“Liberal” Greta Van Susteren did her part tonight on behalf of Fox News’ war against the Journal News newspaper, a small paper in Westchester County, New York that had the audacity to print a map of local gun owners. Now, after revealing that the paper's employees "are now fearing for their lives," Van Susteren sent ambush producer Griff Jenkins to interview the publisher - which he almost surely knew he’d not accomplish, given Fox News’ obsession with attacking the paper. So he went to her house - where he also almost surely knew he'd not succeed in talking to her. Van Susteren aired a photo of the woman, Jenkins named the town the publisher lives in and the camera person made sure to get a shot that shows what the house looks like from the street.
Jenkins disingenuously said at the beginning of the clip, when he was at the paper’s office, “We came here because we wanted to speak with the publisher and president, Janet Hasson. We have a lot of questions for her. Does she still stand by her decision and why?”
But when nobody would talk to him or let him in, he went to Hasson’s home. There he said,
We did not have any luck reaching Ms. Hasson at her office. So we’ve come to her home which, given the nature of this story, her home address has been made public here in (name of town), NY.
I’m surprised they didn’t show a close up of the house number, the street name and whatever kind of car is registered to her.
So what was the point of this segment if not to reveal to Fox News’ audience where this woman lives – while pretending it was all about getting an interview.
Correction: This post originally referred to Hasson as "editor" of the paper. Also, the location of the paper was incorrectly described as "upstate New York."
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Aria Prescott commented
2013-01-09 13:08:41 -0500
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60 Minutes used to be worse than even O’Reilly for it, as well… and a couple former CNN hosts started it up. Note how I said “used to” and “former hosts.”
The large majority of the left refuses to embrace ambush journalism, and the right seems to realize it’s wrong when the left or center do it. That’s why it’s rare for it to go past a couple incidents per host outside of Fox- The other networks actually listen when we say we don’t like that.
At least they do after it started hitting them where it hurts.
The large majority of the left refuses to embrace ambush journalism, and the right seems to realize it’s wrong when the left or center do it. That’s why it’s rare for it to go past a couple incidents per host outside of Fox- The other networks actually listen when we say we don’t like that.
At least they do after it started hitting them where it hurts.
Kevin Koster commented
2013-01-09 11:22:38 -0500
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Aria and Visitor 55, I wouldn’t worry about needing to clarify your points. Your posts have been cogent and accurate.
Griff Jenkins stepped over the line both at the Journal office and at the editor’s home when he refused to leave the area after being denied entrance. At that point, his action moved from a simple query to trespassing and even harassment. It is likely that he doesn’t understand the difference, and more likely that if confronted, he would pretend not to know. This would be consistent with the way he has conducted himself during his career at Fox News.
One thing to keep in mind is that this kind of ambush is not just the play of the right wing. They copied it from the work of Michael Moore, after Moore embarrased several people in his documentaries. I found the ending of Bowling for Columbine, with his confrontation of Charlton Heston, to be exactly the kind of trespassing and harassment Jenkins did here.
Griff Jenkins stepped over the line both at the Journal office and at the editor’s home when he refused to leave the area after being denied entrance. At that point, his action moved from a simple query to trespassing and even harassment. It is likely that he doesn’t understand the difference, and more likely that if confronted, he would pretend not to know. This would be consistent with the way he has conducted himself during his career at Fox News.
One thing to keep in mind is that this kind of ambush is not just the play of the right wing. They copied it from the work of Michael Moore, after Moore embarrased several people in his documentaries. I found the ending of Bowling for Columbine, with his confrontation of Charlton Heston, to be exactly the kind of trespassing and harassment Jenkins did here.
Aria Prescott commented
2013-01-09 01:32:13 -0500
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“Ambush journalism refers to aggressive tactics practiced by journalists to suddenly confront and question people who otherwise do not wish to speak to the media.
[…]
Ambush Journalism is controversial for it’s unethical, sensationalist nature, as well as hosts such as Bill O’Reilly and Geraldo Rivera employing it to gain interviews they were explicitly denied. It has also been regularly employed by news commentators (the majority of which work for Fox News) that employ it regularly for no other discernable reason than to harass someone they’ve targeted, under the guise of journalism."
Interesting… how does stalking fit into that?
“Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted or obsessive attention by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them.”
Yeah… but Joshua approves, because Fox News did it. And can he show us where Newshounds approved of what the paper did? Because I have a post of him approving of Fox News doing it while condemning it from the paper right here on this thread.
Hope he remembers this the next time he cries about how we won’t write an article about what another network does- Oh, wait. He can’t even keep it straight that we’re a watchdog blog that only does Fox News.
[…]
Ambush Journalism is controversial for it’s unethical, sensationalist nature, as well as hosts such as Bill O’Reilly and Geraldo Rivera employing it to gain interviews they were explicitly denied. It has also been regularly employed by news commentators (the majority of which work for Fox News) that employ it regularly for no other discernable reason than to harass someone they’ve targeted, under the guise of journalism."
Interesting… how does stalking fit into that?
“Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted or obsessive attention by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them.”
Yeah… but Joshua approves, because Fox News did it. And can he show us where Newshounds approved of what the paper did? Because I have a post of him approving of Fox News doing it while condemning it from the paper right here on this thread.
Hope he remembers this the next time he cries about how we won’t write an article about what another network does- Oh, wait. He can’t even keep it straight that we’re a watchdog blog that only does Fox News.
Joshua Hatheway commented
2013-01-08 21:01:01 -0500
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LOL… Stalker producer… The guy went and knocked on a door… that makes almost every journalist in the country a stalker…
Anyway, I hope all those gun owners have heavy duty gun safes because they could now become targets of people who want guns but cannot get them legally and use them for nefarious activities.
Anyway, I hope all those gun owners have heavy duty gun safes because they could now become targets of people who want guns but cannot get them legally and use them for nefarious activities.
the Mike commented
2013-01-08 17:14:05 -0500
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ol’ baggy eyes won’t be happy until there’s another assassination all in the name of fox news rhetoric.
Kevin Koster commented
2013-01-08 17:06:48 -0500
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One of these days, one of the targets of these Jesse Watters/Griff Jenkins ambushes is going to call the police. They can knock on the person’s door, but they’re not allowed to loiter outside for extended periods of time if they are not welcome.
Aria Prescott commented
2013-01-08 13:52:06 -0500
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Agent: Abuse of the Freedom of Information act is always disgusting. Even when the stated ends are something you can agree with in theory (such as easy access to who’s a sex offender), in practice, it never ends well (said sex offenders meet Texas justice).
And as much as our “buddy” Joshua here likes playing the ideas of “two wrongs make a right,” and “It’s ok for Greta because I’m pro-Fox”… If we had to scale this, what she did was far worse because all she did was demonstrate just how willing she is to pick and choose how her own standard applies to her personally.
If MSNBC did this, Joshua certainly wouldn’t be saying “Good for them!”… no, he’d be padding this thread to a hundred comments screaming about why we don’t make an article talking about how this proves they’re as evil as he likes to think.
But Fox News does it, and he applauds. Double standard, much?
And as much as our “buddy” Joshua here likes playing the ideas of “two wrongs make a right,” and “It’s ok for Greta because I’m pro-Fox”… If we had to scale this, what she did was far worse because all she did was demonstrate just how willing she is to pick and choose how her own standard applies to her personally.
If MSNBC did this, Joshua certainly wouldn’t be saying “Good for them!”… no, he’d be padding this thread to a hundred comments screaming about why we don’t make an article talking about how this proves they’re as evil as he likes to think.
But Fox News does it, and he applauds. Double standard, much?
Lakeview Greg commented
2013-01-08 12:35:58 -0500
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“I am shocked and insulted!!!” that Greta would pull such a childish, stupid, and oh so Sarah Palin-like stunt.
Well, no I’m not. She is the sweet talking, backstabbing, lying by omission neighbor we all had at one time.
Well, no I’m not. She is the sweet talking, backstabbing, lying by omission neighbor we all had at one time.
Joshua Hatheway commented
2013-01-08 11:47:18 -0500
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It’s almost as creepy as publishing addresses of gun owners. Good for Greta shoving it back in the face of the editor.
d d commented
2013-01-08 10:33:25 -0500
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Considering Greta had to know that no one was actually going to give the Griffster a statement, this ambush “interview” was a waste of time and silly drama. As Ellen pointed out, the stunt’s purpose was most likely NOT about getting an interview. It also shows that, while FOX “news” was plenty upset that permit owners’ locations were made known, apparently Greta has no qualms using the information that was made public in retaliation – the addresses of the paper’s employees. The fact that she had no problem airing footage of Hasson’s home for everyone to see is disturbing. Tacky, Greta, very tacky.
As far as the “upstate” stuff, having lived in NY and western CT, upstate definitely has different meanings to different folks. What I came away with was that a capitalized Upstate meant the region north of I-84 and over just east of Utica (where it became known as Central NY). Some others say that Upstate is north of Albany. However, when upstate (with a lowercase u) was used, it meant anything in a northerly direction from NYC which would include the suburbs of Westchester and Rockland counties. Some folks I know there think upstate means where a more elevated landscape starts appearing (as Westchester and Rockland counties are where the hills start happening). :-]
As far as the “upstate” stuff, having lived in NY and western CT, upstate definitely has different meanings to different folks. What I came away with was that a capitalized Upstate meant the region north of I-84 and over just east of Utica (where it became known as Central NY). Some others say that Upstate is north of Albany. However, when upstate (with a lowercase u) was used, it meant anything in a northerly direction from NYC which would include the suburbs of Westchester and Rockland counties. Some folks I know there think upstate means where a more elevated landscape starts appearing (as Westchester and Rockland counties are where the hills start happening). :-]
Bemused commented
2013-01-08 04:32:19 -0500
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Joe and Ellen: Many, many, far too many moons ago, I was told by a foreign journalist living in Manhattan that anything north of The Cloisters (great museum, BTW) was upstate NY.
I do so dearly hope nothing happens to the people at that paper. While most of the the foxies aren’t openly violent they sure like to open the door for the crazies in hope that a “story” will come out of it.
Sort of like “let’s you and him/her fight while I film”.
Vultures.
I do so dearly hope nothing happens to the people at that paper. While most of the the foxies aren’t openly violent they sure like to open the door for the crazies in hope that a “story” will come out of it.
Sort of like “let’s you and him/her fight while I film”.
Vultures.
Aria Prescott commented
2013-01-08 04:01:51 -0500
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The problem with trying to make Fox (or it’s viewers) see the light on this behaviour is that they’ve been exempt from retribution.
Knoxville? O’Reilly and Hannity showed no remorse for their accused role.
Tiller? “I reported accurately.”
Williams? Beck actually dedicated an entire episode of his Fox News show to begging for a copycat.
Death threats to Imam Rauf and various politicians? They actually asked what the problem was!
Bill Looman? The hosts that could mention him thought he was cool.
Violence against occupiers? They allowed viewers to threaten on Fox Nation, and thought people who went through with it were hilarious.
The mosque arsonist? “Show us where we’ve ever been hateful to muslims.”
Amount of lasting accountability they hold for instances like this, as well as many, many others: Abso-freakin’-lutely none. It gets two segments on the supposedly “biased to the point of conducting witch hunts against the right” media, the rest of the coverage it does get is Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert ripping the hosts involved a new hole, and even that only lasts until what jokes Fox sets themselves up for plays out.
Gee, I wonder why they think they can get away with this!
Knoxville? O’Reilly and Hannity showed no remorse for their accused role.
Tiller? “I reported accurately.”
Williams? Beck actually dedicated an entire episode of his Fox News show to begging for a copycat.
Death threats to Imam Rauf and various politicians? They actually asked what the problem was!
Bill Looman? The hosts that could mention him thought he was cool.
Violence against occupiers? They allowed viewers to threaten on Fox Nation, and thought people who went through with it were hilarious.
The mosque arsonist? “Show us where we’ve ever been hateful to muslims.”
Amount of lasting accountability they hold for instances like this, as well as many, many others: Abso-freakin’-lutely none. It gets two segments on the supposedly “biased to the point of conducting witch hunts against the right” media, the rest of the coverage it does get is Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert ripping the hosts involved a new hole, and even that only lasts until what jokes Fox sets themselves up for plays out.
Gee, I wonder why they think they can get away with this!
Antoinette commented
2013-01-08 03:47:25 -0500
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That’s the ticket. Slam the door on these Fox “News” clowns if they come knocking on your front door.
The journalists at the Journal News are very familiar with the tactics of this fraudulent “news” outlet, and rightfully shun them.
The staff at the Journal News should write articles on the arrests of News Corporation employees during the News International’s hacking and bribery scandal, and push to deport Ruthless Rupert out of the U.S.
News Corporation has enough scandals to fill a New York City telephone book.
Fight these frauds by throwing it back to their faces.
NOTE TO INTERN GRIFF
Why don’t you knock on the door of News Corporation shareholder the Prince of Saudi Arabia, and ask if he would denounce his country’s support of terrorist organizations?
The journalists at the Journal News are very familiar with the tactics of this fraudulent “news” outlet, and rightfully shun them.
The staff at the Journal News should write articles on the arrests of News Corporation employees during the News International’s hacking and bribery scandal, and push to deport Ruthless Rupert out of the U.S.
News Corporation has enough scandals to fill a New York City telephone book.
Fight these frauds by throwing it back to their faces.
NOTE TO INTERN GRIFF
Why don’t you knock on the door of News Corporation shareholder the Prince of Saudi Arabia, and ask if he would denounce his country’s support of terrorist organizations?
Ellen commented
2013-01-08 00:40:08 -0500
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I did see it, Joe, just now, when I was catching up on the day’s comments. I know New York well but I had heard someone else, probably on Fox, refer to the paper as being “upstate” so I figured it was. But I just looked at their website and it says they’re in the “lower Hudson valley.” So I’m guessing you are right. I’ll edit the post.
Peter Lynch commented
2013-01-08 00:23:14 -0500
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The NRA is more powerful than the government – except , of course, when the government is republican, when the NRA is the government.
Joe Marsh commented
2013-01-08 00:23:08 -0500
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Ellen, did you catch my comment a few threads back, where I pointed out that the newspaper is NOT in “upstate” New York.
But what the heck, if the NYT can get by with major geographical copy errors, why not Newshounds?
But what the heck, if the NYT can get by with major geographical copy errors, why not Newshounds?
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2013-01-08 00:17:09 -0500
This may be even worse than "Dr. Tiller the baby killer."
