I’ve been hearing suggestions of late that progressive media outlets should ignore the propaganda stories from Fox. This morning I came across an excellent article by Randy Shaw who holds to that view. I disagree. We agree that the Republican party has driven the news cycle by circulating propaganda pieces through their captive media, Fox News and Right wing radio, keeping Democrats on the defensive instead of talking about their positive achievements and agenda.
Here is his introduction:
Since President Obama took office, the Republican Party’s agenda has dominated the public debate. Fox News and right-wing talk radio decide what’s news, and the traditional media either echoes the story or is criticized for not doing so, as occurred when the New York Times Public Editor chastised the paper for inadequately covering right-wing falsehoods about ACORN.
But progressive media has also allowed conservatives to set the terms of the debate. MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann regularly devotes considerable time to rebutting Fox News lies, as do many progressive bloggers. This reactive approach ensures that fake stories like the nonexistent Ground Zero mosque control the news cycle, while stories confirming progressive policy successes get ignored.
In The Activist’s Handbook, I describe the importance of moving pro-actively, rather than fighting battles on opponents’ terms. The party that frames the debate usually wins, but progressives too often get sidetracked by responding to their opponents’ agendas rather than promoting their own.
So while progressives enjoy lampooning Sarah Palin, it’s striking how much time MSNBC and progressive bloggers spend talking about her. She becomes a perfect foil for getting progressives off-track, with she and her right-wing allies getting the last laugh… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Huffington Post>
To be fair, this is not his entire argument, so click through for several examples of what he means.
I agree that progressive media and blogs need to be pro-active, but being proactive without fighting back is a recipe for disaster.
I wish I could find a poll I once studied, but cannot because it’s buried within a mass of push-polls by Fox about Fox. So from memory (this may be a bit off, bit it’s close), about 25% of Americans (who watch TV news) get their TV news exclusively from Fox. About 20% get their TV News from sources that do not include Fox. The remaining 55% get their TV news from from sources including Fox. Therefore, approximately 80% of Americans who watch TV news hear the lies from the GOP Reichsministry of Propaganda. Even some of the remaining 20% are exposed, because the traditional media usually just repeat the lies, sometimes with opposing sound bites, but rarely, if ever, offer sound analysis debunking the lies. When people hear a lie often enough without challenge, they believe it. That’s why, according to Pew, only 34% of Americans believe Obama is a Christian.
Let’s go back to 2004. In one corner we had a Vietnam War hero. In the other we had a draft dodger, who was AWOL for a large part of his National Guard service. Out popped Fox and the swift boat campaign of lies. The Kerry campaign ignored the lies until it was too late. Bush got close enough to steal, with a little help from disenfranchising minorities and rigged voting machines, to steal the election and thousands of us felt the need to apologize to the rest of the world by posting pictures like the one above and to the right. Disaster.
Why does it have to be an either/or choice? Progressive media should debunk the lies, while being proactive about our own aganda.
13 Responses to “Should Progressive Media Ignore Fox Propaganda?”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Tom until the center left and progressive liberals forget the words “Political Correctness” they will always be the reactionary party. I never saw anyone win a street fight from their knees.
Mark, an excellent observation. Well said!
We don’t have a progressive news channel – and that’s our fault. That’s the only way to debunk these lies before they get to the lame MSM.
A progress news channel would cost billions. Sadly, most billionaires dance with the whores they own.
I say we ALL need to debunk falsehoods and call out the liars. All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing. This is why I always make the effort to return as many responses as I can to the epidemic viral right wing forwards. I’m thankful Righties have not figured out what BCC means.
Shhhhh!! 😉
Me too!
If Mr. Shaw can provide one instance – just one – where burying your head in the sand is the best course of action, then I’ll reconsider his suggestion.
Until then, I’m calling it not only irresponsible – but downright dangerous.
As I said, a recipe for disaster. 🙂
Progressives need to take a book out of Fox News’ playbook. Their reports need to be quick and concise so that the dumb American public can easily digest the facts – this is what Fox does and why their propaganda is so effective.
As much as I would like to ignore these stories, I think it would be irresponsible to just let these lies float out there. The so-called “liberal media” also need to do their own bit of reporting instead of reacting to right-wing stories. Where are the reports of conservative voter fraud or corruption, and when those reports do surface, why do they not dominate the news cycle like when Fox or Breitbart have some new garbage to peddle?
Look how fast Fox buries stories unfavorable to their agenda – progressives need to be persistent and keep the conservative media on their toes…
I would prefer keeping them on their asses. 🙂
Hello all:
I just linked to this site via http://www.worldwidehippies.com and I’m going to add it to my favorites.
Type to ya later.
Welcome, Mary! 🙂 Thanks!