Why do some people take FOX's high ratings as proof of the veracity of its reporting?

Question

After all, the high ratings really just indicate that people like what they see and hear on FOX, regardless of the veracity (or lack thereof) of the reporting. In fact, early on during the war in Iraq, the University of Maryland conducted a study whose results showed that people who relied on FOX for their coverage of the war tended to be more misinformed than those who relied on other news sources (CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, BBC, etc.).

Answer 1

Because sensationalism, not liberalism or conservatism, is what really dominates the media. After 9/11, Fox's media coverage became very jingoistic and their ratings soared. Like you implied, people also want to be entertained.

Just look at the ridiculous amount of coverage given by ALL the networks (not just Fox!) to Anna Nicole Smith's paternity issues or Paris Hilton. It's the same reason why so many idiots read the New York Post when a far better written paper like the Wall St. Journal (which also has a conservative editorial viewpoint) is losing subscribers. Or why people read crappy second-hand news sites like newsmax and worldnetdaily when the National Review actually illustrates the conservative viewpoint far more articulately and logically.

The standards for journalism seem to be lowered every year; and one reason for this is the increased number of media outlets, which causes more cutthroat competition among people more concerned with putting out the story and less with being objective or basic fact-checking.

Answer 2

Does that advise Republicans think of we would desire to continuously pay attention to Communist China related to financial regulations? Fox information has the utmost scores as a results of fact there is one conservative community and 3 liberal networks. If the rustic is extraordinarily a lot split in a million/2, politically, then 50% could watch Fox, and approximately 17% could watch the different 3. So even however the impressive makes up 50% of the information viewership, an fool would desire to look on the stats and say that there are three times as many people watching Fox than the different information community.

Answer 3

I certainly don't. I am well aware that Fox news has a conservative bias. The reason it is SO popular and has high ratings is that all the other televised news media are liberal biased. CNN, CBS, NBC, and the rest actually provided at least as bad and inaccurate reporting on the situation in Iraq because of their bias to the liberal side. One channel for all the conservatives to watch, at least 4 or 5 for all the liberals, of course FOX News gets higher ratings. I usually get my news from the internet. If I do watch televised news, I watch ABC and FOX and find the truth somewhere in the middle.

Answer 4

What I don't understand is two things: Why do people who hate it concern themselves with it, if you want it gone, just change the damn channel, you don't have to coem here and whine that it is on, just change the channel to CNN or CBS or some other liberal news station.

Anouther thing I don't understand is that why are you people are so concerned with the "conservative bias" (which really doesn't exist, there is a fair balance of conservatives and liberals on the news station) when other news stations can be said to have a "liberal bias".

The truth is, is that it is a credible news source, and just because it isn't 100% liberal, other people will jump on it. However, that doesn't matter, it still retains a number one place in ratings, which shows that people like it, whether you do or not.

Answer 5

So then people DON'T like what they see & hear on the other News channels? If you concede the fact that Fox news is Conservative, they do offer both sides to an argument (Alan Colmes, Kirsten Powers, dems/libs on Fox). How often do you get BOTH sides from CNN, or NBC??
Perhaps is more entertainment than news, but was Katie Couric hired because she could read a teleprompter better than most???
I do not think so.

Answer 6

what else could high ratings mean. they are not perfect but they are more balanced and less opinionated, the true reporters, and offer an unbiased report instead of the reporters opinion. and as far as being informed, you can not get it from one source. you have to absorb it from all directions and filter out the trash. and take the maryland study with a grain of salt. the new york time was listed #2 as most transparent. if that is not a typo then the study has to be skued.

Answer 7

A year-long investigation of the British Broadcasting Company has condemned what it calls a "culture of bias" in the network including its news coverage — finding the BBC is anything but fair and balanced on issues such as climate change, poverty, race and religion.

British media say the report — which was commissioned by the BBC itself — finds the organization has been undermined by the liberal culture of its staff — with few challenging those preconceived positions. "There is a tendency to 'group think' with too many staff inhabiting a shared space and comfort zone," the report says.

It offers a 12-step program to help the BBC safeguard its impartiality — including a call for fair-minded, evidence-based judgments and discussions exploring more than one side of a given issue.

Answer 8

Jerry Springer got good ratings as well, it doesn't mean that there is a speck of truth in it.

Fox is the only "news" source that proclaimed it's right to broadcast false information in a court of law.

This was in response to the suit brought forth from journalists that were fired for refusing to falsify stories.

Answer 9

It's "Infotainment" - it's hardly news. Look at Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity - I mean seriously. However, neither compare to the power and influence of Howard Stern. They try, espesially O'Reilly - but, he's a hack.

Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol score high ratings as well. They are the basically the same kind of programming.

Answer 10

For thee same reason they believe that wrestling is real

I like Fox News over the others available out there, but I take everything said with a grain of salt. I don't trust media. No matter whether it is conservative or liberal, they slant the news.