Sorry MSNBC, You are More Like a Fox than a Peacock

Do not get me wrong. If given a final choice, I would take MSNBC over Fox News any day. No issue there. Why? Because MSNBC is closer to my world view than Fox News…by a long shot.

But please, MSNBC, do not pretend that you are all that uniquely different than Fox News when it comes to your prime-time lineup and how you handle the news and commentary. Your key nightly lineup – Ed Schultz, Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell – should not be mistaken for balanced commentators, and their regular assaults on conservatives, the Republicans and Fox News clearly place them near and dear to the hearts of liberals. But isn’t that why we watch them? Their color, viewpoints and comments add a certain juice to the news and are a nice balance to the insanity spouted by O’Reilly, Sustern, Stossel and Hannity.

So what prompted this post and my attempt to put MSNBC and Fox News int he same sentence? Initially, it was MSNBC’s decision to “indefinitely” suspend Mr. Olbermann for donating money to three Democratic political campaigns without asking for permission, an action that is apparently against the policies of MSNBC’s parent company, NBC News. This seemed like an odd move on MSNBC’s part given the host’s outspoken liberal tendencies, but we can understand that a policy is a policy. News that MSNBC quickly ended Olbermann’s suspension was no surprise since the action sparked such a great controversy. But it was Rachel Maddow’s commentary on her own show that really perked my ears. She used the suspension to distinctively differentiate MSNBC from Fox News, but in the same breath said that Obermann’s suspension should be lifted (the “point has been made”). Granted, her valiant trashing of Sean Hannity’s explicit political endorsements was very nice to see and should not be forgotten. She also bashed Republican fundraising activities by Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee, but muddled the fact that these are done outside of their duties as Fox News hosts. While clearly Ms. Palin and Mr. Huckabee engage in political fundraising, that is done in the “other jobs.” On the air, they are no more conservative and outspoken than Ms. Maddow is liberal and outspoken. Ms. Maddow clearly called Fox News a “political organization” while MSNBC is a “new organization.” Obviously, to Ms. Maddow, one is lower than the other.

I have no doubt that Fox News peddles a specific political viewpoint, and various commentators, guests and news stories help espouse that viewpoint. Some even give money to support these viewpoints. No doubt. But Ms. Maddow should not use her pulpit to seemingly place herself in the realm of Cronkite, Brokaw and Jennings. If I want news, I go to the BBC, The New York Times or (increasingly less) CNN. If I want rightist spin on that news, I watch O’Reilly or Fox News Sunday. If I want the liberal spin, I tune into Ms. Maddow or Mr. Olbermann. The fact that they are not allowed to give money makes no difference. Actually, I would be surprised if Ms. Maddow did not contribute in some way to her own particular world view. And you know what, that’s perfectly respectable and expected.

 

[Amended: some good commentary]

In Defense of NPR, Free Speech and Juan Williams – but not Fox News

Another prominent TV news personality finds his contract rescinded due to a verbal gaffe based on his own imagination. First it was Rick Sanchez at CNN who had some choice words about Jews and news executives. Now we find that a very well-respected news analyst, Juan Williams, who has been running double-duty on NPR and Fox News over the last few years, expressed some very personal views about Muslims. He was summarily fired by NPR, without an opportunity to fully express his regret. When given the opportunity, he confirmed his personal fears about Muslims on airplanes – but he continued to try to deny that these views were based on prejudice and bigotry.

His personal views spilled out when his host, Bill O’Reilly, asked Mr. Williams to address the situation around the “Muslim dilemma” – a phrase used by Mr. O’Reilly. Essentially, this “dilemma” arises over the feeling that since Muslims perpetrated 9/11, how can we feel safe around them? Mr. Williams agreed with Mr. O’Reilly and went on to express a concern about how he feels when he sees airplane passengers in “Muslim garb” – Mr. Williams feels fear because they are expressing their faith in public and it reminds him of 9/11. Ooops. He failed to mention that not a single hijacker wore “Muslim garb” when boarding those planes.

There are many layers to this story, but those layers are infinitely more complex because Mr. Williams uttered his statements on the Fox News program, “The O’Reilly Factor.”

Not surprisingly, Mr. O’Reilly has taken Mr. Williams’s firing as a “cause celebre” and tagged it with visions of censorship and liberal bias. We can thank Fox News for once again taking a difficult story and turning it into a journalistic sideshow. So, here we go, Bill O’Reilly has yet been given another opportunity to grandstand and showboat his way to the airwaves, and that becomes part of the story despite the fact that the news media is supposed to remain above the story, right?

Watch the full O’Reilly/Williams interview here:

So, maybe we all have this slice of bigotry somewhere in us, and maybe we even have some of the same thoughts as Mr. Williams when we walk on airplanes or in the mall or on the street. By all means, since we are in the United States of America, we have the right to express those views and to tell people what we think. We respect Mr. Williams’s right to speak freely. But we also reserve the right to judge Mr. Williams because of what he says.

In that vein, NPR, as well as Fox News and any other media outlet, has the right to hire and manage staff in support of its journalistic ethics and decorum. So, because his position at NPR was that of news analyst, not editorial commentator, NPR has the right to show him the door. Plain and simple.

Should NPR have handled this differently? Sure, and it is not surprising that a review of the decision-making process has raised issues with some of management’s decisions. At least NPR has the ethical backbone to question their own practices. But to listen to Fox News go on about “censorship” and to hear Mr. Williams (after the firing) talk about a liberal “gulag” at NPR is taking it to an extreme level of rhetoric that fits Rupert Murdoch’s disposition. In quick fashion, Fox News took up the banner with conservative politicians about de-funding public radio. Please! Go find another source for your tax cut for people earning $250K+! Public radio finances are not as reliant upon federal funding as is reported.

Mr. Williams had been walking a fine line as NPR analyst and Fox News commentator, and this conflict was bound to get him into hot water. His roles were very different, and he needs to realize that his Fox News persona cannot be integrated with this NPR responsibilities of fair and objective news analysis. So, Juan, say what you want to say, but do not expect NPR or any other organization to keep you on the payroll despite what you say. There are limits to free speech. Take your $2 million at Fox, the newly found respect from Mr. O’Reilly, and say all you want. Good luck with that.

Oh, Mr. Williams, here is why you were fired – what you said was based on illogical fear, prejudice and bigotry. No other reason. NPR was not “out to get you” because you also worked on Fox. Your comments were not becoming of someone who claims to have journalistic integrity. You want to be concerned about someone’s dress on an airplane?  Then be concerned about the guy riding in First Class dressed in a button-down shirt. Be concerned about the guy in tennis shoes in seat 8C. If you want to be vigilant and sow fear, be vigilant in a smart and serious way. Not a SINGLE one of the nineteen hijackers on 9/11 wore “Muslim garb” to their murderous rampage. Mr. Williams, think about that while you cash those Fox News checks for the next few years. Feel good that you are completely free to say what you want to say on Fox News. We will mourn the fact that you have left real journalism and now have to proactively say that you are “fair and balanced” precisely because you are not. Good luck….and be careful when you fly. That woman in her Wall Street business suit might just blow you up.

Fox News, stop harassing NPR: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/business/media/23williams.html?hp