How Fox News Makes 'Equal Time' a Little Less Equal
Reported by Judy - May 10, 2006
Fox News' leader Roger Ailes said in a recent interview that, "Bias is not what you say; itâs what you eliminate. We donât eliminate anybody. Everybody gets equal time."
"Dayside" demonstrated Ailes' definition of both bias and equal time on Wednesday (May 10, 2006) during its coverage of a screwup in the administration of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger -- allowing convicted sex offenders to stay in hotels near Disneyland, the same hotels where many families stay while visiting the theme park.
"Dayside" co-hosts Mike Jerrick and Gretchen Carlson interviewed California General Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez, who discovered the snafu. Somehow, the two managed to do a three-and-a-half-minute segment on the isue without ever mentioning Schwarzenegger by name, referring to him only as "the governor," or mentioning his party. Nor did they ever mention that Bermudez is a Democrat.
Yes, Bermudez got his equal time, but somehow, Fox News managed to make it slightly less than equal. And as Ailes said, the bias was in what was left out.
Could it be that mentioning the party affiliations in this case would conflict with the Republican National Committeee line that Republicans fight crime and keep people safe and Democrats only get in the way?
Watch the video and see if you can find the party affiliations.
