A new FAIR action alert calls on the Fox News Channel to answer for host Bill O’Reilly’s pattern of ambushing his critics.
O’Reilly (O’Reilly Factor, 3/23/08) recently targeted Think Progress blog editor Amanda Terkel while she was on vacation, sending his producer Jesse Watters to confront Terkel in one of the ambush-style interviews that he specializes in. Terkel had dared to point out that O’Reilly, who was invited to speak at a fundraiser for a foundation for rape survivors, had previously suggested that a “moronic” rape/murder victim had invited assault by her drinking and the way she was dressed.
FAIR’s alert calls on Fox News Executive VP John Moody (john.moody@foxnews.com) to clarify whether the O’Reilly show’s tactics meet Fox‘s ethical standards.
Please share any letters you send to Moody by pasting them in the comments section below.
Who’s the worse POS … the person who makes these comments, or the corporation that pays him an obscene amount of money to make them?
Dear. Mr. Moody:
If snuff movies drew a broad audience and high ratings, would you consider keeping the show on the air? Your blubbering hate mongering O’Reilly does nothing to move our country forward. The guy has proven to be a weird sort when it comes to sex, falafel included. Why do you keep this horses butt on the air? Oh. It’s the money, right?
I would love to hear your reasoning? You call this professional journalism? I would be embarrassed by selling the crap you sell. Find new soap to sell.
Patrick Carano
Tallmadge, Ohio
Dear Executive VP John Moody,
Mr. O’Reilly’s recent ambush of Think Progress’ blog editor Amanda Terkel while she was on vacation appears to violate O’Reilly’s professed standards of journalistic behavior. Could you please clarify whether the O’Reilly show’s tactics meet Fox’s ethical standards? If your network’s standards have been violated, wouldn’t this be a good time to fire the little rat bastard?
Sincerely,
fred
a concerned viewer
Mr. Moody:
Perhaps this is a foolish question. Perhaps the ratings and the ad revenue and the sensationalism far out weigh anything else in you “News” network. But, I persist, and ask you whether the O’Reilly show meets even the ethical standards of your network.
Certainly O’Reilly’s recent “attack” on Amanda Terkel must cross the line of your ethical standards. He had his crew follow her for a few hours, then confront her on vacation. He did not [as he previously used to justify this kind of behavior] first invite her to appear on his show.
And, exactly why was this interrogation newsworthy? Simply because she had questioned the judgement of the Alexa Foundation to invite him to speak at a fundraiser, raising the issue after he had, in the past, slid very close to blaming the victim of rape and murder? How is even a reasonable interview with her newsworthy?
Frankly, I cannot see how this kind of egomanical attacks can be justified by your code of ethics. They certainly cannot be justified by any sense of human decency.
Sincerely yours,
Joe Lite
Dear Mr. Moody:
I was appalled to read and watch video of how one of your weasel-like employees, Jesse Watters, ambushed, badgered and intimidated Amanda Terkel with his seemingly baseless accusations. It was unethical, bully-ish and boorish behavior. What a jerk. Is this the way you people do business? He should be reprimanded for his behavior, at least. This kind of “journalism” is one more reason I would not turn to your network for anything other than entertainment.
Sincerely,
Anne MacPhee
Wellesley, MA
Email to John Moody:
FAIR has requested that we write and ask you if the O’Reilly show’s tactics meets Fox’s ethical standards, but I see this as an oxymoron. That you carry such vitriolic trash as Bill O’Reilly in the first place shows me that you have no ethical standards. That you would encourage views on rape and molestation such as his makes me wonder what kind of respect you have for your wife, daughter or mother.
My views are left and progressive, but I grew up in the era of intelligent and well-researched conservatism such as Mr. Buckley’s, a man with a heart who simply had differing views than I—–what a sad state of Fox “journalism” that you believe O’Reilly is in the same league. Lowest common denominator viewer ratings aside, this is not something you can be proud of.
Dear John Moody:
If you are going to stalk a woman on vacation for ratings, as Bill O’Reilly’s producer did to Amanda Terkel, why go half way? Next time wait until Ms. Terkel is visiting her grandmother. If Fox News Channel is lucky, the grandmother will be in a wheelchair and maybe using a dialysis machine. The O’Reilly goon can knock granny from the wheelchair and yank the dialysis tubes from her arm as he lunges for Ms. Terkel. Won’t that be even better television for the erudites in your audience?
Bill O’Reilly is appealing to the lowest common denominator of human nature. He will not change until his ratings slide. (He is, after all, celebrity obsessed.)
First, stop watching him.
Second, engage anyone who does as to his objectivity (and theirs).
Third, boycott his sponsors which use to be cited at
http://www.billoreilly.com/pg/jsp/general/radiosponsors.jsp
but have been removed (Internet gremlins?)
Every organization has the right to sponsor whomever they choose and we are free to choose whether to buy their products. I guess I’ll have to watch O’Reilly to learn who they are.
Better yet I could do a reverse “record and watch” by fast forwarding through O’Reilly and noting his sponsors.
Dear Mr. Moody:
Stalking a blogger such as Ms. Terkel indicates that News Corp. doesn’t exactly pay any attention as to what is newsworthy – did you ever? O’Reilly is becoming a dangerous menace, as are all of your so-called anchors and commentators. I haven’t watched nor will ever watch Fox News. You need to get rid of these people as they do not speak for moderate Republicans, or, for that matter, any person of reasonable temperament. I realize this e-mail is a waste of time, but it is to be hoped that Rupert Murdoch and the rest of you eventually come to realize that factual news reporting is needed, and not fire-breathing dragons who do not dissent, but cause incitement to the lunatic fringe elements of this country.
KCKenney
John Moody,
I watched the recent ambush style interview of Amanda Terkel on Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News Program. I think the stalking and harassment of Ms. Terkel by O’Reilly’s producer was unethical and appalling. Besides quoting O’Reilly what was Terkel guilty of ? The assertion of a leftist conspiracy attacking O’Reilly is ridiculous. What kind of journalistic standards produce this outrageous behavior? I’d like to know.
Sincerely.
Nick Rudelich