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Media Matters Goes After Fox News’ Front Row Seat Over RGA Donation

by Tommy Christopher | 4:59 pm, August 23rd, 2010

» 36 comments

Perhaps emboldened by recent successes like the Dr. Laura retirement and the scrubbing of Breitbart scribe Dr. Kevin Pezzi, Media Matters is taking a swipe at Fox News’ recently-acquired front row seat in the White House briefing room. In a letter to the White House Correspondents Association board, Media Matters joins several groups in citing News Corp’s recent $1 million donation to the Republican Governors Association as reason to rescind the plum seat.

The WHCA would not comment for this article, but there really is no mechanism to do what Media Matters is asking. Even if there was, there’s certainly no will to set that kind of precedent. The WHCA board would quickly become a body that did nothing but evaluate seating chart complaints from various watchdogs.

News Corp. properties also currently hold several seats in the Brady Briefing Room (WSJ, Dow Jones), so what would become of them? Does their sphere of influence peter out in the 2nd row?

Finally, as we have pointed out before, there’s really no case to be made against the reporters who actually occupy the seat.

Here is the full text of Media Matters’ press release, announcing the letter:

Watchdogs to WHCA: Reconsider Fox News’ front-row seat

Media Matters, Public Campaign, Center for Media and Democracy issue joint letter to WHCA in light of News Corp.’s RGA donation

Washington, DC — Today, following reports that News Corp. donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association, Media Matters for America joined Public Campaign and the Center for Media and Democracy in issuing a letter to the White House Correspondents Association asking them to reconsider its decision to allow Fox News Channel a front row seat in the White House briefing room.

The letter reads:

To Board Members of the White House Correspondents Association:

We are writing today to ask that the White House Correspondents Association reconsider its decision to allow Fox News Channel a front-row seat in the White House briefing room in light of reports that Fox News’ parent company, News Corp., has donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association — a massive ethical lapse that demonstrates Fox News’ inability to function as an objective media institution.

Media outlets are supposed to cover elections and issues to inform voters, not help to elect candidates who espouse certain positions. With so much News Corp. money invested in the election of Republican gubernatorial candidates, can Fox News be expected to disinterestedly cover those races or Republican politics in general?

News Corp.’s generous gift to the RGA, and its subsequent explanation that “News Corporation believes in the power of free markets, and the RGA’s pro-business agenda supports our priorities at this most critical time for our economy,” should demolish any continued claims from Fox News and its enablers that the organization operates objectively and in good faith.

When confronted by Nathan Daschle of the Democratic Governors Association about the need for disclaimers to Fox News’ coverage of gubernatorial races, the network responded: “Nathan’s stunt has run its course. His 15 minutes are up. Time to leave the stage.”

This is not how legitimate news organizations respond to ethics scandals. Stonewalling tactics and snide attacks on critics such as these are more suited to political campaigns.

What message does it send to reward a “news outlet” that ideologically and financially supports the Republican Party with a place of distinction in the White House briefing room? How is the country better served by continuing to disregard Fox News’ unabashed partisan tilt even as it becomes more and more obvious?

This is an issue that transcends mere ideological squabbling. If democracy demands a free press, then it also demands that partisan political outfits not be treated as legitimate news outlets or rewarded for masquerading as such. It also demands that news outlets maintain strict financial separation from the political parties and candidates they’re supposed to cover. The White House Correspondents Association can demonstrate its commitment to preserving the media’s role as independent agents of good governance by rescinding Fox News’ front-row spot in the White House briefing room.

David Donnelly, Public Campaign

Lisa Graves, Center for Media and Democracy (publisher of Sourcewatch.org)

Ari Rabin-Havt, Media Matters for America

Dr. Laura, fox news, Kevin Pezzi, Media Matters, Republican Governors Association, White House Correspondents Association

Constantly

wow the media matters nancy boys took time off from the lotion party to write a press release
JimBob

Oh my gosh FOX ! What next?
Media Matters goes after you, You just as well close
down the Network !
gottosay

there got to be a time when the white house stop catering to those that harm them in hopes for there improvement there is bigger issue here and it is not love for the country—destroy america from within PLEASE GO AFTER FOX REMOVE THEM FROM THE FRONT ROW SEAT IS HURTING ME AND THE NATION…LOTION GOOD FOR THE SKIN IT KEEPS IN TONE WITH THE REAL THING
felixw

As a matter of course, anyone that Media Matters smears goes up in my estimation. And the more intensely they get smeared by Media Matters, the more good they must be doing. It’s just like Pravda under Stalin — you can tell what the true stories are by paying attention to what the propagandists are attacking.
shootfromthehip

This is the best line from the letter,, which I hope resonates as it should.

“If democracy demands a free press, then it also demands that partisan political outfits not be treated as legitimate news outlets or rewarded for masquerading as such.”

TRUTH.
timzank

And who funds “Media Matters” ?
Arkansas Steve

IF I WERE FOX, I might prefer to keep the 2nd row, dead center, seat.

Think about it. If you are attending any concert, speech, or whatever, wouldn’t you prefer to sit in the center seat of the 2nd row instead of sitting in the front row near the extreme left or right side of the auditorium?

If FOX could have moved FORWARD to front row center (which they deserved) that would have been an improvement. Now Major & Wendell have to sit next to someone from “NBC”. Ugh!

OH, regarding Media Matters, who gives a rats ass what those slanted minds think?
chucken

When Harold Ford Jr (former D-TN Rep) was working for MSNBC decided to test the waters about running for senator in New York(real dumb move) MSNBC had him step down from his pundit position.GE MSNBC parent gave 105K to GOP 105K to Democrats.Fox?Palin,Newt,Huckabee,Morris,Rove,Perino,all are shills for the Republican Party and Newscorp shells out 1 million to the RGA?Now you know why the great Keith Olbermann calls them out as a phony news organization all the time?
SpineCrusher

I think FOX should be the only press allowed. They are they only ones who are fair and balanced right? They must be since that’s their slogan.

@Arkansas Steve
What do you mean? It’s time to take it all home man. The GOP is winning! Nobody else’s opinion matters. It’s time for the GOP to take the reigns and turn this country around!

What will be the first thing the GOP will do to make this a better America?
notsofast

MM crying like the little lib babies they are!
notsofast

BTW, MM, thanks to FOX, there is finally a black in the front row of the WW pres corps!

bawaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
http://www.nukethefridge.com MartiniShark

shootfromthehip said:
This is the best line from the letter,, which I hope resonates as it should. “If democracy demands a free press, then it also demands that partisan political outfits not be treated as legitimate news outlets or rewarded for masquerading as such.” TRUTH.

That is utter hilarity. These clubhouse dweebs with a word processor and George Soros’ Black Amex Card are fretting over other outlets possibly being slanted?! By Media Matters’ own standards they should then be disbanded and have to go through some intense testosterone transfusions.
Constantly

fox news: filing libpussies vaginas full of sand since 1996
alamo2

Constantly said:
fox news: filing libpussies vaginas full of sand since 1996

Oh, potty mouth is here again. Constantly is a major reason these websites ought to force participants to use real names. Gordo is right about that one.
Constantly

alamo2 really… fuck off… you are boring me, youre a one trick pony.
Raygun

Yeah this is just stupid.
Constantly

every time alamo queefs he thinks hes laurence of arabia…
greg454

I love Fox News, unlike the rest of the media, it’s FAIR AND BALANCED! They deserve that seat more than that Lebanese bitch Helen Thomas ever did.
shootfromthehip

Charming comment, Greg454.

And if Fox was “Fair&Balance,” as you assert, why is there no show hosted by a Democrat on the entire network?

If Fox was “”Fair&Balanced,” as you assert, why did its parent company just give a million dollars to the Republican Governors Association and ZERO dollars to the the Democratic Governors Association?

Wake up. Fox is GOP propaganda designed to get Republicans elected.

End of story.

Need proof?

Look who is running the show (Roger Ailes, media consultant for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, as well as Rudy Giuliani’s first mayoral campaign in 1989).

Real “fair&balanced” right?
TfT

Really Tommy, wouldn’t it have just been easier to report:

Media Matters goes after Fox News (again)?

This is not news, its SOP.
alamo2

shootfromthehip said:
Charming comment, Greg454. And if Fox was “Fair&Balance,” as you assert, why is there no show hosted by a Democrat on the entire network? If Fox was “”Fair&Balanced,” as you assert, why did its parent company just give a million dollars to the Republican Governors Association and ZERO dollars to the the Democratic Governors Association? Wake up. Fox is GOP propaganda designed to get Republicans elected. End of story. Need proof? Look who is running the show (Roger Ailes, media consultant for Republican presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush, as well as Rudy Giuliani’s first mayoral campaign in 1989). Real “fair&balanced” right?

Excellent comment from shootfromthehip! And he did so without the dirty, childish words used by some of the potty mouths on these sites.
lonestar77

“Media matters goes after…” What was the rest? Sorry, I fell asleep.
Constantly

lonestar77 said:
“Media matters goes after…” What was the rest? Sorry, I fell asleep.

soros penis
http://MsUnderestimated.com MsUnderestimated

shootfromthehip said:
This is the best line from the letter,, which I hope resonates as it should.

“If democracy demands a free press, then it also demands that partisan political outfits not be treated as legitimate news outlets or rewarded for masquerading as such.”

TRUTH.

Then please explain GE’s contributions to NBC/MSNBC.
greg454

Fox News doesn’t need any shows hosted by democrats, every other show on TV is hosted by democrats.
Raygun

^ Proof that Fox News has a phenomenal marketing and advertising team.
Ninja

shootfromthehip said:
Charming comment, Greg454.
And if Fox was “Fair&Balance,” as you assert, why is there no show hosted by a Democrat on the entire network?blockquote>

Hmmm. I guess the two prime hours daily hosted by Shephard Smith don’t count? How about the shows hosted by Geraldo Rivera? Tell me how many voices from the right that NBC, CNN & the others have put together? Can it add up to as many as Fox presents from the left like: Wendell Goler, Juan Williams,Alan Colmes, Bob Beckel, Keith Ablow, Monica Crowley, Marc Lamont Hill, Ellis Henican, Mara Liasson & Mort Kondracke? That is just what I can think of immediately.

Please set me straight and tell me all the NBC voices from the right that they present….
shootfromthehip

Shep Smith is not billed as a Democrat and never explicitly gives the progressive side, True, he does call out the BS from his own network in smarmy ways sometimes, and for that, I am thankful.

Geraldo Rivera only has one show per week and it deals primarily in issues that are not political (like the teenage girl who was murdered in Barbados by Jordan Van Der Sloot etc.)

In contrast, MSNBC has 4 hours every morning HOSTED by a conservative (see “Morning Joe”) and they have noted conservative Pat Buchannan on all day long as a guest on regular news hours + on shows such as “Hardball” to give the conservative viewpoint.
shootfromthehip

I’ll give you Juan Williams, but you are not very current on your other Fox personalities.

Alan Colmes was fired from Hannity years ago and same with Marc Lamont.

And are you FUCKING KIDDING ME?

MONICA CROWLEY a “voice from the left??????????”

She is the biggest right wing cunt on TV.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Be/1751243136 Dave Be

MsUnderestimated said:
Then please explain GE’s contributions to NBC/MSNBC.

You mean by owning 80% of the network? That’s not really a contribution, nor is NBC a partisan political party. Did you, in your incoherent way, mean you’d like someone to account for GE’s political contributions? The GE PAC has donated $1.64 million to Republicans since 1999, compared to $1.44 million to Democrats. The GE PAC is also funded by donations of private citizens that work for GE, so even if the donations weren’t fairly even, it’s not the same situation.

Calling for them to lose their seat for being partisan is silly, though. Everyone who isn’t a total idiot knows that Fox News is strongly Conservative. This donation doesn’t change anything. From the WHCA website:

To qualify for regular MEMBERSHIP, a correspondent must be employed on the editorial staff of a newspaper, magazine, wire service, radio, TV, cable TV, or other broadcast organization or news gathering organization that regularly reports on the White House. His or her principal journalistic assignments must involve White House coverage with such activities as attending briefings or participating in the in-town pool rotation.The applicant must have permanent White House press credentials.

There is no requirement that the broadcast organization or news gathering organization must be objective.
germ

Anyone else see the irony in Tommy Christopher reporting on this?

Mediaite’s own biased Whitehouse Correspondent!
http://www.nukethefridge.com MartiniShark

germ said:
Anyone else see the irony in Tommy Christopher reporting on this? Mediaite’s own biased Whitehouse Correspondent!

True that. not only does he source Media Matters often, has he ever done an expose on the amount of MM content dedicated to left of center people/stories? Would take him about 90 seconds, unless he has a scrolling mouse.
The Real Royal King

Why don’t people simply accept the fact that FOX is allowed to undwrwrite the Republican Party and the Tea Party and still claim to be Fair and Balanced? That FOX can cover virtually no news and still proclaim itself to be the #1 Cable News Channel? That one of the primary owners of NewsCorp, which owns FOX, is allowed to finance terror activities without being subjected to scrutiny and without having to change its “We Report, You Decide” lie? It’s really terribly unfair to hold FOX to the standards it proclaims.

MORE NEWS FOX WON’T COVER:

FOX’S QUEST FOR THOSE FINANCING TERROR,
OUGHT BEGIN WITH A LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
BIN TALAL AND KINGDOM HOLDING COMPANY
ARE OBVIOUS SOURCES OF THIS VILLANY.
Ninja

shootfromthehip said:
Shep Smith is not billed as a Democrat and never explicitly gives the progressive side, True, he does call out the BS from his own network in smarmy ways sometimes, and for that, I am thankful. Geraldo Rivera only has one show per week and it deals primarily in issues that are not political (like the teenage girl who was murdered in Barbados by Jordan Van Der Sloot etc.) In contrast, MSNBC has 4 hours every morning HOSTED by a conservative (see “Morning Joe”) and they have noted conservative Pat Buchannan on all day long as a guest on regular news hours + on shows such as “Hardball” to give the conservative viewpoint.

You really think a show that airs in the middle of the night on MSNBC compares with all of the liberal viewpoints that fox has on their airwaves during prime time shows? Come on man. As for your assesment of the fox personalities I listed…you make it quite obvious you never watch fox which is fine, but you should not comment on something you know nothing about. Yes Colmes did quit his co-host show but he is still on a regular weekly segment as is Marc Lamont Hill and all of the others I listed. Sorry I included Crowley a little slip up on my part. Please feel free to let me know what opposing viewpoints I am missing during primetime NBC and seriously….Pat Buchanan is like Fox having on Cindy Sheehan to represent the entire left.
http://none pyrope

I always thought those seats were reserved for journalists.
http://none pyrope

The Real Royal King said:
FOX’S QUEST FOR THOSE FINANCING TERROR,
OUGHT BEGIN WITH A LOOK IN THE MIRROR.
BIN TALAL AND KINGDOM HOLDING COMPANY
ARE OBVIOUS SOURCES OF THIS VILLANY.

Not only is your poem untrue, it doesn’t even rhyme.