I've never liked Fox News. I know I'm going to hear the "That's cause you're a stupid, mask-wearing, Commie $#@&%?!!!" Besides the right-wing slant, there are other factors like that goofy swish sound effect every time they move to a different story. Those transitions were okay on Man from U.N.C.L.E and Batman, but it is stupid on a cable news network.
Eric Boehlert of Media Matters has a interesting column looking at the reasons Fox has taken a hit in the ratings.
"The point is that Fox News years ago made an obvious decision to appeal almost exclusively to Republican viewers. The good news then for Fox News was that it succeeded. The bad news now for Fox News is that it succeeded.
Meaning, when the GOP catches a cold, everybody at Fox News gets sick. As blogger Logan Murphy put it at Crooks and Liars, "Watching FOXNews getting their comeuppance has been fun to watch. They made their bed, now they're having to lie in it and it's not too comfortable."
Boehlert goes on to list some of the things that have hurt Fox News in recent weeks.
- CNN's resurgence as the go-to cable destination for election coverage.
- The incredible shrinking candidacy of Fox News' favored son, Rudy Giuliani.
- The still-standing candidacy of Fox News nemesis and well-funded, anti-war GOP candidate Rep. Ron Paul.
- The Democratic candidates' blanket refusal to debate on Fox News during the primary season.
- Host Bill O'Reilly being so desperate for an interview from a Democratic contender that he had to schlep all the way to New Hampshire, where he shoved an aide to Sen. Barack Obama and then had to be calmed down by Secret Service agents.
- Former Fox News architect and Ailes confidante Dan Cooper posting chapters from his a wildly unflattering tell-all book about his old boss. ("The best thing that ever happened to Roger Ailes was 9/11.")
- The fledgling Fox Business Network, whose anemic ratings are in danger of being surpassed by some large city public access channels.
- Host John Gibson's recent heartless attacks on actor Heath Ledger, just hours after the young actor was found dead.
- Fox News reporter Major Garrett botching his "exclusive" that Paul Begala and James Carville were going to join Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, and then refusing to correct the record.
Now let me add the obsession with "girls gone wild" and "girls gone missing." I've already mentioned their need to bring up every little mistake made by Paris Hilton, Britney Spears or Lindsey Lohan (They really enjoyed Anna Nicole Smith death). If not famous girls, they go for what seems like old wives tales. That girl went to a bar and NEVER CAME HOME. The running theme on Fox News is "girls are slutts."
The question is: Will Fox News change or will they become a flash in the pan?
