Report Finds Fox News Gives Free Publicity to 2012 GOP Candidates--

[rasputin1952]

Source: AP

"..."$40 Million Worth"

"... And a new report from Media Matters says that all that publicity amounts to $40 million dollars worth, for free. The figure they've come up with is gaining mainstream attention. The AP reports exactly how the study was done.

Media Matters looked at the airtime of Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and John Bolton, all paid contributors who frequently give commentary on the network. The fifth was Mike Huckabee, who as host of his own weekend show logs the most time on Fox.

Using current advertising rates, Media Matters calculated that the five had received at least $40 million of free airtime.

<snip>

"Essentially, there is a Fox News primary going on," Ari Rabin-Havt, Media Matters vice president, told the AP. "There never has been a network that has so dominated a political process," he said.

Read more: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/342148/report_finds_fox_news_gives_free_publicity_to_2012_gop_candidates--%2440_million_worth/#paragraph4

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Nice to see a figure attached to this. Publicity is important, and $40 million equivalence is pretty substantial. We all know how FAUX is the GOP megaphone, but the extent is hard to judge w/o a comparison. It's also important to realize this figure does not, include any corporate monetary donations, or donations made under the guise of FAUX.

Amazing that people have to be shown a connection, and even then, it's "aah, so what?" FAUX should come right out and drop "news" and just call themselves what they are, "The Republican/Neo-Con" Network.

[activa8tr]

1. Well, it's not exactly "news", in my mind. It's a fact of life for the last

10 or 15 years.

[glinda]

2. I wonder if there is any legal avenues /issues with this.

[rasputin1952]

4. Nope...but FOX is one of the entities that is against the "Fairness Doctrine"

for somewhat obvious reasons. The last thing they want is competition from the Left.

Consistently calling out the obfuscations of FOX, and Ailes calling NPR "nazi's" and such is starting to hurt them, they would be devastated if the truth known about them, the people who are dedicated to watching FOX are the "true believers", and they want this stuff to be true, even though a lot of them know it's garbage.

[damntexdem]

3. Well, let's see: 2000 candidates, 2002 candidates, 2004 candidates, 2006 candidates ...

2008 candidates, 2010 candidates. But 2012 candidates? Why, I'm shocked!

;-)

[Kolesar]

6. Ohio governor-elect John Kasich* had his own hearth and heartland show on Fox

*pronounced kay'-sick

[DenverDad]

5. In other breaking news

water is wet.

NOW can FOX remove the term "news" from their moniker and do what they do best? Fighting for the corporate takeover of this country and scaring the stupid into supporting it.

[Tx4obama]

7. And TLC has given 8 episodes of free air time to Palin & paid HER for it.

The now owe the Democrats 8 episodes of free air time too, IMO.

[Initech]

8. It's not a news network - it's a publicity arm for the GOP!!!

[Tx4obama]

9. READ THIS !!!!

12 for 2012: The Fox News Primary Begins

With the 2010 midterm elections in the rear view, those of us who love politics are already thinking about 2012. At a certain well-known conservative broadcasting outpost, the first unofficial beauty contest is already under way in the form of a recently launched series called "12 in 2012." Let's call it the "Fox News primary."

The Fox series includes 12 profiles of likely GOP presidential candidates, as well as a 13th segment on several dark horse candidates. The segments feature interviews with potential hopefuls, as well as Bret Baier's narration and commentary by observers such as Fox News contributor Mara Liasson and political scientist Larry Sabato. The series will culminate in an hour-long special.

We're about two-thirds of the way through the series and some trends are apparent. One of them is that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney seems to have come in for harsh treatment. Each candidate profile includes both positive and negative information. But based on the power Fox News will likely have in deciding the 2012 GOP nominee, Team Romney might wonder if this is a harbinger.

Rest of article here: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/11/17/12-for-2012-the-fox-news-primary-begins/