by Jamie Menutis

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Jamie Menutis

NEW ORLEANS, LA, USA - If you're a viewer of the Fox News Channel or any of its news-related programs, then you might have realized realize that you are one of the fortunate millions being targeted by Fox to become part of its "Political Savvy Club." The club's benefit ... . Its members are able to easily form political viewpoints in 30 seconds without even trying! Voila! C'est facile!

Once a member of the Fox News club, the world can be easily understood. With a little help from its highly intelligent, fair and balanced (their words) and politically astute reporters, you can quickly understand it all. It's simple, an issue is either right or wrong, black or white, you're either with us or you're with the terrorists, etc, etc, etc ... (actually that one came from George W. who is a Platinum-level member).

The Fox News channel does not want its viewers to worry about actually trying to understand the messy facts or background in current events. That would take time and viewers might get bored and start surfing.

Just choose a side, just like a story and stick to it.

It's an instant way to seem interested in world events at any upcoming cocktail party one might attend. Chances are the person one will talk to also watches Fox and a magical connection may be made! You can send Bill O'Reilly the wedding invite later!

In a recent Washington Post article, O'Reilly admits that "controversy and excitement" are the way to get people to watch his show."Liberals see the world in grays ... " In talk format, acccording to O'Reilly, you have to provide a strong point of view. Rightly or wrongly, he believes. And he does just that.

In an article entitled "The Oh Really? Factor" by journalist Peter Hart available at www.fair.org, Mr. Hart chronicles seven recent instances of incorrect facts and statistics that were provided on "The O'Reilly Factor". He also looks at how Mr. O'Reilly spins the truth in stories and how he later spins out of his mistakes.

Though some are obviously hoping for this to be the case, not ALL Americans are opinionated gullible simpletons.

If you live in other parts of the globe, let me be the first to apologize and also let you know that the Fox News Channel, though an American creation, is not an example of American political thinking nor an accurate example of how free press should run in a democracy.

This type of reporting is a fairly new phenomenon.

In the past (and also on other networks) journalists are responsible enough to at least attempt to present varying points of view. Though this is becoming an even rarer event. If you are a guest on Fox News and you have a viewpoint that doesn't fit in with the agenda, be ready to get cut off mid-sentence and to have your views discounted completely. I salute your bravery, nonetheless.

Consider Geraldo Rivera's recent segment entitled "Live from the War Zone" in Somalia. He was apparently dodging bullets in Mogadishu. Yeeeehaaa, he reminded me of a modern day Indiana Jones!

Having worked in Somalia during the 1992-93 famine and US "intervention" I had a natural interest in what was happening. Unfortunately, the reporter was unable to give any actual real information. This made me wonder exactly why the event was being reported. Did Geraldo have to pay these guys anything to get this on film? If so, how much? The dollar does stretch pretty far in Somalia ... Faking a shoot out could probably be bought for under $100.00. That's an excellent deal when compared to Hollywood prices.

In fact, this was a perfect example of Fox News reporting -- all sensation and no substance.

Mr. O'Reilly, the host of the Fox News Channel's "O'Reilly Factor," was recently invited to speak before Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

We must commend Mr. O'Reilly for his courage here. He arrived at the event with his story and he was sticking to it. He even volunteered to answer questions from the audience. He proceeded with his usual interpretation of world and current events and even threw in a bit of humor.

All was going well until one tricky student asked the following,

"Why is it that the majority of higher education institutions, like Harvard, have only a handful of conservative-minded professors?"

No doubt, the question caught Mr. O'Reilly off guard.

Being a conservative, he answered with a rather surprising response. He admitted that being "liberal" was, of course, the better way to be.

What?

Is this Bill O'Reilly speaking?

Well, according to Mr. O'Reilly, Liberals tend to be more profound thinkers, more sensitive and caring of the needs of the world, environment and other humans and they tend to be the ones who formulate ideas, theories, and plans.

Wow!

Is Bill O'Reilly saying (or admitting) that Conservatives can't formulate ideas or theories and don't care about others?

This certainly must have enraged more than just a few Conservatives.

He then clarified his position. Conservatives, he stated, just realize that most theories simply "don't work." Human nature is just the way it is and all the theory and effort at making things different is "just a waste of time."

Oh ...

Once again, back to the "Fox club" thinking. Is Mr. O'Reilly speaking on behalf of all conservative thinkers in the United States? Just wondering.

What is really going on here?

Consider the various polls that are taken by the media. A fairly recent poll on the Fox News Network, following a Gaza area suicide bombing, was entitled something like "Israel-Go to Gaza or go easy "?

That's the choice ... the aggressive military alternative or the gentle military alternative! Are Ariel Sharon and the IDF asking the questions now or are we still watching "fair and balanced" Fox News?

These types of polls are insulting to our intelligence. Most people (those actually involved on both sides of the issue) understand that the situation in the Middle East cannot and will not be resolved through the continued escalation of violence. Who wakes up every morning and crafts these insipid polls?

Here's a recommendation. If you enjoy watching the Fox News channel for purely therapeutic reasons, please continue to do so. But remember that you are watching because it's entertaining, simple to understand and helps you to relax from a stressful day. Fox allows you to doze off with little mental worry and is cheaper than a prescription for sleeping pills.

Further,

Fox News gives you some good and totally biased one-liners for social events.

You might even get to see Geraldo Rivera in one of his John Wayne performances.

The Fox News Channel is the most biased and least analytical news programming in America.

If you are an elected Member of the US government or George W. himself, please be aware that we are on to you.

We can see that you are also watching The Fox News Network and borrowing its lingo.

We realize that Fox News is a proselytizing club for simpletons and we Americans (Conservative, Liberal, Libertarian, Communist, Green party ... . and others) refuse to prescribe to its elementary political explanations.

We humans have brains and the right to vote. Americans deserve to hear opposing and accurate perspectives in the mainstream media, especially during times of war and on issues that affect our security. Media bias due to corporate greed is unacceptable and not providing America with the objective information it needs. Experienced intellectuals from all spectrums within this country should be able to openly debate and share their opinions. Trust that the public will make informed decisions based on truth and not propaganda.

Though the Fox News Channel is relatively new, media bias in the United States is not.

Luckily, the media is not without its' critics. Those people interested in learning more about media bias as it relates to political party, sex, gender and racism should be avid subscribers to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, www.fair.org a national media watchdog that scrutinizes bias within the media.

There are also a number of recent books and articles on the topic. Renown thinkers such as Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman have done much investigation into media bias both on a global basis and within in the United States.

More recent writings by Professor Robert Jensen at UT Austin and Filmmaker/Television Personality Michael Moore highlight media bias in the United States. On the flip side, the best selling novel, Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes how the Media Distort the News by Bernard Goldberg proclaims instances of media bias from the left.

A recent Washington Post Article by Paul Farhi discusses the rise of conservative talk radio in the United States and looks at the reasons behind the lack of liberal voices on radio.

If your City has only one newspaper -- most do -- read it, but don't forget to also read many varying views available on the web and elsewhere.

Nearly every paper has political bias of some sort. Read with the awareness that you often reading someone's political spin or interpretation of events. All humans must think globally and look beyond the given media or government viewpoint.

In the United States, we must always look at the risks and benefits behind every policy that our government adopts.

There are many policies where the benefits are transparent and understood and others where benefits are more individual, corporate and less obvious. Oftentimes, however, many policies end up working against our national and individual interests.

Seek to identify these policies and encourage your political leadership to standup for the mation. Better yet, stand up yourself.

Choose an issue you care about and find the government's take on it. Do you agree? Let your representative know how you feel. The ability to voice your opinion is a privilege and a first amendment right in this bountry. We are fortunate to be so lucky these days.

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JAMIE MENUTIS is a native of New Orleans and the co-author of Where the Natives Feast in New Orleans ... .A Secret Guide to Local Restaurants. Ms. Menutis has worked as a Researcher on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC and with the United Nations in Vienna, Austria and Nairobi, Kenya. She recorded Human rights abuses in Five Countries in West Africa for the US Refugee Resettlement Office and worked as a UN Liaison Officer in Nairobi and an Education program Manager in Somalia. Ms.Menutis has a BA from Webster University in International Studies and an MALS in International Relations from Georgetown University. This is Ms. Menutis's second article for The World's Magazine.