no deal preventing Politico people from appearing on MSNBC but there are “understandable complications”. Chief among those complications is MSNBC.com’s partnership with The National Journal/The Hotline; competitors of The Politico. So it should not be surprising that NBC wouldn’t want to undermine its own partnership by heavily featuring talent from a competitor.

CNN announced coverage plans for it’s “Uncovering America” series to coincide with GLBT Pride Month…

UPDATE: Replaced older release with a more current version…

CNN’s Multi-platform Initiative from June 23 to 27 Provides Insightful Reports about Sexual Diversity in America

CNN’s ‘Uncovering America’ programming initiative continues its examination of diversity in America. Today the network provides thought-provoking reports about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Americans, exploring the morality debate over homosexuality, whether homosexuality is genetic or learned, and related civil rights issues. Special coverage began over the weekend and culminates on Wednesday, June 27, with a full day of special features on-air and online on issues related to gay life in America.

“Viewers have responded very positively to ‘Uncovering America’ and CNN’s ongoing commitment to exploring diverse views,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “In addition to reporting the news of the day, our viewers expect CNN to offer broad perspectives on issues, and this month we pay particular attention to Americans of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.”
(more…)

Former FNC weathercaster Chris Knowles has landed at WPIX in New York. Knowles departed FNC after wife Kiran Chetry jumped to CNN…

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Dan Gross writes about Bill O’Reilly’s appearance in Philadelphia.

O’Reilly ran out of the Sofitel to head back to New York, but was able to speak by phone from the New Jersey Turnpike. We asked why he doesn’t consider “The O’Reilly Factor,” which has 10 million viewers nightly, part of the mainstream media he criticizes.

“We look at ourselves as renegades, mavericks,” he said of the “Factor” and Fox News’ “traditionalist” perspective toward news.

There was no dissension among the columnists about the host of their convention. Attendees were very appreciative of the work of the People Paper’s Stu Bykofsky, who spent two years planning the event. Other big names: humorist Dave Barry, who got his start at West Chester’s Daily Local News; the Washington Post’s Robin Givhan, and Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune, who received the NSNC’s Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award. Inqwaster alum Jennifer Weiner and current Inqwaster columnist Lisa Scottoline, both best-selling authors, also took part in the fun and educational weekend.

Johnny Dollar has the audio from Matt Drudge’s radio show where FNC’s Roger Friedman speculates that Rosie O’Donnell will end up at MSNBC. He also says that NBC paid for access to Larry Birkhead by using NBC Universal poperty Bravo as a shield…

The New York Times Richard Siklos and Andrew Ross Sorkin write about Rupert Murdoch being close to closing a deal on Dow Jones…

Over the weekend, Mr. Murdoch responded to a proposal of editorial assurances the Bancrofts sent him on Friday, which his advisers described as wholly unacceptable and virtually identical to what the Bancrofts had proposed at a meeting with Mr. Murdoch three weeks ago. Mr. Murdoch’s counterproposal closely mirrored Mr. Murdoch’s initial proposal, said one person with knowledge of the offer who was not authorized to speak publicly.

That plan resembles one put in place at The Times of London, which he bought in 1981. Some critics and former employees of The Times have accused Mr. Murdoch of reneging on his promises to not interfere in The Times’s news pages, though other editors have said he has maintained the paper’s quality and independence.

It was not clear what the precise terms of Mr. Murdoch’s assurances to the Bancrofts were or why the family’s advisers, who turned over the negotiations for the company to the Dow Jones board last week, were warming to them.

Drudge is saying on his radio show that Michael Moore will be interviewed on FNC this week…possibly on The O’Reilly Factor or Hannity & Colmes…

New Man Magazine’s Dave Urbanski interviews Fox News Radio’s Todd Starnes about how he dealt with a serious medical condition (no link available).

“I was covering a hostage standoff at a hotel in Sacramento, and I came down with a bad cough — so bad that I headed to the emergency room.

“There they found that my heart was enlarged, and my aortic valve, the main one, was beginning to close up. As a result my heart wasn’t getting enough blood.”

Imminent death was the furthest thing from Starnes’ mind. Sensing a story, Starnes’ news director at KFBK approached him with the idea that he put together an audio journal of his experience.

Starnes was up-front with the station.

“I told them that if I did the audio journal that my faith would be a big part of it,” he says.
It was agreed to, and Starnes started recording. After his recovery, things started to really change.

First, he began walking to get in shape and lose weight. Next, he started working for Fox News Radio in New York City, where he serves as an overnight news anchor.

His audio journal turned into a 10-episode series that fetched the 2006 Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Journalism and the 2006 Associated Press Mark Twain Award.

“I got a lot of e-mail from people who listened to the series and were encouraged that I relied on my faith while going through a crisis,” Starnes says.

These days he isn’t merely exercising — he walks to and from work, jogs and works out. He’s even a marathon runner and finished the New York City Marathon last November.

This was announced while I was away. Larry King will interview Paris Hilton on Wednesday June 27th…

Cable News Ratings for June 21, 2007

P2+ Total Day
FNC – 997,000 viewers
CNN – 398,000 viewers
MSNBC – 315,000 viewers
CNBC – 189,000 viewers
HLN – 325,000 viewers

P2+ Prime Time
FNC – 2,108,000 viewers
CNN – 708,000 viewers
MSNBC – 480,000 viewers
CNBC – 355,000 viewers
HLN – 770,000 viewers

25-54 Total Day
FNC – 308,000 viewers
CNN – 129,000 viewers
MSNBC – 115,000 viewers
CNBC – 69,000 viewers
HLN – 137,000 viewers

25-54 Prime Time
FNC – 479,000 viewers
CNN – 209,000 viewers
MSNBC – 157,000 viewers
CNBC – 101,000 viewers
HLN – 276,000 viewers

Morning programs P2+ (25-54)
FOX & Friends – 928,000 viewers (360,000)
American Morning – 403,000 viewers (131,000)
MSNBC Live (7-9 AM) – 220,000 viewers (75,000)
Robin & Co. –250,000 viewers (109,000)
(more…)