The Media Is The Enemy - Fox's Mike Tobin Reports His Opinion As Fact
Reader comment on item: Other Critics of Israeli Strategy in Gaza
in response to reader comment: They Supported Hamas Before Israel's Counter-Terror Operation

Submitted by Sofasogood (United States), Jan 19, 2009 at 14:39

I saw the same report as you and had a similar response. Although Fox is 1000 times more honest than CNN, and many of their TV personalities try to do their best, Mike Tobin often reports his opinion (usually biased against Israel) as fact. It seems to me that Fox tries to keep him a bit reined in, or he'd be much worse. Reporters sit around in hotel bars and peer pressure influences them. He must get a lot of flak because he works for Fox, and being objective, much less Pro-Israel would amount to total social ostracism. It would take some courage to stand apart.

I completely agree with your analysis of his opinion, and your alternative report is excellent.

But the point is, where did he get that information? What was his source? Did someone take a poll? Baloney. It's either his opinion, or he's reporting the opinion of some Palestinian.

This is journalism without integrity.

Although, given the nature of most Gazans, it would seem he might be right, it's still nothing but opinion.

And what if, in all the calamity, a poll was taken? You are right. Most Gazans and Hamas are the same. But, also, any Gazan who expressed resentment of Hamas would be killed. He could report that. That's a fact.

I hope you will write to Fox every time you hear a sleazy report. Send copies to all of them.

friends@foxnews.com, americas-talking@foxnews.com, special@foxnews.com, studiob@foxnews.com, foxreport@foxnews.com, oreilly@foxnews.com, hannity@foxnews.com, cavuto@foxnews.com, ontherecord@foxnews.com, foxnewsradio@foxnews.com, fncspecials@foxnews.com

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".