Fox News is Biased

The resolution that we are debating today is regarding whether or not Fox News is biased. For the sake of simplicity, I accept my opponent's definition of "biased," but will frame the debate further below to ensure that a debate actually exists. In order to negate, I will ask the voters to consider two things: the standard of "biasedness" within the American media, and the definition of "bias" as used by the Pro in Rd 1. Since Pro has given no offensive arguments in Rd 1, I shall proceed with those two considerations, and address any evidence that Pro sees fit to provide in subsequent rounds. The first consideration is of the American media, or even the international media, as a whole. As the first DDO user to comment on this debate stated: "All news is biased. Case closed." Since the media is fueled by people, it is quite fallible, and subject to inherent bias [1]. It is even susceptible to personal or corporate prejudice than other institutions because the media has a myriad of agendas and goals that it seeks to fulfill, not highest on the list being to give Joe Six-Pack the tried and true news. Therefore, it is key to this debate to consider the base level of bias that exists within the media in general, and then ask ourselves: "Does Fox News simply meet with our expectations of bias, or does it exceed them so much as to warrant separate labeling and censure?" If we don't frame the debate using this rationale, then the resolution is a truism, and is therefore abusive to the Con position. Lest my opponent can prove otherwise with a preponderance of evidence, I would say that it is impossible for Fox to be any worse than any other locally or nationally syndicated news outlet in the world. Moreover, in places where the media is more overtly controlled by the government, it is clear that stations like Fox are far less biased comparatively simply by virtue of the society under which they operate. If my opponent should desire to prove this, I wager that I can bring to the table just as many biased, liberalized news stories from outlets such as CNN. The second consideration must be of the definition of "bias" itself, as provided by my opponent. I quote it here: "Influence in an unfair way; a partiality that prevents objective consideration of an issue or situation." The first portion of the definition is addressed above. It is no more unfair than any other news provider available to the American public. The second portion, however, is also problematic. In order for Fox to be truly and unadulteratedly biased, it must prevent its viewers access to objective consideration of an issue or situation. To label a media outlet as having this much power scapegoats the laziness of the American public on a news station that exists primarily to earn ratings, and robs citizens of their agency and obligation to seek out truth. Fox, nor CNN, nor the Washington Post, nor the New York Times, nor any other media outlet prevents any citizen from objectively assessing the world around them. Surveys across the board show that the American public is well aware of the doubt that they should place in even "the most trusted news source" (a logo that CNN has touted since its inception). A 2005 poll showed that two-thirds of the American public disagreed with the statement that "the news media try to report the news without bias." 42% of those polled strongly disagreed with the statement. [2] A 2008 Pew poll showed drops in perceived credibility across the board, with only 18%-30% of media viewers finding the news credible at various nationally syndicated news outlets (interestingly enough, the same Pew poll showed Fox as having the most politically balanced audience, with 39% of regular viewers identifying as Republican and 33% of regular viewers identifying as Democratic...almost all other US news programs have over 50% regular viewers identifying as liberal). Bottom line: American citizens are clearly aware of the inherent bias in media. They have an obligation as free, first world citizens to correct inherent bias by seeking their information from multiple sources. Hence, the above goes to show that Fox News is not actively preventing anyone from accessing an objective viewpoint. If they were the only news station, or one of a few in a tightly controlled oligarchy of media, then maybe. In conclusion, Fox News, in properly weighed consideration, does not deserve censure or label outside of any other American media entity. [1] http://www.media-awareness.ca... [2] http://www.mrc.org... [3] http://www.mrc.org...