Howard Kurtz made some legitimate points about the excessive media coverage of the missing Malaysian airplane mystery. But given that he speaks from the network that relentlessly covered the phony birther “issue,” that parked itself in front of a hospice, and even coached nurses, to promote cover the right-to-die case of Terri Schiavo, that spent weeks hyping bogus allegations of racial impropriety against Attorney General Eric Holder – well, it’s hard to take Kurtz’ criticism too seriously.
It just so happens that CNN is enjoying a surge in the ratings and has been beating Fox News among younger viewers with the missing airplane story. And while I agree that the nearly non-stop coverage – consisting mostly of speculation - is too much, I also can’t help but feel that Fox’s bellyaching is more than a little disingenuously self-interested.
Kurtz' regular guest on his MediaBuzz show, Lauren Ashburn, complained:
We’re missing all other stories, like the CIA spying scandal. Ukraine has been knocked off the front page.
…This is overkill… It is too much. This country has too many different problems to dominate the news by this craziness.
And yet Fox News contributor Ashburn works at the network that interrupted coverage of President Obama’s 2013 speech about jobs and the economy – for an interview with Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham to complain about the White House's behavior in the partisan Benghazi investigation. It’s also the same network that regularly covers Ukraine by speculating – some might say “cheerleading” – about Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s low opinion of our President Obama. Or the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case by smearing African Americans.
In short, I can’t help but feel that if Fox News felt there was any ideological hay to be made out of the missing Malaysian plane, they’d be on it 24/7.
So until they can figure out a way to blame President Obama for the missing airplane, here’s a suggestion for Fox on how they can get the ratings and the ideology play from the story: Just name the plane “Natalee Holloway.”
By the way, I don’t think Ashburn earned herself any props from her bosses with this quote: “But if I want to know about news, I do turn to CNN because it is 24/7.”
Entrants will be evaluated on creativity and conciseness. Extra points will be awarded for the mention of Benghazi, IRS or Obamacare.
It’s a known fact that on-air mouthpieces are not on friendly terms with a couple of their co-workers.
The backstabbing, jealousy, and disagreements have plagued this “news” organization for years.
What goes on behind-the-scenes is far more interesting than in front of the camera.
I think that fixed it for you.
Tired of CNN getting the ratings, Fox?
Here’s a solution: do some actual investigating YOURSELF — and by “actual investigating”, I DON’T mean more of Rupy’s tweets (http://www.newshounds.us/rupert_murdoch_solves_missing_malaysia_airlines_plane_mysery_03102014)
Yeah, Fox do actual investigating — crazy idea, I know . . .
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