Protest Fox News at Denver Regional HQ

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DENVER-AREA STUDENTS ORGANIZE PROTEST AT FOX NEWS’ REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS: SATURDAY JUNE 4, 2005, 1PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Allegra Scarano, 303.588.0992

Terry Topping, 720.366.9388

Denver: “We call on the Fox News Corporation to stop misleading the American people. A demonstrable record shows that Americans who rely on the Fox News Channel for news and information are routinely misled and disinformed. Notable instances include the explicit and false linkage of Saddam Hussein to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and a recent graphic that asked viewers ‘Why do Democrats hate this woman?’ in reference to one of President Bush’s judicial nominees<1>,” said Students for Responsible Journalism co-founder Mickol Heck.

According to one report, 80% of Americans who rely on Fox News have at least one major misconception when asked about evidence linking al-Qaeda to Iraq, whether or not weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq, and/or the world’s reaction to the US invasion of Iraq. 67% of Fox viewers believe that the US has found “clear evidence” in Iraq that Saddam Hussein was working closely with al-Qaeda. Moreover, there is a direct correlation between one’s believing such misinformation and general support for the Bush administration and the Iraq war.<2>

“Fox News dogmatically focuses on the ‘positive aspects’ of the war and ignores much of what is actually happening on the ground,” said SRJ co-founder Terry Topping. “This is clearly deceptive, with the line between ‘news’ and ‘commentary’ hopelessly blurred. Weak-minded, unattractive ‘liberal’ commentators are purposefully employed to serve as punching bags for a primetime lineup of telegenic reactionaries.”

Students for Responsible Journalism is calling on students, concerned citizens, journalists, and everyone else interested in reclaiming the term “Fair and Balanced” from Rupert Murdoch and his far-right propaganda machine to converge on the Fox News’ Denver regional headquarters, 100 E. Speer Boulevard, at 1PM on Saturday, June 4th, for a peaceful rally and protest.

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Students for Responsible Journalism is a nonpartisan student group formed to demand journalistic integrity from today’s corporate media.

For more information, quotes or sources, please call Mickol Heck or Terry Topping at 720.366.9388 or Allegra Scarano at 303.588.0992.

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<1> Only on Fox: On-screen graphic asked why "Democrats hate" Bush judicial nominee

http://mediamatters.org/items/200505190006

<2> “Misperceptions, the media and the Iraq War” PIPA, 10/2/2003