Media is a crucial element to an informed democracy, in which we should be able to make decisions based on accurate information (What’s Wrong With The News?, Fair, n.d., n.p.). However, today’s media is made up of outlets owned by media conglomerates who are increasingly merging with other organisations, “limiting the spectrum of viewpoints that have access to mass media” and compromising the role of independent journalism (What’s Wrong With The News?, Fair, n.d., n.p.).
One of the biggest media conglomerates in the world is News Corporation (News Corp), which is run by founder and CEO Rupert Murdoch. News Corp owns a phenomenal list of international media ranging from various newspapers such as the Australian, magazines like Donna Hay, publishing companies, MySpace Records label, radio stations, Australia’s NRL, many film studios such as 20th Century Fox, various television channels; free to air and pay tv such as the Fox channels, many internet sites such as MySpace and the list goes on… (News Corporation, 2009, n.p.).
Kaufman writes that that in 1999, “Time Magazine remarked that Rupert Murdoch is the first press baron to be a monster of the entire world”. Kaufman also made the realistic statement of “those who control the news also determine the public discourse” (2004, n.p.). He also points out that there’s really just a couple companies which control most of what we view which is not healthy.
News Corp owns Fox News, a channel which was lunched in 1996 (Kaufman 2004, n.p.) and one which millions rely on for their daily dose of what’s happening in the world. However, there has been quite a lot of controversy over the amount of control that Murdoch and News Corp have on what news is actually presented at Fox News.
Kaufman (2004, n.p.) wrote a very interesting and entertaining article about Fox News which is illustrated with pictures of clowns. Kaufman agrees with many others that Fox News is made up of ‘pseudo journalism’ and says that “relying on the Fox News Channel as your only source of news is like using MAD Magazine as a legitimate source of news” and that it is ‘infotainment’, not reality based news.
Kaufman goes on to say that the views of News Corp and Fox News lye with the American Republican Party, but he also says that they have slightly exaggerated ideas to the mainstream Republicans, and instead follow the “ultra-conservative wing of the Republican Party” (2004, n.p.).
Kaufman (2004, n.p.) also says that Fox News is mainly a running commentary on the news. He writes that “cable news is fast-paced and repetitive” and that these 24 hour channels just focus on a set number of stories and repeat them. He also writes that because Fox News is more entertaining than informative, Fox is steadily gaining viewer preference over CNN which could be attributed to the 24 hour availability, more viewers being connected to cable television and also a slightly younger audience.
Check out Kaufman's article at http://www.turnoffyourtv.com/networks/foxnew/foxnews.html
