The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives us freedom of speech and press to express opinions, thoughts and complaints. As an investigative reporter for thirty years, I had the freedom to practice my craft without fear of government intervention—although there were two occasions in which the judiciary unsuccessfully attempted to infringe on my freedom by issuing prior restraining order. The first involved a Boston area murder case and the second related to the Miami trial of a Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. In both instances my exposés accused prosecutors of misconduct.

I would never dream of depriving Fox “News” of its First Amendment protections. My only complaint is the network’s use of the word “News.” Pure and simple, Fox is a propaganda arm of the Republican Party and several far-right groups that the GOP tries—though not very hard—to disavow. 

My characterization of Fox is not an opinion based on idle speculation. The portrayal is based on, among other other things, an admission by a top network executive of an agenda that is politically motivated. Following the election of Barack Obama, Fox “News” Vice President Bill Sheet described the network’s role as “the voice of opposition.”  This has turned out to be an honest appraisal. 

By fulfilling role as the “the voice of opposition,” Fox “News” loses its credibility as a legitimate journalism organization. The network’s slogan of “fair and balanced” is now even more laughable than when first adopted. In an effort to exploit the fears of viewers caught up in bad economic times, Fox has distorted Obama’s positions on nearly every public policy issue he supports, or piece of legislation sponsored by Democrats. 

Distortions of the health care bill are particularly egregious. The network has warned viewers of death panels and granny euthanizations  designed to reduce medical costs. Relying on the scare tactic, “socialized medicine,” Fox consistently warns of dire consequences caused by huge health care deficits—a claim disputed by the independent Congressional Budget Office. 

The Fox campaign of misinformation has paid of in the form of ratings, and in terms of effectiveness. A study by the non-partisan Pew Research Institute found that Fox viewers were much more vulnerable than others in survey to believing lies about health care legislation.

If the distortions were limited to pundits like toe-sucking Roger Morris, and personalities like Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly, I would have no reason to complain about Fox’s claim of being a “news” network. But reporting propaganda as fact is part of the network’s daily newscasts. A disproportionate number of so-called experts interviewed by anchors and reporters are, in fact, spokespersons for the GOP and far-right conservative organizations, some of which border on sheer lunacy. Ann Coulter for example. Her idiotic comments usually go unchallenged. By the same token, more liberal and/or reasonable guests are bombarded with loaded questions that often have no basis in truth.  

Propagandizing under the guise of ”news” was exemplified a few months ago when by a Fox correspondent’s “fair and balanced” report that was in reality a verbatim Republican news release. Then there was the video of a Fox producer acting as a cheerleader by encouraging a crowd of “tea partiers” to yell and scream for the benefit of cameras. And also let us not forget the two recent intentional uses of manufactured video that misrepresented the size of a crowd attending a Fox-promoted political rally, and a few days later exaggerated the number of people standing in a bookstore line to purchase Sarah Palin’s ghost-written autobiography. The gaffes prompted network apologies—a rarity since Fox never acknowledges just how low its brand of journalism can sink.So why do I give a shit? In part, my criticisms are an extension of my disgust with television “news” in general—network and local. CNN, MSNBC and the three broadcast networks are all guilty of journalistic misconduct, though none can match Fox. 

My career as a fulltime television investigative reporter overlapped the Watergate scandal. In its aftermath, TV journalists began establishing a degree of legitimacy. That, of course, was before the advent of “news doctors”—the consultants who created “Eyewitless News” various formats.  As an under-educated ex-drunk who staggered into muckraking, my deep-rooted insecurities caused me to obsess about being considered a “real” journalist, instead of a guy perceived as a television airhead. To that end, I put a high premium on truth—the sole purpose of investigative reporting. Therefore, it offends me to see distortions, misrepresentations of fact and outright lies represented as “news.” That said, I keep in mind that the Constitution’s protection of freedom of press and speech is not contingent upon journalistic integrity.  

Still I find it disturbing that Fox lacks a conscience. I’m not alone in the belief that the netrwork’s abuses have contributed to the sharp political divide that exists in the country today. Fox’s influence is evident by the number of people I hear parroting misinformation proselytized by the network. And nothing I or anyone else can say will change their minds. 

The good “news” from my standpoint is that Fox gives me something to bitch about in my blog on regular basis. And that is fun.