21 years ago FOX Noise became a reality. They began by claiming that they were a new cable news network. Within a week we learned that they were a right wing propaganda agency. FOX experienced enormous success within weeks. They pandered to racists and bigots in our nation and offered a venue for the worst of America. Their only goal was ratings, and other television “news” networks noticed.

When Rupert Murdock and Roger Ailes designed FOX, they decided that facts were unimportant; ratings, and therefore profits became the focus of their broadcast. They decided not to have legitimate journalists as anchors; personalities, and, in the case of women, appearances were more important. It took a short time for the new cable network to have the highest ratings in the industry.

Meanwhile, broadcast “news” networks struggled for ratings. ABC, CBS, and NBC searched for answers. Finally they realized that FOX had all of the answers. Sensationalism, half truths, and opinions by both the anchors and guests, with or without substance, sold advertising.

As ratings rose, and revenue surged, on-air personalities experienced an increase in their salaries. Although our nation’s greatest journalists were never paid for their worth as great newsmen and women, today’s entertainers receive millions of dollars in salary. Their purpose is not to deliver the news, it is to attract advertisers.

The best example of how broadcast “news” failed the American people and diminished the reputation of the entire fourth estate is the way they reported the 2016 presidential campaign.

When a loud-mouthed, immoral, boastful, and racist man entered the campaign in June of 2015, all major networks quickly realized that they had an opportunity to increase their ratings.

Donald Trump’s rallies and participation in the Republican candidate “debates” did increase ratings. Issues and even facts were tossed aside as all networks covered Trump’s events 500 percent more frequently than all other candidates combined. After Trump’s personal ‘spin doctor’ Kellyanne Conway joined his campaign in August of 2016, she was a more frequent ‘guest’ on “news” broadcasts than any other man or woman involved in Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Networks ignored the issues discussed at Hillary’s campaigns and instead covered Trump’s angry and racist rants which encouraged violence.

Not a single fake-journalist reported the truth about Trump. They virtually gave him a free pass; holding him to the lowest standard possible. Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow, and others were ‘rolling over in their graves;’ ashamed of what was happening as credible journalism was dying in America.

When Trump calls CNN, the New York Times, or the Washington Post ‘fake news,’ he is attempting to misdirect the fact that he is guilty of every accusation made by multiple stories offered by legitimate news agencies. His effusive praise of FOX, which began the demise of real news, would be an embarrassment to any real American president.

Finally, it is a very sad truth that most Americans receive everything they know from television. When a “news” personality offers viewers only part of the facts, or when he or she allows a guest to lie or tell half-truths without challenging them, this is a great disservice to viewers.

On November 9, 2016, I vowed to never again watch television news; I have kept that promise. I was tired of deception and being forced to listen to paid liars such as Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, or Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Instead, I search the Internet for stories from around the world and seek the truth and the facts behind events which affect my life and those whom I love. If you choose to do the same, you will be far more informed.

Op-ed by James Turnage

Photo courtesy of Ed Schipul

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