The War Between the White House and Fox

A recent New York Times article described a meeting between White House adviser David Axelrod and Fox News CEO Roger Ailes. Apparently, the Obama administration decided to shun Fox News because they felt “that Fox News had blurred the line between news and anti-Obama advocacy.” The network’s answer was “that Fox’s reporters were fair, if tough, and should be considered separate from the Fox commentators.”

As a student of journalism and (hopefully) soon a TV reporter and a communications intern at the State House Majority office in Denver, Colorado, this is particularly interesting because I know both “sides” in this “war.” Should an administration shut out a whole television news network and basically deny them coverage because they do not like the way or tone of that network? I believe it shouldn’t. Still, it happens. As an international student from Germany, it is surprising to hear it is happening in the country that is so very proud of the free press rights written down in the first amendment of its constitution. I am also surprised to hear this comes from the administration of a Barack Obama, not a George W. Bush.

It seems to me that most people have a preference in media outlets, and that most people understand that some of the big cable networks (e.g. Fox News and CNBC) biased are to a certain extent. Naturally, administrations will always favor the network offering a little more support of their policies. After all, they are trying to get their message across to the voters. While this extent of favoritism is understandable, “White House comments describing Fox as ‘not a news network’” go too far. But where do we draw the line? Is calling on the reporter with the unpleasant questions last in a press conference already going too far or does it start with not calling on that reporter at all?

I know from personal experience how different it can be to work for different media outlets. As an intern for RTL this summer, I had to call politicians, their spokespeople or staff multiple times to arrange interviews. RTL is Europe’s biggest private network, but does not enjoy the best reputation when it comes to news. Some people might even say they tend to sensationalize. Sound familiar? After my internship with RTL, I interned at Radio Bremen, a local affiliate of the ARD, Germany’s biggest public TV network, which enjoys an excellent reputation when it comes to news. It was much easier to arrange interviews for the ARD, be it with politicians or “regular people.” People at the other end of the line also seemed much friendlier as soon as they heard “Radio Bremen TV” instead of “RTL.”

So, network favoritism exists in democratic countries on the other side of the Atlantic, too. But it seems to be a trait you would rather like to associate with a dictatorship than a democracy. While Fox News seems to be biased to me and as a journalism student I agree that some of its content is pushing the boundaries of quality journalism, it is still an important part of the diverse media that make a democracy work. From the view of the communications intern in government, I understand the frustration the White House must feel sometimes, but the Obama administration has gone too far. You simply cannot shut out one specific media outlet completely and at the same time hold yourself to a higher standard and want to a “beacon of light” for democracy in the world, to use the President’s own words.