Fox News Channel admits fake story about Kerry

Officials at 'Fox News' Channel admitted that one of their political reporters has been disciplined for posting a fake news item on its website about US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

Fox's chief political correspondent Carl Cameron has been disciplined for posting an item on FoxNews.Com that included several made-up quotes attributed to Kerry.

"Carl has been reprimanded," Fox said yesterday, declining further comment.


Wasn't it Fox that was demanding that one of their competitor’s anchormen be fired for accepting documents that were forgeries? Gee I guess making up lies isn't as bad as not thoroughly checking out sources.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041003/ts_alt_afp/us_vote_kerry_media_041003210627

Dave-- I think you'll agree that accidentally posting what is obviously a joke-- although some folks undoubtedly didn't take it that way-- is different from going into attack-dog mode as Rather did.

Either way, responsible journalists shouldn't print false reports. Rather's problem is that he didn't take the time to confirm what obviously was a dynamite story. Either he got in a hurry to scoop the competition and got careless, or he didn't care. Either way is irresponsible. The same can be said for the Fox "report" although I don't see it presented as a bonafide story.



Keith

KJ: I think it simply illustrates that Fox is very far from "fair and balanced." But thta's not really a news flash.

http://www.fair.org/extra/0108/fox-main.html

Kerry does have a beautiful manicure with white cuticles and all.

There is no unbiased mainstream news anymore. The first thing they taught us in Journalism class was unbiased reporting. What they did not tell the guys going to work in the field was that the guy signing your check was not unbiased and you need to keep him happy. What we see to day is by classic definintion yellow journalism.

TK: We are in agreement! Again! I try to watch BBC. They too probably have some bias, but at least they present a lot more world news than do U.S. media outlets.

HOLD IT! Three of us agree? Wow...

From the standpoint of factual journalism, I think any journalist who purposely misleads his audience should be roasted over a slow fire, right next to Dan Rather. Rather knows better, but my guess is he got lazy.

The part I like is Brokaw and Jennings coming to Dan's defense by saying that one moment shouldn't define a man's career. Isn't that what they've been trying to do with Nixon, Clinton, Bush?

Sorry, gotta get off the soapbox and get back to work.

Keith