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For Immediate Release
October, 26 2009, 12:30pm EDT
Contact:
mediamatters.org
The Right-Wing Media Spin Cycle: Lie, Terrify, Win, Repeat
Media Matters releases new video showing right-wing media's leading role in driving movement
WASHINGTON
Today, Media
Matters for America released a new video
demonstrating how the conservative echo chamber operates in the age of
President Obama. Conservative activists - aided by Fox News, a political
organization disguised as a news network - use distortions, lies, and smear
tactics to shape public opinion and influence national policy.
To watch the video,
click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQnmxW-UyKo
"Unlike the Clinton and Bush
years, the right-wing echo chamber is now aided by a network that has thrown
any remaining shred of journalistic credibility out the window, " said
Eric Burns, President of Media Matters.
"The modern conservative movement has gained
an enormous megaphone in Fox News that they are using to impact legislation and
shape public opinion."
Burns added: "People need to decide
how long they will allow the policies of their country to be dictated by a
media outlet accountable not to voters or constituents but to ratings."
BACKGROUND:
The new video released by Media
Matters begins by tracing the evolution of the false claim that a
provision in Democratic health care reform bills that would allow Medicare
coverage of end-of-life counseling would actually implement "death panels,"
a fiction invented by conservative activists and leaders and hyped by the
right-wing media. Following a period of baseless media-led attacks, the end-of-life
counseling provision was dropped from the Senate Finance Committee's bill.
Media Matters has
been documenting the baseless smears and distortions that the right-wing media
have used to influence national policy, as well as analyzing the new role and
power of the conservative media organizations - some of which, like Fox News,
have become political operations disguised as journalistic outlets - and which now
serve as the "voice of the opposition" to progressive principles.
"Voice of
the opposition": Fox News openly advocates against Democratic Congress,
White House
SUMMARY:
Since Barack Obama's inauguration, Fox News has frequently engaged in political
advocacy against the Democratic Congress and White House. Specifically, Fox
News personalities have promoted and encouraged viewers to "join" tea
party protests, Glenn Beck's organization The 9-12 Project and its September 12
"March on Washington," and town hall meetings; engaged in a witch
hunt seeking to "get rid of" Obama administration officials and
nominees; implored viewers to call Congress and the White House to protest
Democratic policies; and celebrated "victor[ies]" when Democratic
legislation has been stalled.
Fox News'
War
SUMMARY: Following
Anita Dunn's description of Fox News as an "arm" of the Republican
Party, Fox News personalities have suggested or claimed that the White House
declared "war" on the network. In response, Media Matters for America has released a
video showing the factually inaccurate smears, blatant
political organizing, and explicit lobbying that Fox News has engaged in. Many
of these activities have been occurring since January 20 and have only
increased in frequency as time has passed.
SUMMARY:
Fox News Channel is twisting American politics in an unprecedented way, and too
many members of the press still aren't getting it. The White House has exposed
Fox News for what it is: not a news organization, but a partisan political
entity that is waging a war aimed at destroying the Obama administration and
its progressive agenda. Fox's Glenn Beck said so himself
last Friday, predicting that he would soon "take the administration
down."
Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.
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