RUPERT MURDOCH AND FOX NEWS IN THE USA.

The last blog entry related to Rupert Murdoch. In July Fishymedia posted a blog entry that offered resources relating to a consideration of the debates and issues surrounding the construction of Murdoch's paywall. Critics of Murdoch would argue that a true reflection of Murdoch's agenda is visible via the quality of the media that he constructs. For example, FOX NEWS in America is a Murdoch owned institution with a clear Republican,Christian, right wing political bias.Any student or teacher of media should navigate through material posted on You Tube to encounter the media sensibilities of Fox employees BILL O'REILLY, GLENN BECK and SEAN HANNITY.These three 'media commentators' are employed by Murdoch and support Murdoch's institutional ideology.

Bill O'Reilly's show 'The O'Reilly Factor' is broadcast every weekday at 8pm on Fox in the USA. Glenn Beck hosts his own show every weekday at 5pm on Fox.Beck also has an incredibly successful radio show that attracts over 6 million listeners. Sean Hannity's TV show 'Hannity' is broadcast on Fox every evening at 9pm after the O'Reilly Factor. Hannity also has a very successful radio show that attracts an audience of over 13 million listeners.

Click on link below to view two examples of Glenn Beck's approach to media presentation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM4xqnukQrM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbg604XqPY

Click on link to view the media virus that is Bill O'Reilly. This is his approach to critics of America's invasion of Iraq:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-F-zmTNuk4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU7Dyxt7hdw&feature=watch_response

O'Reilly on the David Letterman show.This is mainstream American television.Note the mutual hate. Click on link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkDjz_eRoaw

There is a mass of O'Reilly material on the internet.Help yourself. Here is Bill's own online home:

http://www.billoreilly.com/

OUTFOXED.COM is a media aggregate site that has often criticised Fox News.They have a clear institutional bias that is anti-Fox News and Murdoch.Here is a segment that explores Bill O'Reilly's interview technique.The experience of Jeremy Glick is often used to illustrate the Fox News agenda.Glick's father died in 9/11 and Glick had publically criticised the Bush administration in relation to his father's death.Click on link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IwIRNM5noY

Welcome to the Fox shaped world of Sean Hannity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW3qbibh8Mk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8bsIjGcZyI&feature=related

This You Tube clip is interesting because Michael Moore only appeared on Hannity's show if Fox agreed not to edit the footage in any way. Clearly, Moore and Hannity despise each other and the discussion is fascinating. This interview relates to the release of Moore's film 'Capitalism: A Love Story'. Note the complete mutual contempt.Consider the nature of Hannity's questions and compare his attitude with, for example, an interview undertaken by Jon Snow on Channel Four News or Jeremy Vine on BBC's Newsnight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9OiCv0v2Q

Moore also had a similar debate with Bill O'Reilly after the release of 'Fahrenheit 9/11'. Again Moore only appeared after being promised that the interview would not receive an edit and he could ask O'Reilly questions.Click on link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trOdCU6aZOg

So why is Fox News worthy of media attention? Rupert Murdoch's political ideology is evident in all his media.Should one company have so many global media platforms from which to promote their narrow institutional ideology? How influential is Murdoch? He states that media cannot shape the way people view the world. If this is true, why do British political parties desperately hope to ingratiate themselves with Murdoch and why do some political experts view Murdoch's support of Tony Blair as crucial to Blair's election victory in 1997? Why did Murdoch support Blair, disown Brown and support Cameron?How influential is the Sun Newspaper in the UK? Why does one man feel the need to project his views through his media on a global scale? Why not become a politician if you want to share your view of the world with an engaged audience? Why does James Murdoch resent the BBC? A consideration of Murdoch and his Newscorp media empire links to a considerable number of media issues and debates.

MURDOCH is a central figure when considering the influence of the media.His influence relates to issues such as media and democracy, representation,how institutional ideology shapes representation, the impact of digital media,media regulation, audience theory....etc.

Below is a link to the Fox News website:

http://www.foxnews.com/

I sincerely apologise if the three photographs at the beginning of this blog entry caused visual discomfort or any loss of psychological equilibrium.