You may only read this site if you've purchased Our Kampf from Amazon or Powell's or me
• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show

"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket

"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming

July 24, 2004

This Does Not Mention Fox's Slogan "Fair And Balanced"

I don't think the most important thing on earth is getting the FTC to declare that Fox's slogan "Fair and Balanced" is deceptive advertising.

In fact, I love the "Fair and Balanced" slogan specifically because it's so shamelessly, brazenly false. It's like Fox having the slogan "Not Owned by Rupert Murdoch!" Or Bill O'Reilly starting each of his shows saying:

"Caution: You're about to enter the Not-Hosted-By-Bill-O'Reilly Zone. [pause] Good evening, I'm your host, Bill O'Reilly..."
Posted at July 24, 2004 05:31 PM | TrackBack
Comments

True, but I love the idea of getting free publicity about the fact that it is totally false. If it goes forward, it might actually get a lot of coverage just because CNN and CNBC and the rest might have some fun throwing dung at their 500 lb. gorilla rival.

Oddly enough, there are many people who still do not know what a lie the FOX slogan is. Or understand the totally shameless lies exemplified by

Healthy Forests
Clear Skies
No Child Left Behind
Compassionate Conservatism
Bush's Brain

It's funny how when people know they have a plan or a product that is totally and completely indefensible, they name it so that it sounds like the exact opposite. Out of sheer insecurity, I guess.

Posted by: Ted at July 25, 2004 12:33 AM

But don't you think that after centuries of liberal media bias, a conservative-biased network contributes to making the media as a whole fair and balanced, even if the network in question is not fair and balanced in itself?

No? Okay.

Posted by: Adam Kotsko at July 25, 2004 12:59 PM

Original Working Slogans For Fox News (via Roger Ailes' red powerbook):

More American Than You
Shouting The News At The Top Of Our Lungs
The Traitor-Free Zone
News For Pissed Off White Wingers
Crazy As A Really Crazy Fox
The Aussie-Zionist Connection

Posted by: Dennis Perrin at July 26, 2004 09:56 AM