War in Iraq vs. Anna Nicole Smith

May 25, 2007

There’s ample evidence that Fox News viewers tend to be surprisingly uninformed about current events. We’re starting to get a better sense as to why that is.

What’s more important: Iraq or Anna Nicole Smith? Depends on which network you’re watching.

According to PEJ’s first quarter News Coverage Index, “MSNBC and CNN were much more consumed with the war in Iraq than was Fox.”

In daytime, FNC devoted 6 percent of its time to Iraq, and 17 percent of its time to Anna Nicole. For CNN, the mix was 20 percent Iraq, 5 percent Anna; for MSNBC, the mix was 18 percent Iraq, 10 percent Anna.

“Fox also stood out for its lack of coverage on the firings of the U.S. attorneys, compared with the other channels. The story, which gained real momentum in mid March, consumed a mere 2% of Fox’s total airtime. CNN devoted twice that percent (4%) and MSNBC four times (8%).”

PEJ, of course, is the Project for Excellence in Journalism, which tracks these trends among the cable news networks.

Keep in mind, in February, Fox News personality John Gibson accused journalists of “news-guy snobbery” over their war coverage and attacked them for offering thorough coverage of developments in Iraq. Mocking CNN’s Anderson Cooper, he said, “Oh, ‘There’s a war on! There’s a war on!’ Maybe, just maybe, people are a little weary, Mr. Cooper, of your war coverage, and they’d like a little something else.”

So, according to Fox News, a conflict that claims 3,441 American lives is less newsworthy than the death of a c-list celebrity.

Why does the network even bother to put “news” in its name?

I am proud to admit I wouldn’t recognize Anna if she bit me on my muscular ass.
Never read anything about her.
Never watched any teevee pieces on her.
Never picked up a People magazine (supposing, of course, that she must be in every issue).
All I know is this:
She’s got big boobs…
Right?

I am probably the only person in America that can say the above with total honesty.

Golly…
I feel so like… elite.

Like the name says:

  • “Why does the network even bother to put “news” in its name?”

    Well if they didn’t, it certainly would it be very obvious that that’s what they were trying to pass themselves off as. It’s like when someone who can’t draw tries to draw, say, a duck. After scribbling some unrecognizable shape they realize it doesn’t look anything like a duck, so they draw a little arrow and write “Duck” next to it.

  • One hopes that the Dems agenda includes restructuring the FTC and the FCC. Mergers and the related media consolidation (monopolization) by those such as dear Rupert really needs to be reversed—and soon. Petty little right-wing dictators are still active and everywhere.

  • “In daytime, FNC devoted 6 percent of its time to Iraq, and 17 percent of its time to Anna Nicole. For CNN, the mix was 20 percent Iraq, 5 percent Anna; for MSNBC, the mix was 18 percent Iraq, 10 percent Anna.”

    What about total airtime? Perhaps FOX was just catering to the daytime viewership demos.

  • “Mocking CNN’s Anderson Cooper, he said, “Oh, ‘There’s a war on! There’s a war on!’ Maybe, just maybe, people are a little weary, Mr. Cooper, of your war coverage, and they’d like a little something else.”

    And that, Americans, is exactly why we’re stuck in Iraq. It’s not entertaining enough to do anything about. But, the same pigsty continues to require its support as a test of patriotism. Vermin!

    Maybe the Iraqis and our troops might like a “little something else” too.

  • I’d like to thank Samantha Bee & the writers of TDS for the new term:

    NILF

    p.s. I knew a bit about Anna Nicole, and I’m not embarassed to admit it.

    But I also knew about forged Niger documents, aluminum tubes, and “Winnibagos of Death.”

  • We’re starting to get a better sense as to why that is.

    Umm… was there any doubt as to the why? Like, Duh!

  • Interesting that MSNBC chose to spend 10% of its air time on Anna and 8% on the US attorney purge. Who’s in charge of priorities there?

  • fox news has every right to be a news entity as long as they spell it right…it is ”FAUX NEWS”

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