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Is Media Matters breaking the law in its 'war' on Fox News?
Results so far:
| Yes | 56% | 10 votes | Total: 18 votes | |
| No | 44% | 8 votes |
Yes
by Micah Crowther
Created on: April 01, 2011 Last Updated: April 02, 2011
There is no need to try to discredit crazy people or the wacky things they say. It does that all on its own. So why would anyone dedicate their entire web site to slander? Quite simply it is the only weapon left to them. They never challenge him on issues it is always a personal attack. If they could disprove Beck they would and the world would listen but it has yet to do that.
Media Matters relies on an emotional response from its readers in order to suspend logic. They publicly claim their mission is to get Beck's television and radio show off the air. I am a regular visitor to the web site and when analyzed with the basic rules of debate, most of the content directed at Beck amounts to name calling, subjective opinion and slander.
The grounds for slander in a court of law are based on validity and intent. Is there any validity to the accusations? No, unless you mean how you feel about it and that doesn't hold water in a court of law. Is there intent to harm? Yes, a publicly stated intent, in fact so many statements you could make an entire web site about it. I would but then what would Media Matters do? I don't believe they would disappear but move on to the next victim. It is the reason they exist.
Open and honest debate is one of the keys to a civilized society. Media Matters does not engage in debate, it shouts down the opposition, attempts to vilify and never addresses real issues. The fact that they target individuals for attack instead of issues is extremely telling.
If this criminal enterprise is allowed to continue it will become emboldened enough to escalate the vile rhetoric into something more monstrous than most reasonable people can imagine. Unchecked it will continue to defame anyone and everyone who opposes it's agenda. It won't be long before it calls on its readers to act against its detractors. It is calling for indirect action right now in the form of boycotts and lobbying congress for the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" that is anything but fair to anyone. It is without a doubt it is the most hate-filled, one-sided, dishonest, slanderous, organization that falsely claims to be an honest media outlet.
Are they criminal? Yes. Do they need to be shut down? No. That is exactly what they would do to Beck. That's how I know it is the right thing to do.
Learn more about this author, Micah Crowther.
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No
by Sam Rixey
Created on: March 28, 2011
I was not aware that Media Matters needed approval from Congress to declare "war" on Fox News. Seriously though, I do applaud Media Matters' efforts in being one of the largest media watchdog groups in existence today. However, with internet reliance and usage as rampant as it is in our daily lives, Media Matters must be very careful to provide not only hard evidence to counter Fox News' material that is presented as fact or common knowledge, but to be as transparent as possible when promoting itself.
Most of us are familiar with Fox News' Glenn Beck and his relentless concoctions of dumbed-down, bizarre and amateurish conspiracy theories. He will find the most obscure wealthy individual or ancient political figure and try and tie him or her to political movements or enterprises that allow for the existence of ulterior motives that could possibly affect any member of his audience. One of Beck's biggest and longest running theories involved George Soros, but with Beck being who he is, he is constantly firing off new "enemies" on every show. For fans of Media Matters and in the far left, the biggest revelation involves the the New Yorker's expose on the Koch brothers. No longer were the lobbying groups and political action committees such as "Americans for Prosperity" that the brothers created as harmless as their names. Transparency was achieved. Media Matters must make sure to be as transparent as the operators of Fox News and other ultra-conservative enterprises that they try to expose. We are in a world where trust and loyalty from readers must not just be won; it must be won at lightening speed to keep up with expert iPhone and Blackberry users.
Unfortunately, the more loyal a citizen is to his or her political icons and views, the harder it is to not only get their attention but to have them accept the truth - even when it is glaring them in the face. In the social realm of the internet, it is unbelievably easy for a stubborn person to stay stubborn and feel vindicated about it via the vast array of news story comments and radical right or left-wing blogs. For the stubborn, all of this access to express and confirm their opinions is falsely empowering - creating a sense that quantity of information trumps actual truth.
Media Matters tries its best to overcome these obstacles by plopping the contradictions and misinformation right in front of the viewer's face, using video and audio whenever possible. Unfortunately for them, I believe that their tactics hardly mimic war. They are only playing the part of the old newspaper reporter: desperately trying to keep up with the hottest tip before everyone forgets it entirely. I can imagine some tactics just short of science fiction to help them along - having an app presenting the truth on screen just after the viewer watches the anchorperson ignore it - but even that cannot defeat stubbornness.
Learn more about this author, Sam Rixey.
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