View source for Fox News controversies

{{short description|Bias allegations and other controversies at Fox News}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
[[File:Fox News Channel logo.svg|thumb|The logo of [[Fox News]]]]
[[Fox News]] is an American [[cable television|basic cable]] and [[satellite television]] channel owned by [[Fox Corporation]]. Since its creation by [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Corporation]] in 1996, the channel has been the subject of several controversies and allegations.

Fox News has been described by academics, media figures, political figures, and watchdog groups as being [[media bias|biased]] in favor of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] in its news coverage,<ref name="Collings2010">{{cite book|author=Anthony Collings|title=Capturing the News: Three Decades of Reporting Crisis and Conflict|url=https://archive.org/details/capturingnewsthr00coll_0 |url-access=registration|year=2010|publisher=University of Missouri Press|isbn=978-0-8262-7211-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/capturingnewsthr00coll_0/page/166 166]}}</ref><ref name=croft2006/><ref name=fair2001/><ref name=mediamatters2004/> as perpetuating [[Media bias in the United States#Conservative|conservative bias]],<ref name=Goldberg2007/> and as misleading their audiences in relation to science, notably [[climate change]]<ref name="Theel-2013">{{cite web |last1=Theel |first1=Shauna |last2=Greenberg |first2=Max |last3=Robbins |first3=Denise |date=October 10, 2013 |title=STUDY: Media Sowed Doubt In Coverage Of UN Climate Report |url=https://www.mediamatters.org/washington-post/study-media-sowed-doubt-coverage-un-climate-report |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010151245/http://mediamatters.org/research/2013/10/10/study-media-sowed-doubt-in-coverage-of-un-clima/196387 |archive-date=October 10, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2023 |website=[[Media Matters for America]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=TheGuardian2013 /><ref
name=Nuccitelli2013 /><ref name=ucsusa /> and [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]].<ref name="Peters-2020"/><ref name="Media Matters for America-2020"/><ref name="Connelly-2020"/><ref name="Grynbaum-2020"/>

[[Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network|Fox News was sued]] for defamation in 2021 by voting machine companies [[Dominion Voting Systems]] and [[Smartmatic]], alleging the network's hosts and guests knowingly promoted falsehoods that their voting machines were rigged to prevent [[Donald Trump]]'s reelection in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]]. The companies sought a total of $4.3 billion in damages. Fox News agreed to pay $787.5 million to resolve the suit.

==Allegations of bias{{anchor|Accusations_of_bias}}==
{{See also|Racial bias in criminal news#Fox News|Media bias in the United States|label 1=Fox News racial bias in criminal news}}

===Political figures===
Former [[Democratic National Committee]] chairman [[Howard Dean]] has referred to Fox News as a "right-wing [[propaganda]] machine",<ref>[http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/09/dean_on_preside_3.php Dean On President Clinton Standing Up To Right-Wing Propaganda On Fox News Sunday] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061219003739/https://www.democrats.org/a/2006/09/dean_on_preside_3.php |date=December 19, 2006 }}, The Democratic Party, September 25, 2006</ref> and several [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] politicians have boycotted events hosted or sponsored by the network.<ref name="Fox News Boss Hits Edwards">[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fox-news-boss-hits-edwards-boycott/ Fox News Boss Hits Edwards' Boycott], [[CBS]] News, March 9, 2007</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Stelter |first=Brian |date=2009-10-12 |title=Fox's Volley With Obama Intensifying |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/business/media/12fox.html |access-date=2024-08-23 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2007, several major Democratic presidential candidates ([[Hillary Clinton]], [[John Edwards]], [[Barack Obama]], and [[Bill Richardson]]) boycotted or dropped out of Fox News-sponsored or {{hyphen}}hosted <!-- YES, THAT HYPHEN IS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WORD 'hosted'; PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE IT -->debates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-03-08 |title=Fox News Boss Hits Edwards' Boycott - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fox-news-boss-hits-edwards-boycott/ |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/04/clinton_joins_b.html|title=Clinton Joins Boycott of Fox Debate|author=ABC News|work=ABC News|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=April 24, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080424041850/http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/04/clinton_joins_b.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Edwards Declares War on Fox News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=2934339&page=1 |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> The DNC reaffirmed their boycott in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=2019-03-07 |title=Democratic National Committee rejects Fox News for debates, citing New Yorker article |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/democratic-national-committee-rejects-fox-news-for-debates-citing-new-yorker-article/2019/03/06/a0bdf55c-402e-11e9-922c-64d6b7840b82_story.html |access-date=2024-09-13 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Choi |first=David |title=Democrats blacklisted Fox News for the 2020 presidential primary debates — here's what's going on |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/democrats-ban-fox-news-from-hosting-2020-primary-debates-2019-3 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

Similar accusations were levied against Fox News in response to its decision to exclude [[Ron Paul]] and [[Duncan L. Hunter|Duncan Hunter]] from the January 5, 2008, Republican primary debate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/31/arts/TV-Debate-Limits.php |title=ABC, Fox News cutting low-polling presidential candidates out of debates – International Herald Tribune |date=December 31, 2007 |access-date=January 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117002119/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/31/arts/TV-Debate-Limits.php |archive-date=January 17, 2008 }}</ref> In response, many individuals and organizations petitioned Fox News to reconsider its decision. When Fox News refused to change its position and continued to exclude Paul and Hunter, the [[New Hampshire Republican State Committee|New Hampshire Republican Party]] officially announced it would withdraw as a Fox News partner in the forum.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhgop.org/home/2008/1/5/nh-republican-party-withdraws-as-fox-forum-partner.html |title=NH REPUBLICAN PARTY WITHDRAWS AS FOX FORUM PARTNER |date=January 5, 2008 |access-date=January 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107133937/http://www.nhgop.org/home/2008/1/5/nh-republican-party-withdraws-as-fox-forum-partner.html |archive-date=January 7, 2008}}</ref>

While Fox News has been criticized for its tendency to support the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] and its interests, [[David Frum]], a former speechwriter for [[George W. Bush]], has also said, "Republicans originally thought that Fox worked for us and now we're discovering we work for Fox."<ref>{{cite news |publisher=ABC |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/nightlinedailyline/2010/03/david-frum-on-gop-now-we-work-for-fox.html |date=March 23, 2010 |title=David Frum on GOP: Now We Work for Fox |work=Nightline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204024423/http://blogs.abcnews.com/nightlinedailyline/2010/03/david-frum-on-gop-now-we-work-for-fox.html |archive-date=December 4, 2010 |access-date=December 23, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Media figures===
[[CNN]] personality [[Larry King]] said in a January 17, 2007, interview with the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'': "They're a Republican brand. They're an extension of the Republican Party with some exceptions, [like] [[Greta Van Susteren]]. But I don't begrudge them that. [Fox News CEO] [[Roger Ailes]] is an old friend. They've been nice to me. They've said some very nice things about me. Not [[Bill O'Reilly (commentator)|[Bill] O'Reilly]], but I don't watch him."<ref name=mediabistro2007>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediabistro.com/jobs/landingpage/369599/tv-newser/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070127112811/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/king_says_fox_news_is_a_republican_brand_but_theyve_been_nice_to_me_51252.asp|url-status=dead|title=TVNewser &#124; Jobs in TV News|archive-date=January 27, 2007|website=www.mediabistro.com}}</ref>

Writing for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Republican and conservative columnist [[Jonah Goldberg]] stated: "Look, I think liberals have reasonable gripes with Fox News. It does lean to the right, primarily in its opinion programming but also in its story selection (which is fine by me) and elsewhere. But it's worth remembering that Fox is less a bastion of ideological conservatism and more a populist, [[tabloid journalism|tabloid]]-like network."<ref name=Goldberg2007>{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/03/fox_john_edwards_and_the_two_a.html|title=RealClearPolitics – Articles – Fox, John Edwards and the Two Americas|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224171922/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/03/fox_john_edwards_and_the_two_a.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Then-Fox News host Bill O'Reilly stated in 2004, in the context of the [[Iraq War]], that "Fox does tilt right", but that the network does not "actively campaign or try to help Bush-Cheney."<ref>''The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly'', July 19, 2004</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200407210007|title=O'Reilly: "FOX does tilt right"; said GOP "very uneasy with FOX" – even after Cheney, Ralph Reed touted FOX|work=Media Matters for America|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=March 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329095644/http://mediamatters.org/items/200407210007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Media watchdogs===
Progressive [[Watchdog journalism|media watchdog]] groups such as [[Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting]] (FAIR)<ref name=fair2001>[http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1067 The Most Biased Name in News – Fox News Channel's extraordinary right-wing tilt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116171742/http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1067 |date=November 16, 2012 }}, FAIR, July/August 2001</ref> and [[Media Matters for America]],<ref name=mediamatters2004>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200407140002 33 internal FOX editorial memos reviewed by MMFA reveal FOX News Channel's inner workings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423023930/http://mediamatters.org/items/200407140002 |date=April 23, 2009 }}, Media Matters, July 14, 2004</ref> have argued that Fox News' reporting contains conservative editorializing within news stories. FAIR has asserted that the ratio of conservative to non-conservative guests on Fox News shows strongly favors conservatives. In a study of a nineteen-week period from January 2001 to May 2001 on ''[[Special Report with Brit Hume]]'', the ratio was 25:3, and FAIR obtained similar data from other Fox News shows.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rendall|first1=Steve|title=Fox's Slanted Sources|url=http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/foxs-slanted-sources/|access-date=April 25, 2015|work=Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting|date=July 1, 2001|archive-date=September 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910233850/http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/foxs-slanted-sources/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rendall|first1=Steve|title=Fox News–Wing of the GOP?|url=http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/fox-news-wing-of-the-gop/|access-date=April 25, 2015|work=Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting|date=February 25, 2010|archive-date=January 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114104812/http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/fox-news-wing-of-the-gop/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The conservative watchdog group [[Accuracy in Media]] has claimed that there was a [[conflict of interest]] in Fox News' co-sponsorship of the [[Republican Presidential Debates, 2008|May 15, 2007, Republican presidential debate]], pointing out that candidate [[Rudy Giuliani]]'s law firm had tackled copyright protection and legislation on the purchase of cable television lineups for [[News Corporation]], the then-parent company of Fox News, [[Fox Sports]], [[Foxtel]], [[Fox Footy]], [[National Sports Report|Fox Sports News]], [[Fox Television Studios]], [[Fox Television Stations]], [[Foxstar Productions]], [[20th Television]], [[20th Century Fox Television]], [[20th Century Fox]], [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]], [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] and [[DirecTV]], and suggesting that Fox News might be biased in favor of Giuliani's candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May15/0,4670,D,00.html |title=Giuliani's Firm Lobbied Government – Republican Party – Democratic Party – Political Spectrum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305072234/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May15/0,4670,D,00.html |archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref>

===Response===
Fox News has publicly denied such charges, stating that the reporters in the newsroom provide separate, neutral reporting, while acknowledging their [[opinion journalism|opinion programming]] is not intended to be neutral.<ref name="ft.com">[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/5b77af92-548c-11db-901f-0000779e2340.html Interview transcript: Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes] {{Webarchive|url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/5b77af92-548c-11db-901f-0000779e2340.html |date=December 10, 2022 }}, the [[Financial Times]], October 6, 2006</ref><ref name="Fox News">{{cite news | url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/white-house-escalates-war-of-words-with-fox-news | work=Fox News | title=White House Escalates War of Words With Fox News | date=October 12, 2009 | access-date=November 24, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513140211/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-09-01-fox-news_x.htm | archive-date=May 13, 2011 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==Ownership and management==
Australian-born media mogul [[Rupert Murdoch]] is the chairman of [[Fox Corporation]], the News Corp subsidiary which owns Fox News. He has been a subject of controversy and criticism as a result of his extensive interests in print and broadcast media. In the United States, he is the publisher of the ''[[New York Post]]'' newspaper and the magazine ''[[The Weekly Standard]]''. Accusations against him include the "[[dumbing down]]" of news and introducing "mindless vulgarity" in place of genuine [[journalism]], and having his own outlets produce news that serves his own political and financial agendas. According to the [[BBC News]] website: "To some, he is little less than the devil incarnate, to others, the most progressive mover-and-shaker in the media business."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2162658.stm Rupert Murdoch: Bigger than Kane] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413130748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2162658.stm |date=April 13, 2009 }} by Andrew Walker, [[BBC News]], July 31, 2002</ref>

Then-presidential candidate [[George W. Bush]]'s cousin, [[John Prescott Ellis]], was Fox News' projection team manager during the [[United States elections, 2000|2000 presidential election]]. After speaking numerous times on election night with his cousins George and [[Jeb Bush|Jeb]],<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/12/tv.foxexecutive.ap/ Fox executive spoke five times with cousin Bush on Election Night] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627230023/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/12/12/tv.foxexecutive.ap/ |date=June 27, 2006 }}, [[CNN.com]], December 12, 2000</ref> Ellis, at 2:16 AM, reversed Fox News' call for [[United States presidential election in Florida, 2000|Florida]] as a state won by [[Al Gore]]. Critics allege this was a premature decision, given the impossibly razor-thin margin (officially 537 of 5.9 million votes),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm|title=2000 Presidential General Election Results|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=September 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912083944/http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/2000presgeresults.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> which created the "lasting impression that Bush 'won' the White House – and all the legal wrangling down in Florida is just a case of Democratic 'snippiness'."<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/US_election_race/Story/0,2763,399882,00.html Cousin John's calls tipped election tally] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216204802/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/nov/19/uselections2000.usa2 |date=December 16, 2021 }} by Melinda Wittstock, [[The Guardian]], November 19, 2000</ref> Others, such as researcher [[John R. Lott|John Lott]], have responded that, by this reasoning, Fox News and the other networks were even more premature in initially calling the state for Al Gore, a call made while polls were still open, and which may have depressed voter turnout for Bush<ref>[http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/MooresMyths.html Moore's Myths] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211024124/https://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/MooresMyths.html |date=February 11, 2021 }} by John R. Lott Jr. and Brian Blase, [[New York Post]], July 12, 2004</ref> and actually affected the election, whereas the call for Bush later could not have, as the polls were closed by then.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}

On January 9, 2010, the son-in-law of Rupert Murdoch and the husband of Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth, [[Matthew Freud]], stated he and other members of the media mogul's family are "ashamed and sickened" by the right-leaning tendencies of Fox News in the opening salvo in a bid to displace Roger Ailes, the founder, and CEO of Fox News.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/business/media/10ailes.html|title=A Fox Chief at the Pinnacle of Media and Politics|author=David Carr|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 9, 2010|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-date=December 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218010758/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/business/media/10ailes.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' profile on Ailes, Freud was quoted saying "I am by no means alone within the family or the company in being ashamed and sickened by Roger Ailes' horrendous and sustained disregard of the journalist standards that News Corporation, its founder and every other global media business aspires to. What you heard was a declaration of war. There are, practically speaking, now two factions inside of News Corp: Ailes and Fox News, and the Murdoch children – with Rupert caught between them." Although Murdoch did not respond to the remark directly, a spokesperson for News Corporation put a statement after a ''[[Financial Times]]'' inquiry claiming "Matthew Freud's opinions are his own and in no way reflect the views of Rupert Murdoch, who is proud of Roger Ailes and Fox News."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/da191142-fe25-11de-9340-00144feab49a.html|title=Freud attacks Fox News' Ailes|author=Andrew Edgecliffe|newspaper=[[Financial Times]]|date=January 10, 2010|url-access=subscription|access-date=March 12, 2010|archive-date=November 26, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126110919/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/da191142-fe25-11de-9340-00144feab49a.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tim Arango]] also claims in Murdoch's 2008 biography that he voiced concerns privately to Ailes about his conduct, claiming he was purportedly "embarrassed" by Fox News. Murdoch denied that claim.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/books/23wolff.html|title=Murdoch Takes Issue With New Biography|author=Tim Arango|newspaper=[[New York Times]]|date=October 22, 2008|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-date=July 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730140702/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/books/23wolff.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2010, News Corporation donated $1 million to the [[Republican Governors Association]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB20001424052748703824304575435922310302654|title=News Corp. Gives $1 Million to GOP|work=Wall St Journal|publisher=[[News Corporation]]|date=August 18, 2010|access-date=August 22, 2010|first1=Neil Jr.|last1=King|first2=Louise|last2=Radnofsky}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/19/rupert-murdoch-republican-party|title=Rupert Murdoch's Republicanism|date=August 19, 2010|access-date=August 22, 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|first=Dan|last=Kennedy|archive-date=April 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422050636/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/19/rupert-murdoch-republican-party|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/us/politics/18donate.html?_r=1|title=News Corp. Gives Republicans $1 Million|work=[[New York Times]]|date=August 17, 2010|access-date=August 22, 2010|first1=Eric|last1=Lichtblau|first2=Brian|last2=Stelter|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308171058/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/us/politics/18donate.html?_r=1|url-status=live}}</ref> News Corporation's [[political action committee]] had previously split their contributions to Democrats and Republicans by a margin of 54% to 46%, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/17/AR2010081704338_2.html|title=News Corp. defends $1 million donation to Republican Governors Association|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 18, 2010|access-date=September 20, 2010|first1=Howard|last1=Kurtz|archive-date=September 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910173129/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/17/AR2010081704338_2.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 20, 2018, Fox News contributor Lt. Col. [[Ralph Peters]] left the network. Referencing the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]], Peters stated that Fox News had become a "propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration" and objected to the network helping "[[Vladimir Putin|Putin]]'s agenda by making light of Russian penetration of our elections and the Trump campaign".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Thomsen|first1=Jacqueline|last2=Concha|first2=Joe|date=March 20, 2018|title=Fox News contributor quits, slams network as 'propaganda machine' for Trump|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/379385-fox-news-contributor-quits-slams-network-as-propaganda-machine-for-trump/|access-date=October 7, 2020|work=TheHill|archive-date=October 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011085644/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/379385-fox-news-contributor-quits-slams-network-as-propaganda-machine-for-trump|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 22, 2019, ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]'' interviewed media critic [[Tom Rosenstiel]], who argued Fox News had shifted from a partisan network to a propaganda network in support of [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Illing|first=Sean|date=March 22, 2019|title=How Fox News evolved into a propaganda operation|work=Vox|url=https://www.vox.com/2019/3/22/18275835/fox-news-trump-propaganda-tom-rosenstiel|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=December 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210155704/https://www.vox.com/2019/3/22/18275835/fox-news-trump-propaganda-tom-rosenstiel|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reports, polls, surveys and studies==
{{Further|Media bias}}

===Polls and surveys===
A poll conducted by [[Rasmussen Reports]] during September 2004 found that Fox News was seen as second to [[CBS]] as the most politically biased network in the public view. 37% of respondents thought CBS, in the wake of the [[Killian documents controversy]], was trying to help elect [[United States Senator|Senator]] [[John Kerry]], while 34% of respondents said they believed that Fox News' goal was to "help elect [[George W. Bush|Bush]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Broadcast%20Bias.htm|title=Broadcast Bias|website=rasmussenreports.com|access-date=August 6, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623052653/http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Broadcast%20Bias.htm|archive-date=June 23, 2006}}</ref> However, a poll by [[Public Policy Polling]] in January 2010 found Fox News to be the only U.S. television news network to receive a positive rating by the public for trustworthiness, with results strongly split depending on the political affiliation of the respondents.<ref>[http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_126.pdf Fox Most Trusted Name in News?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315032458/http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_National_126.pdf |date=March 15, 2016 }} Public Policy Polling, 2010.</ref> A survey by the [[Pew Research Center|Pew Research Center for the People and the Press]] showed "a striking rise in the politicization of cable TV news audiences ... This pattern is most apparent with the fast-growing Fox News Channel."<ref>[http://pewresearch.org/assets/files/trends2005-media.pdf Trends 2005, Media] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506230321/http://pewresearch.org/assets/files/trends2005-media.pdf |date=May 6, 2006 }} Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 2005. (PDF file)</ref> Another Pew survey of news consumption found that Fox News has not suffered a decline in credibility with its audience, with one in four (25%) saying they believe all or most of what they see on the network, virtually unchanged since Fox News was first tested in 2000.<ref>[http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=1069 Online Papers Modestly Boost Newspaper Readership] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928194356/http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=1069 |date=September 28, 2006 }} The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 2006.</ref>

According to the results of a 2006 study by the [[Project for Excellence in Journalism]] found that Fox News was rarely cited by 547 surveyed journalists as an outlet taking an ideological stance in its coverage, and most identified as advocating conservative political positions.<ref>{{cite web|title=State of the News Media 2006|url=http://assets.pewresearch.org.s3.amazonaws.com/files/journalism/State-of-the-News-Media-Report-2006-FINAL.pdf|website=Pew Research Center's Journalism Project|access-date=December 13, 2017|date=2006|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224020028/http://assets.pewresearch.org.s3.amazonaws.com/files/journalism/State-of-the-News-Media-Report-2006-FINAL.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2004 survey, 69% of national journalists cited Fox News as being especially conservative in its coverage of news.<ref>{{cite web|title=Survey Findings – Press Going Too Easy on Bush|url=http://www.journalism.org/2004/03/13/survey-findings-press-going-too-easy-on-bush/|website=Pew Research Center's Journalism Project|access-date=December 13, 2017|date=March 13, 2004|archive-date=June 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611171421/https://www.journalism.org/2004/03/13/survey-findings-press-going-too-easy-on-bush/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2019 Pew survey found that Fox News is the fifth most trusted source in America for political and election news, with 43% of all polled voters (compared with 47% of second-place CNN and 34% of ninth-place [[MSNBC]]). However, it is also the least trusted with 40% of all polled voters (compared with 32% of second-place CNN and 26% of fourth-place MSNBC).<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.journalism.org/2020/01/24/democrats-report-much-higher-levels-of-trust-in-a-number-of-news-sources-than-republicans/|title = 1. Democrats report much higher levels of trust in a number of news sources than Republicans|date = January 24, 2020|access-date = February 20, 2020|archive-date = July 30, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210730112033/https://www.journalism.org/2020/01/24/democrats-report-much-higher-levels-of-trust-in-a-number-of-news-sources-than-republicans/|url-status = live}}</ref>

===Studies and reports===
The "2011 State of the News Media" Report by the Pew Center on Excellence in Journalism found that in 2010, Fox News had an average daytime audience of 1.2 million and nighttime viewership of 1.1 million, higher than its cable competitors but down 11% and 9% respectively from 2009. Fox News' cumulative audience (unique viewers who watched at least sixty minutes in an average month) was 41.1 million, coming in second to CNN with 41.7 million. For 2010, CNN's digital network continued to lead Fox News' digital network online; CNN with 35.7 million unique visitors per month, compared to Fox News' 15.5 million. For the first time Fox News outspent its competitors, with a total news investment of $686 million. 72% of this investment went to program costs, reflecting their focus on high-profile hosts. They also increased their revenues 17% over 2009 to $1.5 billion, well ahead of second-place CNN at $1.2 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stateofthemedia.org/2011/overview-2/key-findings|title=» Key Findings|date=March 14, 2011|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810154035/http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2011/overview-2/key-findings/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://stateofthemedia.org/2011/cable-essay/data-page-2|title=» Cable: By the Numbers|date=March 14, 2011|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115054447/http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2011/cable-essay/data-page-2/|archive-date=November 15, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Content analysis studies====
The Project on Excellence in Journalism report in 2006 showed that 68 percent of Fox News cable stories contained personal opinions, as compared to MSNBC at 27 percent and CNN at 4 percent. The "content analysis" portion of their 2005 report also concluded that "Fox was measurably more one-sided than the other networks, and Fox News Channel journalists were more opinionated on the air."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stateofthemedia.org/2005/cable-tv-intro/content-analysis|title=» Content Analysis|date=January 10, 2005|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026055131/http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2005/cable-tv-intro/content-analysis/|archive-date=October 26, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A 2006 [[University of California, Berkeley]], study cited that there was a correlation between the presence of Fox News in cable markets and increases in Republican votes in those markets.<ref>{{citation | author1 = DellaVigna, Stefano | author2 = Ethan Kaplan | title = The Fox News Effect: Media Bias and Voting | version = March 30, 2006 | publisher = University of California, Berkeley | date = March 30, 2006 | url = http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~sdellavi/wp/foxvote06-03-30.pdf#search=%22fox%20news%20studies%22 | format = PDF | access-date = October 9, 2006 | archive-date = March 20, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090320172312/http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~sdellavi/wp/foxvote06-03-30.pdf#search=%22fox%20news%20studies%22 | url-status = live }}</ref> A 2010 study found that with respect to coverage of the wars in [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]] in 2005, "Fox News was much more sympathetic to the [Bush] administration than [[NBC]]."<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Aday|first1=Sean|title=Chasing the Bad News: An Analysis of 2005 Iraq and Afghanistan War Coverage on NBC and Fox News Channel|journal=Journal of Communication|date=March 2010|volume=60|issue=1|pages=144–164|doi=10.1111/j.1460-2466.2009.01472.x}}</ref>

====Studies of reporting bias====
In a 2006 academic content analysis of election news, Rasmussen Reports showed that the 2004 election coverage from Fox News favored George W. Bush significantly more than John Kerry.<ref name=Farnsworth>Stephen Farnsworth and S. Robert Lichter, The Nightly News Nightmare: How Television Portrays Presidential Elections, Second Edition, Rowman & Littlefield, 2006</ref> In a 2010 study of the news coverage of the 2004 political party conventions, Morris and Francia found that Fox News' reporting was more negative toward the [[2004 Democratic National Convention|Democratic convention]] and gave Republicans more opportunity to voice their message than the other networks. The study also found that viewers who relied on Fox News' coverage exhibited attitude change toward both candidates, but particularly a lowering opinion toward Kerry. In contrast the study found that CNN's coverage was more fair and balanced.<ref>{{citation|title=Cable News, Public Opinion, and the 2004 Party Conventions|author1=Jonathan S. Morris|author2=Peter L. Francia|journal=Political Research Quarterly|volume=63|number=4|year=2010|pages=834–849|doi=10.1177/1065912909338463|s2cid=154304435}}</ref>

A study published in November 2005 by Tim Groseclose, a professor of [[political science]] at [[UCLA]], scoring political bias from twenty mainstream news reporting outlets, concluded that all "except Fox News' Special Report and ''[[The Washington Times]]'', received scores to the left of the average member of Congress." In particular, ''Special Report with Brit Hume'' had an [[Americans for Democratic Action]] (ADA) rating that was right of the political center. Groseclose's model used the number of times a host cited a particular [[think tank]] on his or her program and compared it with the number of times a member of [[United States Congress|Congress]] cited a think tank, correlating that with the politician's ADA rating.<ref>[http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6664 Media Bias Is Real, Finds UCLA Political Scientist] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822210548/http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6664 |date=August 22, 2007 }} December 14, 2005</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polisci.ucla.edu/faculty/groseclose/Media.Bias.pdf|title=A Measure of Media Bias |author1=Tim Groseclose |author2=Jeffery Milyo |website=ucla.edu|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128014117/http://www.polisci.ucla.edu/faculty/groseclose/Media.Bias.pdf |archive-date=November 28, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Geoff Nunberg]], a professor of linguistics at UC Berkeley and a National Public Radio ([[NPR]]) commentator, criticized the methodology of Groseclose's study and labeled its conclusions invalid.<ref>[[Geoff Nunberg]], [http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001169.html "'Liberal Bias', Noch Einmal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903201334/http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/%7Emyl/languagelog/archives/001169.html |date=September 3, 2021 }}. ''[[Language Log]]'', July 5, 2004</ref> He pointed to what he saw as Groseclose's reliance on interpretations of facts and data that were taken from sources that were not, in his view, credible. Groseclose and Professor [[Jeffrey Milyo|Jeff Milyo]] rebutted, saying Nunberg "shows a gross misunderstanding [of] our statistical method and the actual assumptions upon which it relies."<ref>[[Mark Liberman]], [http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001301.html "Groseclose and Milyo respond"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124214656/http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/%7Emyl/languagelog/archives/001301.html |date=November 24, 2021 }}. ''[[Language Log]]'', August 2, 2004</ref> Mark Liberman (a professor of computer science and the director of Linguistic Data Consortium at the [[University of Pennsylvania]]), who helped post Groseclose and Milyo's rebuttal, later posted how the statistical methods used to calculate this bias pose faults.<ref name="Multiplying ideologies">{{cite web| last = Liberman| first = Mark| title = Multiplying ideologies considered harmful| publisher = Language Log| date = December 23, 2005| url = http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002724.html| access-date = November 6, 2006| archive-date = November 24, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211124214700/http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002724.html| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last = Liberman| first = Mark| title = Linguistics, politics, mathematics| publisher = Language Log| date = December 22, 2005| url = http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002723.html| access-date = November 6, 2006| archive-date = September 10, 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060910105642/http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/002723.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Liberman concluded "that many if not most of the complaints directed against G&M are motivated in part by ideological disagreement — just as much of the praise for their work is motivated by ideological agreement. It would be nice if there were a less politically fraught body of data on which such modeling exercises could be explored."<ref name="Multiplying ideologies" />

A December 2007 study by [[Samuel Robert Lichter|Samuel R. Lichter]], of the self-described [[Nonpartisanism|nonpartisan]] [[Center for Media and Public Affairs]], found that Fox News' evaluations of all of the [[Democratic Party presidential candidates, 2008|2008 Democratic presidential candidates]] combined was 51% positive and 49% negative, while the network's evaluations of the [[Republican Party presidential candidates, 2008|Republican presidential candidates]] 51% negative and 49% positive. The study, however, did find that Fox News' coverage was less negative toward Republican candidates than the coverage of broadcast networks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Election Study Finds Media Hit Hillary Hardest (Major finding: Who's Fair and Balanced?)|url=http://www.cmpa.com/releases/07_12_21_Election_Study.pdf|date=December 21, 2007|access-date=August 6, 2017|url-status=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405140257/http://www.cmpa.com/releases/07_12_21_Election_Study.pdf|archive-date=April 5, 2013}}</ref>

A study by Media Matters for America found that between August 1 and October 1, 2013, on Fox News, "69 percent of guests and 75 percent of mentions cast doubt on [[Climatology|climate science]]," compared to "[half] of those quoted in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' ... about 29 percent in the ''Los Angeles Times'', about 17 percent in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' and about 12 percent in [[Bloomberg News]]."<ref name="Theel-2013" /><ref name=TheGuardian2013>{{cite news|last=Nuccitelli|first=Dana|title=Conservative media outlets found guilty of biased global warming coverage|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2013/oct/11/climate-change-political-media-ipcc-coverage|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 11, 2013|access-date=December 11, 2016|archive-date=September 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913020117/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2013/oct/11/climate-change-political-media-ipcc-coverage|url-status=live}}</ref> Fox News' argument against criticism that it disproportionately represents the views of [[Climate change denial|climate change deniers]] was to itself deny the factual figures which indicate that 97% of climate science experts worldwide hold the consensus view of [[Global warming controversy|human-caused global warming]].<ref name=Nuccitelli2013>{{cite news|last=Nuccitelli|first=Dana|title=Fox News defends global warming false balance by denying the 97% consensus|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2013/oct/23/climate-change-climate-change-scepticism|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 23, 2013|access-date=December 11, 2016|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110012721/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2013/oct/23/climate-change-climate-change-scepticism|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2012 report by the [[Union of Concerned Scientists]] found that, from February 2012 to July 2012, 93% of global warming coverage by Fox News was misleading. The report put the figure significantly lower—81 percent—for ''The Wall Street Journal''. The misleading statements identified in the report included "dismissals of human-caused climate change, disparaging comments about individual scientists, rejections of climate science as a body of knowledge, and [[Cherry picking (fallacy)|cherry picking]] of data."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Is-News-Corp-Failing-Science.pdf | title=Is News Corp. Failing Science? | publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists | date=September 2012 | access-date=March 22, 2014 | author=Huertas & Adler | pages=7 | archive-date=June 13, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613172455/https://ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/Is-News-Corp-Failing-Science.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/primetime-fox-news-and-wsj-editoria-12-09-21/ | title=Prime Time Fox News and WSJ Editorial Climate Coverage Mostly Wrong | work=[[Scientific American]] | date=September 21, 2012 | access-date=March 28, 2014 | author=Mirsky, Steve | archive-date=November 4, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104132233/https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/primetime-fox-news-and-wsj-editoria-12-09-21/ | url-status=live }}</ref> A similar 2013 report, also conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists, found that 28% of global warming coverage by Fox News was accurate, a nine-fold increase from the aforementioned report but still significantly behind CNN and MSNBC respectively (70% and 92%).<ref name=ucsusa>{{cite web|url=https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/solutions/fight-misinformation/cable-news-coverage-climate-change-science.html|title=Science or Spin?: Assessing the Accuracy of Cable News Coverage of Climate Science (2014)|website=Union of Concerned Scientists|language=en|access-date=May 29, 2019|archive-date=October 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007192054/https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/solutions/fight-misinformation/cable-news-coverage-climate-change-science.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Croft concluded that Fox News coverage glorified the Iraq War and its reporting framed the discussion in such a way as to drown out critics.<ref name=croft2006/> He quotes [[Christiane Amanpour]] as stating that there was a culture of self-censorship created by "the administration and its foot soldiers at Fox News".<ref name=croft2006>{{cite book | author = Croft, Stuart | title = Culture, Crisis and America's War on Terror | publisher = Cambridge University Press | year = 2006 | isbn = 9780521687331 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/culturecrisisame0000crof/page/190 190–192] | url = https://archive.org/details/culturecrisisame0000crof/page/190 }}</ref>

A May 2017 study conducted by [[Harvard University]]'s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy examined coverage of President Trump's [[First 100 days of the first Donald Trump presidency|first 100 days]] in office by all major mainstream media outlets and broadcast networks including CNN, [[HLN (TV network)|HLN]], Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and CBS.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Cox | first1=Jeff | title=Trump Press Coverage 'Sets New Standard' for Negativity: Study | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/19/trump-press-coverage-sets-new-standard-for-negativity-study.html | date=May 19, 2017 | publisher=[[CNBC]] | access-date=May 24, 2017 | archive-date=December 30, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230114428/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/19/trump-press-coverage-sets-new-standard-for-negativity-study.html | url-status=live }}</ref> It found that, altogether, Trump received 80% negative coverage from the media, and that he received the least negative coverage on Fox News – 52% negative and 48% positive.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Richardson | first1=Valerie | title=Harvard Agrees: Trump Press Coverage Sets 'New Standard for Negativity' | url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/19/study-trump-press-coverage-new-standard-negativity/ | date=May 19, 2017 | newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] | access-date=May 24, 2017 | archive-date=December 30, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230050249/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/may/19/study-trump-press-coverage-new-standard-negativity/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

====Tests of knowledge of Fox News viewers====
A study by the [[Program on International Policy Attitudes]] (PIPA) at the [[University of Maryland]] School of Public Affairs, as published in the Winter 03–04 issue of the ''[[Political Science Quarterly]]'',<ref name="Study1">{{cite journal |last1=Kull |first1=Steven |last2=Ramsay |first2=Clay |last3=Lewis |first3=Evan |year=2003 |title=Misperceptions, the Media, and the Iraq War |journal=Political Science Quarterly |volume=118 |issue=4 |pages=569–598 |publisher=The Academy of Political Science |doi=10.1002/j.1538-165x.2003.tb00406.x |url=http://www.psqonline.org/99_article.php3?byear=2003&bmonth=winter&a=02free |access-date=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727191435/http://www.psqonline.org/99_article.php3?byear=2003&bmonth=winter&a=02free |archive-date=July 27, 2011  |hdl=2027/uc1.31822024771362 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> reported that poll-based findings<ref>[http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Iraq/IraqMedia_Oct03/IraqMedia_Oct03_rpt.pdf PIPA / Knowledge Networks Poll] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210232719/http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/Iraq/IraqMedia_Oct03/IraqMedia_Oct03_rpt.pdf |date=February 10, 2006 }} Misperceptions, the Media, and the Iraq War. [[Program on International Policy Attitudes]] October 2003</ref> indicated that viewers of Fox News Channel, the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] broadcast network and local Fox affiliates, including in [[New York City]] and [[Los Angeles]], were more likely than viewers of other news networks to hold three misperceptions:<ref name="Study1" />
* 67% of Fox News Channel viewers erroneously believed that the "U.S. has found clear evidence in Iraq that [[Saddam Hussein]] [[Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda|was working closely with the al Qaeda terrorist organization]]" (compared with 56% for CBS, 49% for NBC, 48% for CNN, 45% for ABC, 16% for NPR/[[PBS]]).
* The erroneous belief that "The U.S. has found [[Iraq and weapons of mass destruction|Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq]]" was held by 33% of Fox News Channel viewers and only 23% of CBS viewers, 19% for ABC, 20% for NBC, 20% for CNN and 11% for NPR/PBS.
* 35% of Fox News Channel viewers erroneously believed that "the majority of people [in the world] [[Views on the 2003 invasion of Iraq|favor the U.S. having gone to war]]" with Iraq (compared with 28% for CBS, 27% for ABC, 24% for CNN/HLN, 20% for NBC, 5% for NPR/PBS).

In response, conservative columnist [[Ann Coulter]], a frequent guest on Fox News, characterized the PIPA findings as "misperceptions of pointless liberal factoids" and called it a "hoax poll".<ref>[http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/anncoulter/2004/05/13/11680.html Crazy-Like-A-Fox News Viewer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051113000101/http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/anncoulter/2004/05/13/11680.html |date=November 13, 2005 }} by [[Ann Coulter]], ''Townhall'', May 13, 2004</ref> Bill O'Reilly called the study "absolute crap".<ref>''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'', February 22, 2006</ref> Roger Ailes referred to the study as "an old [[push poll]]".<ref>[http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005157 Elite, Arrogant, Condescending] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327194503/http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005157 |date=March 27, 2009 }} by [[Roger Ailes]], ''OpinionJournal.com'', June 2, 2004</ref> [[James Taranto]], editor of OpinionJournal.com, ''The Wall Street Journal''{{'}}s online editorial page, called the poll "pure propaganda".<ref>[http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110004127#fox Best of the Web Today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015191209/http://opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110004127#fox |date=October 15, 2007 }} [[James Taranto]]. OpinionJournal, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. October 7, 2003.</ref> PIPA issued a clarification on October 17, 2003, stating that, "The findings were not meant to and cannot be used as a basis for making broad judgments about the general accuracy of the reporting of various networks or the general accuracy of the beliefs of those who get their news from those networks. Only a substantially more comprehensive study could undertake such broad research questions," and stated "that the correlation between viewing Fox News and holding misperceptions does not prove that Fox News' presentation caused the misperceptions", inferring that [[Correlation does not imply causation|causality is not necessary to prove correlation]].<ref>[http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110005065 Best of the Web Today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117154317/http://opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110005065 |date=November 17, 2007 }} [[James Taranto]]. OpinionJournal, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. May 11, 2004.</ref><ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2001757992_kay06.html "Study shows TV news viewers have misperceptions about Iraq war"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015200424/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2001757992_kay06.html |date=October 15, 2007 }}. Kay McFadden. ''The Seattle Times''. October 20, 2003.</ref>

PIPA also conducted a statistical study on purported misinformation evidenced by registered voters before the [[United States elections, 2010|2010 midterm election]]. According to the results of the study, "... false or misleading information is widespread in the general information environment ..."<ref name="Study2_P2">{{cite journal |author=Clay Ramsay |author2=Steven Kull |author3=Evan Lewis |author4=Stefan Subias |year=2010 |title=Misinformation and the 2010 Election: A Study of the US Electorate |website=WorldPublicOpinion.org |page=2 |publisher=The Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University Of Maryland |url=http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907053911/http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf |archive-date=September 7, 2011  }}</ref> but viewers of Fox News were more likely to be misinformed on specific issues when compared to viewers of comparable media,<ref name="Study2_P20">{{cite journal |author=Clay Ramsay |author2=Steven Kull |author3=Evan Lewis |author4=Stefan Subias |year=2010 |title=Misinformation and the 2010 Election: A Study of the US Electorate |website=WorldPublicOpinion.org |page=20 |publisher=The Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University Of Maryland |url=http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907053911/http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf |archive-date=September 7, 2011  }}</ref> that this likelihood also increased proportionally to the frequency of viewing Fox News<ref name="Study2_P20" /> and that these findings showed [[statistical significance]].<ref name="Study2_P4">{{cite journal |author=Clay Ramsay |author2=Steven Kull |author3=Evan Lewis |author4=Stefan Subias |year=2010 |title=Misinformation and the 2010 Election: A Study of the US Electorate |website=WorldPublicOpinion.org |page=4 |publisher=The Program on International Policy Attitudes at the University Of Maryland |url=http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf |access-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907053911/http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/dec10/Misinformation_Dec10_rpt.pdf |archive-date=September 7, 2011  }}</ref>

A 2007 Pew Research Center poll of general political knowledge ("Who is the governor of your state?", "Who is the President of Russia?") indicated that Fox News viewers scored 35% in the high-knowledge area, the same as the national average. This was not significantly different than local news, network news, and morning news, and was slightly lower than CNN (41%). Viewers of ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'' (51%) scored in the high category along with [[Rush Limbaugh]] (50%), NPR (51%), major newspapers (54%), ''[[Newshour with Jim Lehrer]]'' (53%) ''[[The Daily Show]]'' (54%) and ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' (54%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people-press.org/report/319/public-knowledge-of-current-affairs-little-changed-by-news-and-information-revolutions|title=Public Knowledge of Current Affairs Little Changed by News and Information Revolutions|date=April 15, 2007|work=Pew Research Center for the People and the Press|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=March 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310052143/http://people-press.org/report/319/public-knowledge-of-current-affairs-little-changed-by-news-and-information-revolutions|url-status=live}}</ref>

A 2010 [[Stanford University]] survey found "more exposure to Fox News was associated with more rejection of many mainstream scientists' claims about global warming, [and] with [[Antiscience|less trust in scientists]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://woods.stanford.edu/docs/surveys/Global-Warming-Fox-News.pdf|title=Public Opinion Research|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904002012/http://woods.stanford.edu/docs/surveys/Global-Warming-Fox-News.pdf|archive-date=September 4, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> A 2011 [[Kaiser Family Foundation]] survey on U.S. misperceptions about [[Health care reform in the United States|health care reform]] found that Fox News viewers had a poorer understanding of the new laws and were more likely to believe in falsehoods about the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|Affordable Care Act]], such as cuts to [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] benefits and the [[death panel myth]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8148.pdf|title=Pop Quiz: Assessing Americans' Familiarity With the Health Care Law – The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation|date=February 2011|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116055124/http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/8148.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2010 [[Ohio State University]] study of public misperceptions about the so-called "Ground Zero Mosque", officially named [[Park51]], found that viewers who relied on Fox News were 66% more likely to believe incorrect rumors than those with a "low reliance" on Fox News.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comm.ohio-state.edu/kgarrett/MediaMosqueRumors.pdf|title=School of Communication|access-date=May 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205641/http://www.comm.ohio-state.edu/kgarrett/MediaMosqueRumors.pdf|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2011, a study by [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] found that Fox News viewers living in [[New Jersey]] were less well-informed than people who did not watch any news at all. The study employed objective questions, such as whether [[Hosni Mubarak]] was still in power in Egypt.<ref>{{cite web | title = Some News Leaves People Knowing Less | publisher = [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] | date = November 21, 2011 | url = http://publicmind.fdu.edu/2011/knowless/ | access-date = November 22, 2011 | archive-date = November 4, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211104162518/http://publicmind.fdu.edu/2011/knowless/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>Maggie Astor: [http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/254216/20111122/fox-msnbc-viewers-largely-misinformed-fairleigh-dickinson.htm "Fox and MSNBC Viewers Largely Misinformed: Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309050600/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/254216/20111122/fox-msnbc-viewers-largely-misinformed-fairleigh-dickinson.htm |date=March 9, 2012 }}. International Business Times, November 22, 2011</ref><ref>Michael A. Memoli: [https://latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-fox-news-poll-20111121,0,3985116.story "Fox News viewers less informed about current events, poll shows"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204035420/http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-fox-news-poll-20111121,0,3985116.story |date=December 4, 2013 }}. ''Los Angeles Times'', November 21, 2011</ref>

==Internal memos and email{{anchor|Internal_memos_and_emails}}==
===Daily memos===
Fox News executives exert a degree of editorial control over the content of the network's daily reporting. The channel's vice president of news, [[John Moody (journalist)|John Moody]], controls content by writing memos to the news department staff. In the documentary ''[[Outfoxed]]'', former Fox News employees talk about the inner workings of the channel. In memos from the documentary, Moody instructs employees on how to approach particular stories and on what stories to approach. Critics of Fox News claim that the instructions on many of the memos indicate a conservative bias. ''The Washington Post'' quoted [[Larry C. Johnson]], a former Fox News contributor, describing the Moody memos as "talking points instructing us what the themes are supposed to be, and God help you if you stray."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200407140002|title=33 internal FOX editorial memos reviewed by MMFA reveal FOX News Channel's inner workings|website=[[Media Matters for America]]|access-date=January 25, 2007|archive-date=April 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423023930/http://mediamatters.org/items/200407140002|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Photocopied memos from Moody instructed Fox News' on-air anchors and reporters to use positive language when discussing [[Anti-abortion movements|anti-abortion]] viewpoints, the Iraq War, and [[tax cut]]s, as well as requesting that the [[Abu Ghraib prison|Abu Ghraib]] prisoner abuse scandal be put in context with the other violence in the area.<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200407140002 33 internal FOX editorial memos reviewed by MMFA reveal FOX News Channel's inner workings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423023930/http://mediamatters.org/items/200407140002 |date=April 23, 2009 }}, [[Media Matters for America]], July 14, 2004</ref> Such memos were reproduced for the film ''Outfoxed'', which included Moody quotes such as, "The soldiers [seen on Fox News in Iraq] in the foreground should be identified as '[[sharpshooters]],' not '[[sniper]]s,' which carries a negative [[connotation]]."<ref>@2:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V1XIx9l0HU "Outfoxed Live with Robert Greenwald: "FOX News Memos" with Cenk Uygur"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117160004/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V1XIx9l0HU |date=November 17, 2020 }}</ref>

Two days after the [[United States elections, 2006|2006 midterm election]], ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' reported that its news department had acquired a copy of a leaked internal memo from Moody that recommended the following: "... [L]et's be on the lookout for any statements from the Iraqi insurgents, who must be thrilled at the prospect of a Dem-controlled congress." Within hours of the memo's publication, Fox News anchor [[Martha McCallum]] went on-air on the program ''[[The Live Desk (U.S. TV program)|The Live Desk]]'' with reports of Iraqi insurgents cheering the firing of [[Donald Rumsfeld]] and the results of the election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/14/fox-news-internal-memo-_n_34128.html|title=FOX NEWS INTERNAL MEMO: "Be On The Lookout For Any Statements From The Iraqi Insurgents ... Thrilled At The Prospect Of A Dem Controlled Congress"...|work=The Huffington Post|date=November 14, 2006|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=April 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422130156/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/14/fox-news-internal-memo-_n_34128.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15750535 Has Fox News gone too far?], NBC News interview about the leaked internal Fox memo</ref>

===Bill Sammon email===
In December 2010, Media Matters for America released a leaked October 2009 email between Fox News Washington managing editor [[Bill Sammon]] and the network's senior producers, which seemed to issue directives slanting network's coverage of President Barack Obama's [[health care reform]] efforts. In the email, Sammon instructed producers to not use the phrase "[[public option]]" when discussing a key measure of President Obama's reform bill, and instead use the terms "government option" or "government-run health insurance[,]" noting negative connotations; Sammon also suggested that the qualifier "so-called" be used before any proper mention of the public option. Another email by Fox News senior vice president [[Michael Clemente]] accepted Sammon's conditions. Critics claimed that Sammon took advice from Republican pollster [[Frank Luntz]], who appeared on ''[[Hannity]]'' shortly before the email was written and made the same suggestions in identifying the public option. Critics also noticed that reporters and panelists on ''Special Report with Bret Baier'' used the term "public option" before the email was sent, but used the term "government option" immediately afterward. Sammon, in an interview with [[Howard Kurtz]] for ''[[The Daily Beast]]'', defended the directive and denied he was trying to skew Fox News' coverage.<ref>Jack Mirkinson: [https://huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/09/fox-news-public-option-gop_n_794297.html ''Fox News Boss Ordered Staffers To Echo GOP Talking Point About Public Option In Health Care Coverage''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070917/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/09/fox-news-public-option-gop_n_794297.html |date=March 23, 2019 }}. Website of ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' on December 9, 2010</ref>

Later that month, Media Matters released an email by Sammon from December 2009, in which he pressured Fox News reporters to assert that "theories are based upon data that critics have called into question" in light of the [[Climatic Research Unit email controversy]].<ref>Paul Farhi: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/15/AR2010121503181.html ''Liberal media watchdog: Fox News e-mail shows network's slant on climate change''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908164839/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/15/AR2010121503181.html |date=September 8, 2019 }}. Website of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' on December 15, 2010.</ref><ref>Suzanne Goldenberg: [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/15/fox-news-climate-change-email ''Fox News chief enforced climate change scepticism – leaked email''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106174415/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/15/fox-news-climate-change-email |date=January 6, 2017 }} at guardian.co.uk on December 15, 2010</ref>

==English Wikipedia edits==
In August 2007, a new utility, [[WikiScanner]], revealed that [[English Wikipedia]] articles relating to Fox News had been edited from [[IP address]]es owned by Fox News,<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/aug/15/wikipedia.corporateaccountability|title=Companies and party aides cast censorious eye over Wikipedia|last=Johnson|first=Bobbie|date=August 15, 2007|work=[[The Guardian]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160106162303/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/aug/15/wikipedia.corporateaccountability|archive-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref> though it was not possible to determine exactly who the editors were. The tool showed that the article for [[Shepard Smith]] was edited from Fox News computers, removing mention of an arrest.<ref>{{cite magazine
 |last  = Claburn
 |first  = Thomas
 |date  = August 14, 2007
|title  = Wikipedia Spin Doctors Revealed
 |url  = http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201800211
 |magazine  = [[InformationWeek]]
 |access-date = August 15, 2007
|archive-date = February 9, 2008
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080209002736/http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201800211
 |url-status = dead
}}</ref>

==Photo manipulation==
===2008===
[[Image:FNCControversy Poodle.png|thumb|240px|Fox News Channel image of Steinberg superimposed on a poodle, and Reddicliffe superimposed on the man holding the poodle's leash|left]]
[[Image:FNC Controversy Steinberg.png|thumb|240px|'''Left:''' Original photo of [[Jacques Steinberg]]. '''Right:''' Photo aired on Fox News Channel.|right]]
[[Image:FNC Controversy Reddicliffe.png|thumb|240px|'''Left:''' Original photo of [[Steven Reddicliffe]]. '''Right:''' Photo aired on Fox News Channel.|right]]
On the July 2, 2008, edition of ''[[Fox & Friends]]'', cohosts [[Brian Kilmeade]] and [[Steve Doocy]] aired photos of ''New York Times'' reporter [[Jacques Steinberg]] and ''Times'' television editor [[Steven Reddicliffe]] that appeared to have been crudely doctored and photoshopped, apparently in order to portray the journalists unflatteringly. This occurred during a discussion of a June 28 piece in the ''Times'', which pointed out what Steinberg called "ominous trends" in Fox News' ratings.<ref name="Strupp and Mitchell">Strupp and Mitchell{{full citation needed|date=January 2014}}</ref>

According to Media Matters, the photos depict Steinberg with yellowed teeth, "his nose and chin widened, and his ears made to protrude further." The other image, of Reddicliffe, had similar yellow teeth, as well as "dark circles ... under his eyes, and his hairline has been moved back."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020002?f=h_top|title=KHOW's Silverman uncritically allowed Tancredo to repeat misleading statements on immigrant assimilation|work=Media Matters for America|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=February 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222094649/http://mediamatters.org/items/200807020002?f=h_top|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the discussion, Doocy called the ''Times'' report, written by Steinberg, a "hit piece" ordered up by Reddicliffe.<ref name="Strupp and Mitchell"/> The broadcast then showed an image of Steinberg's face superimposed over a picture of a [[poodle]], while Reddicliffe's face was superimposed over the man holding the poodle's leash.<ref name="Strupp and Mitchell"/>

''Times'' culture editor [[Sam Sifton]] called Fox News photos "disgusting", and the criticism of the paper's reporting a "specious and meritless claim" while denying that it was a "hit piece".<ref name="Strupp and Mitchell"/>

===2020===
In June 2020, Fox News' website published digitally altered photographs of [[Seattle]]'s [[Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone]] to include a man armed with an assault rifle from earlier Seattle protests; also added to the photographs were smashed windows from other parts of Seattle. In a separate incident, the Fox News website ran articles about protests in Seattle, with accompanying photos of a burning city actually being from [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], the previous month.<ref name="Seattle Times">{{cite news |last1=Brunner |first1=Jim |title=Fox News runs digitally altered images in coverage of Seattle's protests, Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/fox-news-runs-digitally-altered-images-in-coverage-of-seattles-protests-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone/ |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 12, 2020 |access-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613084527/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/fox-news-runs-digitally-altered-images-in-coverage-of-seattles-protests-capitol-hill-autonomous-zone/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone was peacefully occupied, "Fox's coverage contributed to the appearance of armed unrest", stated ''The Washington Post''. The manipulated and wrongly used images were removed, with Fox News stating that it "regrets these errors".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stanley-Becker |first1=Isaac |title=Fox News removes manipulated images from coverage of Seattle protests |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/13/fox-news-removes-manipulated-images-coverage-seattle-protests/ |access-date=June 15, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 14, 2020 |archive-date=June 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614175206/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/13/fox-news-removes-manipulated-images-coverage-seattle-protests/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2020, Fox News aired a photo that edited out President [[Donald Trump]] from a photo where he was seen posing with [[Melania Trump]], [[Jeffrey Epstein]], and [[Ghislaine Maxwell]] at Mar-a-Lago which was shown during a segment about Maxwell's arrest at the time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fox News Edits Trump Out of Photo With Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago|url=https://gizmodo.com/fox-news-edits-trump-out-of-photo-with-jeffrey-epstein-1844276574|access-date=October 11, 2021|website=Gizmodo|date=July 6, 2020|language=en-us|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026234939/https://gizmodo.com/fox-news-edits-trump-out-of-photo-with-jeffrey-epstein-1844276574|url-status=live}}</ref> Fox News later apologized for the edit, claiming it was a mistake.<ref>{{cite web|last=Coleman|first=Justine|date=July 6, 2020|title=Fox News apologizes for 'mistakenly' cropping Trump out of photo with Epstein, Maxwell|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/506096-fox-news-apologizes-for-mistakenly-cropping-trump-out-of-photo-with-epstein/|access-date=October 11, 2021|website=TheHill|language=en|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029101336/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/506096-fox-news-apologizes-for-mistakenly-cropping-trump-out-of-photo-with-epstein|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=July 7, 2020|title=Fox News apologises for cropping Trump out of Epstein and Maxwell photo|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jul/07/fox-news-trump-epstein-maxwell-photo-cropped-out|access-date=October 11, 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026172826/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jul/07/fox-news-trump-epstein-maxwell-photo-cropped-out|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kirell|first=Andrew|date=July 6, 2020|title=Fox News Claims It 'Mistakenly Eliminated' Trump Out of Photo With Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-apologizes-for-editing-trump-out-of-photo-with-jeffrey-epstein-and-ghislaine-maxwell|access-date=October 11, 2021|website=The Daily Beast|language=en|archive-date=November 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102105417/https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-apologizes-for-editing-trump-out-of-photo-with-jeffrey-epstein-and-ghislaine-maxwell|url-status=live}}</ref>

== September 2009 newspaper ad ==
On September 18, 2009, Fox News took out full-page ads in ''The Washington Post'', the ''New York Post'', and ''The Wall Street Journal'' with a prominent caption reading, "How did ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and CNN miss this story?" with pictures of [[Taxpayer March on Washington|a Tea Party movement protest]] on the [[U.S. Capitol]] lawn from September 12. A still picture in the ad was in fact taken from a CNN broadcast covering the event. The veracity of the ad was called into question on the air by then-CNN commentator [[Rick Sanchez (journalist)|Rick Sanchez]], along with others pointing to various coverage of the event.<ref name="politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com">{{cite news | url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/18/networks-respond-to-false-fox-ad/ | work=CNN | title=Networks respond to false Fox ad | access-date=May 2, 2010 | date=September 18, 2009 | archive-date=March 16, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316121501/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/18/networks-respond-to-false-fox-ad/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Calderone |first=Michael |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0909/WaPo_defends_running_Fox_ad.html |title=WaPo defends running Fox ad |publisher=Politico.Com |date=September 18, 2009 |access-date=October 30, 2010 |archive-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229160123/http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0909/WaPo_defends_running_Fox_ad.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="mediabistro.com">{{cite news | url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/in_full_page_ad_fox_asks_where_were_other_media_on_912_the_answer_they_were_there_136133.asp | title=In Full Page Ad, Fox Asks Where Were Other Media on 9/12. The Answer: They Were There | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922183947/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/in_full_page_ad_fox_asks_where_were_other_media_on_912_the_answer_they_were_there_136133.asp | archive-date=September 22, 2009 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> It had been covered live by CNN, NBC News, CBS News, MSNBC, and [[ABC News Radio]].<ref name="politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com"/><ref name="mediabistro.com"/><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/09/18/nr.sanchez.on.fox.news.cnn | work=CNN | title=CNN.com Video | access-date=May 2, 2010 | archive-date=December 30, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230111923/http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/09/18/nr.sanchez.on.fox.news.cnn | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/18/fox-news-newspaper-ad-mak_n_291494.html |title=Fox News Newspaper Ad Makes False Claims About Tea Party Coverage [UPDATED&#93; |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=September 18, 2009 |access-date=October 30, 2010 |first=Jason |last=Linkins |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607051257/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/18/fox-news-newspaper-ad-mak_n_291494.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Fox News' vice president of marketing, Michael Tammaro, attempted to explain the ad by stating: "Generally speaking, it's fair to say that from the tea party movement ... to [[ACORN 2009 undercover videos controversy|ACORN]] ... to the march on 9/12, the networks either ignored the story, marginalized it or misrepresented the significance of it altogether."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kurtz|first=Howard|date=September 18, 2009|title=Fox News Ad Draws Protests|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/18/AR2009091801102.html|access-date=July 3, 2021|archive-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123080726/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/18/AR2009091801102.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Obama administration conflict with Fox News==
In September 2009, the [[Obama administration]] engaged in a verbal conflict with Fox News. On September 20, President Obama appeared on all the major news networks except Fox News, a snub partially in response to remarks about the president by commentators [[Glenn Beck]] and [[Sean Hannity]] and general coverage by Fox News with regard to Obama's health care proposal.<ref name="Stelter2009">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/business/media/12fox.html|work=The New York Times|title=Fox's Volley With Obama Intensifying|first=Brian|last=Stelter|date=October 12, 2009|access-date=May 2, 2010|archive-date=November 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125031750/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/business/media/12fox.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="USNWR" /> ''[[Fox News Sunday]]'' host [[Chris Wallace]] called White House administration officials "crybabies" in response. Following this, a senior Obama adviser told ''[[U.S. News]]'' that the White House would never get a fair shake from Fox News.<ref name="USNWR">{{cite news|last=Walsh|first=Kenneth T.|title=White House: Fox Pushed Team Obama Over the Brink|access-date=July 25, 2013|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2009/10/23/fox-pushed-team-obama-over-the-brink|newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|date=October 23, 2009|location=Washington, DC|page=23|quote=A senior Obama adviser tells U.S. News that White House staffers developed 'a growing realization that the president would never get a fair shake from Fox News. White House insiders say that, at some point, White House officials will appear again on Fox, but they will do so expecting an antagonistic atmosphere as if they were appearing on [[conservative talk radio]]. ... 'Fox is using this to promote themselves,' the adviser says. 'Our hope is simply that responsible journalists will not go chasing after Fox stories as if these stories were legitimate.{{'-}}|archive-date=June 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621191331/http://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2009/10/23/fox-pushed-team-obama-over-the-brink|url-status=live}}</ref>

In late September 2009, Obama senior advisor [[David Axelrod]] and Fox News founder Roger Ailes met in secret to try to smooth out tensions between the two camps without much success. Two weeks later, White House officials referred to Fox as "not a news network". Communications director [[Anita Dunn]] claimed that, "Fox News often operates as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/10/23/the-fox-news-war-whats-the-upside-for-obama|title=The Fox News war: What's the upside for Obama?|publisher=CSMonitor.com|date=October 23, 2009|access-date=October 23, 2009|archive-date=October 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028030117/http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/10/23/the-fox-news-war-whats-the-upside-for-obama/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/politics/23fox.html?_r=1|work=The New York Times|title=Behind the War Between White House and Fox|first=Jim|last=Rutenberg|date=October 23, 2009|access-date=May 2, 2010|archive-date=May 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504005956/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/politics/23fox.html?_r=1|url-status=live}}</ref> President Obama followed with, "If media is operating basically as a [[talk radio]] format, then that's one thing, and if it's operating as a news outlet, then that's another,"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-obamas-feud-with-fox-news/|title=President Obama's Feud with FOX News|work=CBS News|date=October 23, 2009|access-date=July 29, 2010|archive-date=July 21, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721171851/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/23/eveningnews/main5415921.shtml?tag=stack|url-status=live}}</ref> and then-White House chief of staff [[Rahm Emanuel]] stated that it was important "to not have the CNNs and the others in the world basically be led in following FNC."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rutten24-2009oct24,0,3009088.column|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Obama's misguided Fox hunt|date=October 24, 2009|access-date=May 2, 2010|archive-date=September 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923100404/http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rutten24-2009oct24,0,3009088.column|url-status=live}}</ref>

Within days it was reported that Fox News had been excluded from an interview with administration official [[Ken Feinberg]], with bureau chiefs from the White House [[press pool]] (ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN) coming to the defense of Fox News.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/politics/23fox.html | work=The New York Times | title=Behind the War Between White House and Fox | first=Jim | last=Rutenberg | date=October 23, 2009 | access-date=May 2, 2010 | archive-date=August 23, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823030324/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/us/politics/23fox.html | url-status=live }}</ref> One of the major bureau chiefs stated, "If any member had been excluded it would have been the same thing, it has nothing to do with Fox or the White House or the substance of the issues."<ref>{{cite web |author=Christina Bellantoni |date=October 23, 2009 |url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/wh-were-happy-to-exclude-fox-but-didnt-yesterday-with-feinberg-interview.php |title=WH: We're Happy To Exclude Fox, But Didn't Yesterday With Feinberg Interview &#124; TPMDC |work=TPM |publisher=Tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com |access-date=July 29, 2010 |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724015150/http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/wh-were-happy-to-exclude-fox-but-didnt-yesterday-with-feinberg-interview.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after this story broke the White House admitted to a low-level mistake, but said that Fox News had not made a specific request to interview Feinberg. Then-Fox News White House correspondent [[Major Garrett]] responded by stating that he had not made a specific request, but that he had a "standing request from me as senior White House correspondent on Fox to interview any newsmaker at the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury]] at any given time news is being made."<ref>{{cite web |author=Steve Krakauer |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/finally-resolved-major-garrett-reveals-his-side-of-pay-czar-gate/ |title=Finally Resolved? Major Garrett Reveals His Side of Pay Czar-Gate |publisher=Mediaite |date=October 27, 2009 |access-date=July 29, 2010 |archive-date=December 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206112401/http://www.mediaite.com/tv/finally-resolved-major-garrett-reveals-his-side-of-pay-czar-gate/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 8, 2009, the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that an unnamed Democratic consultant was warned by the White House not to appear on Fox News again. According to the article, Anita Dunn claimed in an e-mail to have checked with colleagues who "deal with TV issues" and had been told that nobody had been instructed to avoid Fox News (for 24-hour news) except for the Fox Broadcasting Company (for special report coverage). [[Patrick Caddell]], a Fox News contributor and former pollster for [[Jimmy Carter]], said he had spoken with other Democratic consultants who had received similar warnings from the White House.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-fox8-2009nov08,0,507227.story?test=latestnews | work=Los Angeles Times | title=Democratic consultant says he got a warning from White House after appearing on Fox News | first=Peter | last=Nicholas | date=November 8, 2009 | access-date=May 2, 2010 | archive-date=November 12, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112093603/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-fox8-2009nov08,0,507227.story?test=latestnews | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Video footage manipulation==
[[Jon Stewart]] reported on his November 11, 2009, broadcast of ''The Daily Show'' that Fox News host Sean Hannity misrepresented video footage purportedly showing large crowds on a health care protest orchestrated by Rep. [[Michele Bachmann]]. Stewart showed inconsistencies in alternating shots according to the color of the sky and tree leaves, showing that footage from Glenn Beck's much larger 9/12 rally, which had occurred two months earlier, had been spliced in with the other shots. Hannity estimated 20,000 protesters were in attendance, the ''Washington Post'' estimated 10,000, and [[Luke Russert]] reported that three [[Capitol Hill]] police officers guessed "about 4,000".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20091111/ts_ynews/ynews_ts977|title=Did Fox News alter footage of a conservative rally?|publisher=News.yahoo.com|date=August 21, 2009|access-date=October 30, 2010|archive-date=January 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105021214/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20091111/ts_ynews/ynews_ts977|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/11/05/2120383.aspx|title=First Read – Scenes from the 'Super Bowl'|publisher=msn.com|date=November 5, 2009|access-date=October 30, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223050224/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/11/05/2120383.aspx|archive-date=December 23, 2009}}</ref> Sean Hannity apologized to his viewers for the error during his November 11, 2009, broadcast.<ref>Mark Silva, [https://latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hannity-crowd13-2009nov13,0,157713.story Hannity apologizes for using video of bigger rally] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116081343/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hannity-crowd13-2009nov13,0,157713.story |date=November 16, 2009 }}, ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', November 13, 2009.</ref> Stewart periodically accused Fox News of playing video footage out of context, such as when Hannity played footage of Obama stating the [[DREAM Act]] could not be passed by executive order, to make the president seem [[hypocritical]] although when the footage is continued Obama goes on to clarify that he does have the authority to halt deportations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jon Stewart Calls Out Fox News Over Obama Tape Edit (VIDEO)|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/jon-stewart-fox-news-obama-tape-edit_n_1611735.html|work=Huffington Post|first=Rebecca|last=Shapiro|date=June 20, 2012|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070917/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/jon-stewart-fox-news-obama-tape-edit_n_1611735.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 18, 2009, ''[[Happening Now]]'' anchor [[Gregg Jarrett]] told viewers that a [[Sarah Palin]] book signing in [[Grand Rapids, Michigan|Grand Rapids]], [[Michigan]], had a massive turnout while showing footage of Palin with a large crowd. Jarrett noted that the former Republican vice-presidential candidate is "continuing to draw huge crowds while she's promoting her brand-new book", adding that the images being shown were "some of the pictures just coming in to us ... The lines earlier had formed this morning."<ref name="news.yahoo.com">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20091119/ts_ynews/ynews_ts988|title=Fox News again accused of airing misleading video|publisher=News.yahoo.cm|access-date=October 30, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122014734/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20091119/ts_ynews/ynews_ts988|archive-date=November 22, 2009}}</ref> The video was actually taken from a [[John McCain 2008 presidential campaign|2008 McCain-Palin campaign rally]]. Fox News senior vice-president of news Michael Clemente issued an initial statement saying, "This was a production error in which the copy editor changed a script and didn't alert the control room to update the video."<ref name="news.yahoo.com" /> Fox offered an on-air apology the following day during the same ''Happening Now'' segment, citing regrets for what they described as a "video error" with no intent to mislead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://video.foxnews.com/11739702/for-that-we-apologize/?category_id=949437d0db05ed5f5b9954dc049d70b0c12f2749|title=For That We Apologize|author=FoxNews|date=November 19, 2009|access-date=November 21, 2009|work=Fox News|archive-date=November 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124101655/http://video.foxnews.com/11739702/for-that-we-apologize/?category_id=949437d0db05ed5f5b9954dc049d70b0c12f2749|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 12, 2021, Fox News edited a video of President [[Joe Biden]] to remove context from remarks that some could judge as racially insensitive, which was shown on ''Fox & Friends''. In his comments, Biden said he had "adopted the attitude of the great Negro, at the time pitcher in the [[Negro league baseball|Negro Leagues]], went on to become a great pitcher in the pros in Major League baseball after [[Jackie Robinson]], his name was [[Satchel Paige]]." The video was edited so Biden was heard saying he had "adopted the attitude of the great Negro at the time, pitcher, name was Satchel Paige."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mlb-sports-jackie-robinson-baseball-453bd99f1301f76b68368f0a5b2f59ec|title=Fox News edit of Biden comment removes racial context|website=[[Associated Press]]|date=November 12, 2021|access-date=December 1, 2021|archive-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208180945/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-mlb-sports-jackie-robinson-baseball-453bd99f1301f76b68368f0a5b2f59ec|url-status=live}}</ref>

==ISIL video==
After [[Royal Jordanian Air Force]] pilot [[Muath al-Kasasbeh]] was burned to death by [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]] in February 2015, Fox News included the full ISIL video on its website. The network said it had chosen to do so, after careful consideration, in order that readers of their website could "see for themselves the barbarity of ISIS." [[Malcolm Nance]], executive director of the [[think tank]] Terror Asymmetrics Project on Strategy, Tactics and Radical Ideology (TAPSTRI), said that Fox News was "literally — ''literally'' — working for [[Al-Qaeda|al-Qaida]] and ISIS's media arm ... They might as well start sending them royalty checks."<ref name="Graun IS film">{{cite web | last = Wolff | first = Nikki | date = February 4, 2015 | title = Fox News site embeds unedited Isis video showing brutal murder of Jordanian pilot | url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/04/fox-news-shows-isis-video-jordan-pilot | website = theguardian.com | access-date = February 4, 2015 | archive-date = November 22, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211122033825/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/04/fox-news-shows-isis-video-jordan-pilot | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Wemple">{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/02/04/fox-news-stands-by-decision-to-post-heinous-isis-burning-video-online/ | title=Fox News stands by decision to post heinous ISIS burning video online | newspaper=[[Washington Post]] | date=February 4, 2015 | access-date=February 4, 2015 | author=Wemple, Eric | archive-date=February 24, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224235333/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2015/02/04/fox-news-stands-by-decision-to-post-heinous-isis-burning-video-online/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Sexism==
===Sexual harassment allegations===
[[File:Gretchen_carlson_cropped_retouched.jpg|right|thumb|[[Gretchen Carlson]] in 2009]]
On July 6, 2016, former ''Fox & Friends'' co-host [[Gretchen Carlson]] filed a [[sexual harassment]] lawsuit against Roger Ailes in the [[Superior Court of New Jersey]].<ref name="PoliticoFiles">{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/07/gretchen-carlson-files-lawsuit-against-roger-ailes-alleging-sexual-harassment-225162|title=Gretchen Carlson files sexual harassment lawsuit against Fox News CEO Roger Ailes|last=Gold|first=Hadas|date=July 6, 2016|work=Politico|access-date=July 6, 2016|archive-date=August 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829055411/https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/07/gretchen-carlson-files-lawsuit-against-roger-ailes-alleging-sexual-harassment-225162|url-status=live}}</ref> In her complaint, Carlson alleged that she was fired from her program for refusing Ailes' sexual advances.<ref name="PoliticoFiles" /> After Carlson came forward, six more women spoke to [[Gabriel Sherman]] of ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine, alleging that Ailes had sexually harassed them and that Ailes had "spoke[n] openly of expecting women to perform sexual favors in exchange for job opportunities."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/six-more-women-allege-ailes-sexual-harassment.html|title=6 More Women Allege That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Them|access-date=August 3, 2016|archive-date=October 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008072033/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/six-more-women-allege-ailes-sexual-harassment.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''New York'' reported that [[Megyn Kelly]] told investigators Ailes made "unwanted sexual advances toward her" at the start of her career. The magazine also reported that the Murdochs had given Ailes an [[ultimatum]]: resign by August 1 or be fired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/sources-kelly-said-ailes-sexually-harassed-her.html|title=Sources: Megyn Kelly Told Murdoch Investigators That Roger Ailes Sexually Harassed Her|website=New York|first=Gabriel|last=Sherman|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-date=October 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010095248/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/07/sources-kelly-said-ailes-sexually-harassed-her.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Facing overwhelming public criticism, Ailes resigned on July 21, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/07/21/media/roger-ailes-leaves-fox-news/index.html|title=Roger Ailes leaves Fox News|last1=Byers|first1=Dylan|last2=Stelter|first2=Brian|website=CNN Money|date=July 21, 2016|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=September 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914200610/https://money.cnn.com/2016/07/21/media/roger-ailes-leaves-fox-news/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 6, [[21st Century Fox]] (then-parent company of [[20th Century Fox]], [[Fox Searchlight Pictures]], [[20th Century Fox Television]], [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]], the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network, [[FX Networks]], Fox News and [[Fox Sports]]) announced that it had settled the lawsuit with Carlson. The settlement was reportedly $20&nbsp;million. As part of the settlement, 21st Century Fox apologized to Carlson, saying "We sincerely regret and apologize for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve."<ref name="KoblinGrynbaum">Josh Koblin & Michael M. Grynbaum, [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/07/business/media/fox-news-roger-ailes-gretchen-carlson-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-settlement.html?_r=0 Fox Settles With Gretchen Carlson Over Roger Ailes Sex Harassment Claims] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026033915/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/07/business/media/fox-news-roger-ailes-gretchen-carlson-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-settlement.html?_r=0 |date=October 26, 2021 }}, ''New York Times'' (September 6, 2016).</ref>

In August 2016, [[Andrea Tantaros]], who had been pulled from the network in April with reported "contract issues",<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.salon.com/2016/04/29/fox_news_host_andrea_tantaros_quietly_pulled_from_daytime_show_over_contract_issues/ | title=Fox News host Andrea Tantaros quietly pulled from daytime show over contract "issues" | work=Salon | first=Brendan | last=Gauthier | access-date=May 16, 2016 | date=April 29, 2016 | archive-date=July 16, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716025433/https://www.salon.com/2016/04/29/fox_news_host_andrea_tantaros_quietly_pulled_from_daytime_show_over_contract_issues/ | url-status=live }}</ref> claimed that she approached Fox News executives about inappropriate behavior towards her by Ailes in 2015. Tantaros said her allegations resulted first in her being demoted from ''[[The Five (talk show)|The Five]]'' to ''[[Outnumbered (American TV program)|Outnumbered]]'', and then in her being taken off the air.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/08/andrea-tantaros-made-harassment-claims-against-roger-ailes.html|title=Fox News Host Andrea Tantaros Says She Was Taken Off the Air After Making Sexual-Harassment Claims Against Roger Ailes|first=Gabriel|last=Sherman|website=New York|date=August 8, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2016|archive-date=August 31, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831212012/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/08/andrea-tantaros-made-harassment-claims-against-roger-ailes.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Tantaros filed a lawsuit against Fox News for sexual harassment, also claiming that Bill O'Reilly, actor [[Dean Cain]], and [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]] made inappropriate comments to her, and that Brown and Cain touched her without her consent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/08/23/andrea-tantaros-fox-news-scott-brown-harassment-outnumbered/|title=Ex-Fox News Host Says Scott Brown Put His Hands On Her, Made Sexually Suggestive Comments|work=CBS News|date=August 23, 2016|access-date=August 23, 2016|archive-date=August 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828162121/http://boston.cbslocal.com/2016/08/23/andrea-tantaros-fox-news-scott-brown-harassment-outnumbered/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/media/story/2016/08/fox-news-andrea-tantaros-sues-for-sexual-harassment-004733/|title=Former Fox News host Andrea Tantaros sues for sexual harassment|work=Politico|first=Kelsey|last=Sutton|date=August 23, 2016|access-date=August 23, 2016|archive-date=May 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518122330/https://www.politico.com/media/story/2016/08/fox-news-andrea-tantaros-sues-for-sexual-harassment-004733/#ixzz4IAd9Ek4o|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2017, ''The New York Times'' reported that O'Reilly and Fox News had [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)#Sexual harassment lawsuits|settled five lawsuits]] against the former dating back to 2002, in addition to publicly acknowledged settlements to [[Andrea Mackris]] in 2004 and [[Juliet Huddy]] in 2017; the ''Times'' reported that Fox News hosts [[Rebecca Diamond]] and [[Laurie Dhue]] settled sexual harassment lawsuits in 2011 and 2016 respectively, and junior producer Rachel Witlieb Bernstein settled with Fox News in 2002 after accusing O'Reilly of verbal abuse. The amount paid to the women filing the complaints was estimated at $13 million. The ''Times'' also reported a claim by former ''O'Reilly Factor'' guest [[Wendy Walsh]], who declined an offer from O'Reilly to go to his hotel suite and was subsequently denied a job as a Fox News contributor.<ref name="nyt-settlements">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/business/media/bill-oreilly-sexual-harassment-fox-news.html|title=Bill O'Reilly Thrives at Fox News, Even as Harassment Settlements Add Up|last1=Steel|first1=Emily|date=April 1, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 2, 2017|last2=Schmidt|first2=Michael S.|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401215447/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/business/media/bill-oreilly-sexual-harassment-fox-news.html|url-status=live}}</ref> 21st Century Fox hired the law firm of [[Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison]] to conduct an investigation into Walsh's allegation; that firm also conducted an investigation into the allegations against Ailes.<ref>Emily Steel, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/09/business/media/fox-bill-oreilly-harassment-claim.html Fox Asks Law Firm to Investigate Bill O'Reilly Harassment Claim] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211034332/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/09/business/media/fox-bill-oreilly-harassment-claim.html |date=February 11, 2021 }}, ''New York Times'' (April 9, 2017).</ref>

After the five settlements were reported, ''The O'Reilly Factor'' lost more than half its advertisers within a week;<ref>Karl Russell, [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/11/business/oreilly-advertisers.html Bill O'Reilly's Show Lost More Than Half Its Advertisers in a Week] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112034834/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/11/business/oreilly-advertisers.html |date=November 12, 2020 }}, ''New York Times'' (April 11, 2017).</ref> almost sixty companies withdrew their [[television advertising]] from the show<ref>Tom Kludt, [https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/06/media/oreilly-factor-advertising-boycott/ Few ads run on 'O'Reilly Factor' as boycott takes effect] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205131144/https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/06/media/oreilly-factor-advertising-boycott |date=December 5, 2020 }}, CNN (April 6, 2015)</ref> amid a growing backlash against O'Reilly.<ref>Callum Borchers, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/07/bill-oreillys-advertiser-exodus-is-even-worse-than-it-looks/ Bill O'Reilly's advertiser exodus is even worse than it looks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410191653/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/07/bill-oreillys-advertiser-exodus-is-even-worse-than-it-looks/ |date=April 10, 2019 }}, ''Washington Post'' (April 7, 2017).</ref><ref>Mirren Gidda, [http://www.newsweek.com/bill-o-reilly-fox-news-sexual-harassment-roger-ailes-579325 Fox News' Bill O'Reilly continues to lose advertisers over sexual harassment scandal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203112203/https://www.newsweek.com/bill-o-reilly-fox-news-sexual-harassment-roger-ailes-579325 |date=December 3, 2020 }}, ''Newsweek'' (April 5, 2017).</ref> On April 11, 2017, O'Reilly announced he would take a two-week vacation and return to the program on April 24.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/11/media/bill-oreilly-vacation/ Bill O'Reilly taking vacation amid scandal, advertiser exodus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030202557/https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/11/media/bill-oreilly-vacation/ |date=October 30, 2020 }} CNN Money, April 11, 2017.</ref> However, on April 19, it was reported that O'Reilly would not return to the network.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/business/media/bill-oreilly-fox-news-allegations.html|title=Bill O'Reilly Is Forced Out at Fox News|first1=Emily|last1=Steel|first2=Michael S.|last2=Schmidt|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 19, 2017|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101201039/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/25/business/media/fox-news-racial-discrimination-lawsuit.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Co-president [[Bill Shine (television executive)|Bill Shine]], who had been accused of covering up sexual harassment allegations, resigned on May 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/01/media/bill-shine-out-fox-news/index.html|title=Fox News co-president Bill Shine out in latest shake-up for network|first=Dylan Byers and Brian|last=Stelter|date=May 1, 2017|website=CNNMoney|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=March 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305174256/https://money.cnn.com/2017/05/01/media/bill-shine-out-fox-news/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2017, [[Fox Business Network]] suspended [[Charles Payne (journalist)|Charles Payne]] pending an investigation after a former network guest, [[Scottie Nell Hughes]], accused him of sexual harassment. Payne denied the harassment charge but acknowledged having had a three-year-long "romantic relationship" with Hughes before the accusation was made. Hughes, who kept an apartment near 21st Century Fox's Manhattan headquarters for the duration of the affair, claimed she believed it would help her obtain a permanent position at the network.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ali|first=Yashar|title=Conservative Analyst Scottie Nell Hughes Accuses Fox Business Host of Sexual Harassment|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/entry/scottie-nell-hughes-charles-payne-sexual-harassment_us_595ecec1e4b0615b9e9074e4|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=July 6, 2017|access-date=July 7, 2017|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070910/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/scottie-nell-hughes-charles-payne-sexual-harassment_us_595ecec1e4b0615b9e9074e4|url-status=live}}</ref> Hughes' appearances were drastically reduced after she ended the affair in 2015 and reported Payne to Fox News.<ref>{{cite news|last=Battaglio|first=Stephen|title=Fox suspends business news host Charles Payne amid sexual harassment allegations|url=https://latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-charles-payne-fox-business-20170706-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 6, 2017|access-date=July 7, 2017|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121105820/https://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-charles-payne-fox-business-20170706-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2017, ''The Huffington Post'' reported that [[Eric Bolling]] sent lewd text messages to two women at Fox News and one at Fox Business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/entry/eric-bolling-fox-news-text-messages_us_5984d2bbe4b0cb15b1be6d65|title=Fox News Host Sent Unsolicited Lewd Text Messages To Colleagues, Sources Say|first=Yashar|last=Ali|date=August 5, 2017|access-date=August 6, 2017|via=Huff Post|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323082744/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/eric-bolling-fox-news-text-messages_us_5984d2bbe4b0cb15b1be6d65|url-status=live}}</ref> He was suspended pending investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fox-news-host-eric-bolling-accused-sending-lewd-photo-colleagues-n789846|title=Fox News' Eric Bolling suspended after being accused of sending lewd photo|website=[[NBC News]]|date=August 5, 2017|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112004611/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fox-news-host-eric-bolling-accused-sending-lewd-photo-colleagues-n789846|url-status=live}}</ref> Caroline Heldman, a former Fox News guest, alleged that Bolling made numerous unwanted sexual advances towards her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/fox-news-suspends-eric-bolling-text-message-lewd-photos-female-coworkers-20170805.html|title=Hours after Fox News suspends Eric Bolling, an accuser comes forward|website=philly.com|date=August 5, 2017|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-date=March 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070917/https://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment/fox-news-suspends-eric-bolling-text-message-lewd-photos-female-coworkers-20170805.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Bolling was suspended and eventually left the network, moving to a syndicated show produced by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]].

===Women's health care===
In 2013, ''Fox & Friends'' featured a segment in which contributor Dr. [[David B. Samadi]] made an appearance to discuss the cost of women's health care. On the program, Samadi argued that insurance costs more for women due to their more frequent use of health services, as opposed to men: "I just think that the whole system is not working well. I mean this is one of the examples, where men and women are totally different, there is a sex difference when it comes to the health care use, but I really think that if you pay for it, you are going to negotiate, finding out where is the best doctor, where you're going to get a better deal on all these X-rays, etc., that's how you're gonna save money."<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/08/27/david_samadi_and_fox_and_friends_fret_that_women_are_getting_too_much_health.html |title=Fox News Worries That Women Are Taking Up Too Much Health Care |author=Amanda Marcotte |magazine=Slate |date=August 27, 2013 |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020053916/http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/08/27/david_samadi_and_fox_and_friends_fret_that_women_are_getting_too_much_health.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following this segment, Fox News received criticism from several online outlets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/fox-s-sexist-comments-on-women-s-healthcare-spark-outrage-172914267.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828212907/http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/fox-s-sexist-comments-on-women-s-healthcare-spark-outrage-172914267.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 28, 2013 |title=Fox News Contributor's 'Sexist' Comments on Women's Health Care Spark Outrage |author=Beth Greenfield |publisher=Yahoo}}</ref>

== Seth Rich ==
{{Excerpt|Murder of Seth Rich#Uncorroborated Fox News story}}

==Sean Hannity and Michael Cohen==
On April 9, 2018, federal agents from the [[U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York]] (SDNY) served a search warrant on the office and residence of [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]], President Trump's personal attorney.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Strobel |first1=Warren |last2=Walcott |first2=John |title=FBI raids offices, home of Trump's personal lawyer: sources |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-cohen-raid/fbi-raids-offices-home-of-trumps-personal-lawyer-sources-idUSKBN1HG336 |website=Reuters |access-date=April 10, 2018 |date=April 10, 2018 |archive-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230133235/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-cohen-raid/fbi-raids-offices-home-of-trumps-personal-lawyer-sources-idUSKBN1HG336 |url-status=live }}</ref> On the air, Hannity defended Cohen and criticized the federal action, calling it "highly questionable" and "an unprecedented abuse of power".<ref name="Winter">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-wants-review-some-materials-seized-cohen-fbi-raid-n866226|title=Fox News host Sean Hannity revealed as Michael Cohen's mystery client|last1=Winter|first1=Tom|last2=Edelman|first2=Adam|date=April 16, 2018|work=NBC News|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=April 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416122620/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-wants-review-some-materials-seized-cohen-fbi-raid-n866226|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 16, Cohen's lawyers told a federal judge that Cohen had ten clients in 2017–2018 but did "traditional legal tasks" for only three: Trump, [[Elliott Broidy]], and a "prominent person" who did not wish to be named for fear of being "embarrassed".<ref name="Miller" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Pierson|first1=Brendan|last2=Freifeld|first2=Karen|last3=Stempel|first3=Jonathan|title=Fox's Hannity revealed as mystery client of Trump's personal lawyer|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-cohen/foxs-hannity-revealed-as-mystery-client-of-trumps-personal-lawyer-idUSKBN1HN12G|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=April 18, 2018|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201184239/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-cohen/foxs-hannity-revealed-as-mystery-client-of-trumps-personal-lawyer-idUSKBN1HN12G|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Feuer|first1=Alan|last2=Grynbaum|first2=Michael|last3=Koblin|first3=John|title=Sean Hannity Is Named as Client of Michael Cohen, Trump's Lawyer|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/business/media/sean-hannity-michael-cohen-client.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=April 18, 2018|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033758/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/16/business/media/sean-hannity-michael-cohen-client.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The federal judge ordered the revelation of the third client, whom Cohen's lawyers named as Hannity.<ref name="Miller" /> Although Hannity has covered Cohen on his show, he did not disclose that he had consulted with Cohen.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://observer.com/2018/04/fox-news-sean-hannity-downplay-michael-cohen-relationship/|title=Fox News and Sean Hannity Downplay Host's Relationship With Attorney Michael Cohen|last=Richardson|first=Davis|date=April 16, 2018|work=The Observer|access-date=April 16, 2018|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417105818/http://observer.com/2018/04/fox-news-sean-hannity-downplay-michael-cohen-relationship/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fox News released a statement on April 16, 2018, attributed to Hannity: "Michael Cohen has never represented me in any matter. I never retained him, received an invoice, or paid legal fees. I have occasionally had brief discussions with him about legal questions about which I wanted his input and perspective. I assumed those conversations were confidential, but to be absolutely clear they never involved any matter between me and a third party."<ref name="cohenfox">{{cite news|last1=Borchers|first1=Callum|title=The gaping hole in Sean Hannity's story about being Michael Cohen's client|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/04/16/the-gaping-hole-in-sean-hannitys-story-about-being-michael-cohens-client/?noredirect=on|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033629/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/04/16/the-gaping-hole-in-sean-hannitys-story-about-being-michael-cohens-client/?noredirect=on|url-status=live}}</ref> [[NBC News]] quoted Hannity as saying: "We definitely had [[attorney–client privilege]] because I asked him for that",<ref>{{cite web|last1=Edelman|first1=Adam|last2=Winter|first2=Tom|title=Fox News host Sean Hannity revealed as Michael Cohen's mystery client|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-wants-review-some-materials-seized-cohen-fbi-raid-n866226|work=[[NBC News]]|date=April 17, 2018|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-date=April 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416122620/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-wants-review-some-materials-seized-cohen-fbi-raid-n866226|url-status=live}}</ref> while Hannity said on his radio show that he "might have handed him ten bucks" for the attorney–client privilege.<ref name="Miller">{{cite web|last1=Miller|first1=Hayley|last2=Blumberg|first2=Antonia|title=Identity Of Michael Cohen's 'Mystery' Client Revealed As Sean Hannity|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michael-cohen-sean-hannity_us_5ad4ef98e4b016a07e9f6410|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-date=April 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416231924/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/michael-cohen-sean-hannity_us_5ad4ef98e4b016a07e9f6410|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cohenfox" /> Lastly, Hannity tweeted that his discussions with Cohen were "almost exclusively" about [[real estate]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Samuels|first1=Brett|title=Hannity downplays connection to Trump's personal lawyer|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/383417-hannity-downplays-connection-to-trumps-personal-lawyer/|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=April 17, 2018|archive-date=April 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418031520/http://thehill.com/homenews/media/383417-hannity-downplays-connection-to-trumps-personal-lawyer|url-status=live}}</ref>

The following day, news reports revealed that Hannity had shared another lawyer with Trump: [[Jay Sekulow]]. Sekulow had written a [[cease-and-desist letter]] to [[KTSB (AM)|KFAQ]] on Hannity's behalf in May 2017, and later represented Trump in connection with the [[Special Counsel investigation (2017–present)|Mueller investigation]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gray|first1=Rosie|title=Sean Hannity's Ties to Two More Trump-Connected Lawyers|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/sean-hannity/558272/|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=April 17, 2018|access-date=April 18, 2018|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417235448/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/04/sean-hannity/558272/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Report: Sean Hannity used two other Trump-connected lawyers|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-sean-hannity-used-two-other-trump-connected-lawyers/|work=[[CBS News]]|date=April 17, 2018|access-date=April 18, 2018|archive-date=April 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418032454/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-sean-hannity-used-two-other-trump-connected-lawyers/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Coverage of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting==
Fox News' coverage of the [[Parkland high school shooting|Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]], which killed 14 students and three staff members, and injuring 17 others, has been criticized by the survivors of the shooting.

On February 27, 2018, hosts Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity issued an apology to viewers after it had run segments detailing false claims that CNN scripted a February 21 town hall meeting event featuring the survivors of the shooting. The claims came just six days after Colton Haab, who was one of the students that was credited with saving his classmates, went on both Carlson and Hannity's shows and falsely claimed that CNN tried to give him a scripted question that he refused to use because he wanted to use his own, sparking a backlash against CNN over staging the event for ratings and getting a tweet from President Donald Trump slamming the network. But on February 26, Glenn Haab, Colton's father, admitted that he was responsible for the fabrication of the story by doctoring the emails to make it look like it was set up by CNN, thus confirming the network's claim that it never used any form of scripted material for the event.<ref>[http://www.newsweek.com/fox-news-sean-hannity-tucker-carlson-admit-falsely-accuse-cnn-parkland-town-823778 "Fox News' Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson Admit CNN Was Falsely Accused of Scripting Parkland Town Hall"] from Newsweek (February 27, 2018)</ref>

On March 29, 2018, ''[[The Ingraham Angle]]'' host [[Laura Ingraham]] issued an apology to her viewers after comments she made about [[David Hogg]], one of the survivors of the shooting after he spoke out for advocating gun control laws during the March 24 "[[March for Our Lives]]" rally, claiming that he was being turned down by universities after reading a tweet from a conservative website that falsely branded Hogg as a "Gun Rights Provocateur" (her tweet read "David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it..." "Dinged by UCLA with a 4.1 GPA...totally predictable given acceptance rates."). Hogg, however, did not accept Ingraham's apology and called for a boycott of her program, a move that has resulted in around 15 companies (including [[TripAdvisor]], [[Nestlé]], [[Expedia]], and [[Wayfair]]) pulling advertising from the show due to its conservative rhetoric. Hogg, who listed the companies that advertises on her program in the hope to remove their spots from the show, tweeted that he will only accept the apology "if you denounce the way your network has treated my friends and I in this fight."<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/29/tripadvisor-drops-laura-ingraham-after-she-attacked-parkland-activist.html "Advertisers – including TripAdvisor, Nestle and Wayfair – are dumping Laura Ingraham after she slammed Parkland survivor"] from CNBC (March 29, 2018)</ref>

==Coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic==
{{Main|Media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic}}
Fox News' coverage of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] has been criticized due to pundits and guests having initially dismissed the severity of [[Coronavirus disease 2019|the disease's]] [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|transmission in the United States]] (following the lead of the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]]), accused critics of exaggerating its impact to attack President Trump, and perpetuating [[COVID-19 misinformation]] about how to mitigate or treat the virus.<ref name="Peters-2020">{{cite news|last=Peters|first=Jeremy W.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/us/politics/hannity-limbaugh-trump-coronavirus.html|title=Alarm, Denial, Blame: The Pro-Trump Media's Coronavirus Distortion|date=April 1, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 7, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=February 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218083656/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/us/politics/hannity-limbaugh-trump-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Media Matters for America-2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/fox-news-downplaying-risk-coronavirus-could-get-people-killed|title=Fox News is downplaying the risk of coronavirus. That could get people killed.|website=Media Matters for America|language=en|date=March 11, 2020|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-date=November 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109045740/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/fox-news-downplaying-risk-coronavirus-could-get-people-killed|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Connelly-2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/The-Fox-News-switcheroo-on-COVID-19-A-virus-no-15141351.php|title=The Fox News switcheroo on COVID-19: A virus no longer downplayed|last=Connelly|first=Joel|date=March 18, 2020|newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-date=October 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030214437/https://www.seattlepi.com/local/politics/article/The-Fox-News-switcheroo-on-COVID-19-A-virus-no-15141351.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/fox-news-is-denying-coronavirus-and-risking-viewers-lives.html|title=Fox News During the Coronavirus Pandemic Is Awful Even by Fox News Standards|last=Peters|first=Justin|date=March 13, 2020|website=Slate Magazine|language=en|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-date=October 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010195854/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/fox-news-is-denying-coronavirus-and-risking-viewers-lives.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Grynbaum-2020">{{cite news|last1=Grynbaum|first1=Michael M.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/business/media/coronavirus-right-wing-media.html|title=Right-Wing Media Says Virus Fears Were Whipped Up to Hurt Trump|date=February 28, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 7, 2020|last2=Abrams|first2=Rachel|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216065846/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/28/business/media/coronavirus-right-wing-media.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Tucker Carlson]] promoted the [[COVID-19 lab leak theory]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/tucker-carlson-incapable-holding-trump-administration-acountable|title=Tucker Carlson is incapable of holding the Trump administration accountable|last=Peltz|first=Madeline|website=Media Matters for America|language=en|date=March 14, 2020|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-date=October 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016033257/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/tucker-carlson-incapable-holding-trump-administration-acountable|url-status=live}}</ref> and in a February 24 commentary argued that "[[woke]]ness" and diversity had eased its spread. At the same time, Carlson did become more critical of the Trump administration's response on occasion, opining on March 9 that "people you trust—people you probably voted for—have spent weeks minimizing what is clearly a very serious problem."<ref name="Connelly-2020" /><ref name="The Washington Post-2020" /> Media Matters for America criticized Carlson in particular, as well as other Fox News personalities, for using [[Sinophobic]] language such as "[[Racial views of Donald Trump#"Chinese Virus" and "Kung Flu"|Chinese coronavirus]]", "Wuhan virus", "kung flu", or variations thereof to refer to COVID-19 on-air.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/fox-news-pushes-racist-and-xenophobic-language-coronavirus|title=Fox News pushes racist and xenophobic language for coronavirus|last=Savillo|first=Rob|website=Media Matters for America|language=en|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014175339/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/fox-news-pushes-racist-and-xenophobic-language-coronavirus|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sean Hannity argued on his March 9 program that Democrats and the news media were trying to use COVID-19 to "bludgeon Trump".<ref>{{cite news|last=Rieger|first=JM|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/19/sean-hannity-denied-calling-coronavirus-hoax-nine-days-after-he-called-coronavirus-hoax/|title=Sean Hannity denied calling coronavirus a hoax nine days after he called coronavirus a hoax|date=March 19, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=April 5, 2020|language=en|archive-date=December 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207134118/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/03/19/sean-hannity-denied-calling-coronavirus-hoax-nine-days-after-he-called-coronavirus-hoax/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bekiempis|first=Victoria|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/04/sean-hannity-defends-fox-news-claims-coronavirus-misinformation-hoax|title=Sean Hannity defends Fox News against claims of coronavirus misinformation: 'I never called it a hoax'|date=April 4, 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 7, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=October 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014052356/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/04/sean-hannity-defends-fox-news-claims-coronavirus-misinformation-hoax|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 5, Trump made an appearance on the program by phone, where he claimed that a projected mortality rate of 3.4% announced earlier that day by the [[World Health Organization]] was a "false number" and predicted that it would actually be under 1%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/05/trump-coronavirus-who-global-death-rate-false-number|title=Trump calls WHO's global death rate from coronavirus 'a false number'|last1=Walters|first1=Joanna|last2=Aratani|first2=Lauren|date=March 5, 2020|work=The Guardian|last3=Beaumont|first3=Peter|access-date=April 22, 2020|archive-date=March 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305151056/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/05/trump-coronavirus-who-global-death-rate-false-number|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/coronavirus-facts-is-there-a-cure-and-what-is-the-mortality-rate-of-the-virus|title=Coronavirus facts: is there a cure and what is the mortality rate of the virus?|last1=Devlin|first1=Hannah|last2=Boseley|first2=Sarah|date=March 13, 2020|website=The Guardian|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-date=March 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314112558/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/13/coronavirus-facts-is-there-a-cure-and-what-is-the-mortality-rate-of-the-virus|url-status=live}}</ref> On his March 10 episode (one day before the WHO declared a pandemic), Hannity argued that the [[Flu season|seasonal flu]] was still making a larger "impact" than COVID-19 (with 34 million cases against roughly 1,200 at the time), only the elderly and [[Immunodeficiency|immunocompromised]] were at the greatest risk, and argued that there was not an equivalent "widespread hysteria" over [[Crime in Chicago|routine violent crimes]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/sean-hannity-attempts-minimize-coronavirus-concerns-comparing-it-violence|title=Sean Hannity attempts to minimize the coronavirus concerns by comparing it to violence in Chicago|website=Media Matters for America|language=en|date=March 10, 2020|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308202300/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/sean-hannity-attempts-minimize-coronavirus-concerns-comparing-it-violence|url-status=live}}</ref>

Also on March 10, [[Laura Ingraham]] referred to "panic pushers" in the media, suggesting that "the facts are actually pretty reassuring, but you'd never know it watching all this stuff", and implicated that only those at high risk needed to practice [[social distancing]] (contrasting recommendations by officials that all people should practice social distancing).<ref name="Media Matters for America-2020" /><ref name="The Washington Post-2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/on-fox-news-suddenly-a-very-different-tune-about-the-coronavirus/2020/03/16/7a7637cc-678f-11ea-9923-57073adce27c_story.html|title=On Fox News, suddenly a very different tune about the coronavirus|date=March 16, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-date=January 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103171038/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/on-fox-news-suddenly-a-very-different-tune-about-the-coronavirus/2020/03/16/7a7637cc-678f-11ea-9923-57073adce27c_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later, ''Fox & Friends'' co-host [[Ainsley Earhardt]] suggested that it was the "safest time to fly" since "[the] [[Airport terminal|terminals]] are pretty much dead",<ref>{{cite news|last=Baragona|first=Justin|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/ainsley-earhardt-days-after-urging-viewers-to-fly-now-says-we-need-to-think-of-others|title=Ainsley Earhardt, Days After Urging Viewers to Fly, Now Says We Need to 'Think of Others'|date=March 17, 2020|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=April 7, 2020|language=en|archive-date=May 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520062029/https://www.thedailybeast.com/ainsley-earhardt-days-after-urging-viewers-to-fly-now-says-we-need-to-think-of-others|url-status=live}}</ref> and the program aired an interview with [[Liberty University]] president [[Jerry Falwell Jr.]], where he claimed that the "overreaction" to COVID-19 was "their next attempt to get Trump" and that [[COVID-19 misinformation#Chinese biological weapon|COVID-19 was a biological weapon developed by China or North Korea]] to attack the United States.<ref>{{cite web|last=Cilliza|first=Chris|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/politics/jerry-falwell-jr-coronavirus-fox/index.html|title=Jerry Falwell Jr. needs to stop talking about the coronavirus. Like, now.|website=CNN|date=March 13, 2020|access-date=April 7, 2020|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810151507/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/13/politics/jerry-falwell-jr-coronavirus-fox/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Media Matters for America-2020" /><ref name="Connelly-2020" />

Concurrent with Trump's own changes in tone and attitude surrounding the pandemic, some Fox News pundits began to openly acknowledge its severity on-air, including Hannity, Ingraham, and Earhardt.<ref name="Connelly-2020" /><ref name="The Washington Post-2020" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Gabbatt|first=Adam|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/mar/17/fox-news-coronavirus-outbreak-trump|title='We have a responsibility': Fox News declares coronavirus a crisis in abrupt U-turn|date=March 17, 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 7, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117222625/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/mar/17/fox-news-coronavirus-outbreak-trump|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="vf-heroworship" /> ''[[Vanity Fair (magazines)|Vanity Fair]]'' observed this shift in tone as an inversion of the "[[feedback loop]]" that had emerged between Trump and Fox News (resulting from Trump's discussion of stories seen on the network, particularly during ''Fox & Friends'', on social media),<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/15/how-fox-and-friends-rewrites-trumps-reality|title=How "Fox & Friends" Rewrites Trump's Reality|last=Marantz|first=Andrew|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en|date=January 15, 2018|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=May 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513130632/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/01/15/how-fox-and-friends-rewrites-trumps-reality|url-status=live}}</ref> but noted that the network's personalities were more often "showering praise on the president rather than offering their own take on things", and that Ingraham had accused other media outlets of using the pandemic to celebrate "Trump's downfall".<ref name="vf-heroworship">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/fox-news-coronavirus-coverage-morphs-from-hoax-trump-hero-worship|title=Fox's Coronavirus Coverage Morphs From "Hoax" to Trump Hero Worship|last=Ecarma|first=Caleb|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en|date=March 17, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2020|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224201515/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/fox-news-coronavirus-coverage-morphs-from-hoax-trump-hero-worship|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 24, after Trump began to endorse [[off-label use]] of [[hydroxychloroquine]] as a treatment for COVID-19 symptoms based on [[anecdotal evidence]], Hannity and Ingraham similarly promoted the drug during their respective programs.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rupar|first=Aaron|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/3/24/21192222/fox-news-coronavirus-coverage-dan-patrick-drugs|title=Fox News's coronavirus coverage slid back off the rails spectacularly on Monday night|date=March 24, 2020|work=Vox|access-date=April 5, 2020|language=en|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101001758/https://www.vox.com/2020/3/24/21192222/fox-news-coronavirus-coverage-dan-patrick-drugs|url-status=live}}</ref> During a [[White House Coronavirus Task Force|Coronavirus Task Force]] briefing on April 13, 2020, Trump screened a montage of footage taken directly from an episode of ''Hannity'', of news anchors and guests downplaying the early threat of COVID-19, as part of a video presentation that glorified his initial response to the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/media/trump-hannity-propaganda-video/index.html|title=Trump rips from episode of Hannity's show for propaganda video|last=Darcy|first=Oliver|website=CNN|date=April 14, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101135632/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/media/trump-hannity-propaganda-video/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=David|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/13/trump-coronavirus-meltdown-media-authority|title=Wounded by media scrutiny, Trump turned a briefing into a presidential tantrum|date=April 14, 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 16, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605102936/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/13/trump-coronavirus-meltdown-media-authority|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/13/politics/fact-check-coronavirus-briefing-april-13/index.html|title=Fact check: A list of false claims from Trump's bitter coronavirus briefing|website=CNN|date=April 14, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919150206/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/13/politics/fact-check-coronavirus-briefing-april-13/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/13/trumps-propaganda-laden-off-the-rails-coronavirus-briefing/|title=Trump's propaganda-laden, off-the-rails coronavirus briefing|last=Blake|first=Aaron|date=April 13, 2020|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008040252/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/13/trumps-propaganda-laden-off-the-rails-coronavirus-briefing/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fox News faced criticism for featuring [[celebrity doctor]]s such as [[Phil McGraw]] and [[Mehmet Oz]] as guests, with both of them downplaying the impact that a premature lifting of mitigation measures and "reopening" of the country (as was being proposed by Trump) would have.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cramer|first=Maria|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/business/media/dr-oz-apology-coronavirus.html|title=Dr. Oz Faces Backlash After Saying School Could Reopen|date=April 17, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 17, 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214203958/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/17/business/media/dr-oz-apology-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/dr-phil-compares-covid-19-deaths-to-smoking-and-auto-accidents-on-fox-news-ingraham-angle|title=Dr. Phil Downplays COVID-19 Deaths on Fox News by Comparing It to Smoking and Auto Accidents|last=Baragona|first=Justin|date=April 17, 2020|website=The Daily Beast|language=en|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=September 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922202700/https://www.thedailybeast.com/dr-phil-compares-covid-19-deaths-to-smoking-and-auto-accidents-on-fox-news-ingraham-angle|url-status=live}}</ref> Fox News also faced backlash for providing undue praise of [[Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic|protests against stay-at-home orders in multiple states]] (such as [[Lansing, Michigan]]'s "[[2020 Lansing, Michigan protest|Operation Gridlock]]"), including interviews with participants and organizers, and pundits praising the event and making comments critical of [[Governor of Michigan|Governor]] [[Gretchen Whitmer]] (such as Carlson calling her actions "mindless and authoritarian", and ''Fox & Friends'' co-host Brian Kilmeade predicting a larger movement against "ridiculous" [[stay-at-home order]]s).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-promoting-protests-against-social-distancing-measures-god-bless-them|title=Fox News is promoting protests against social distancing measures: "God bless them"|last=Gertz|first=Matt|website=Media Matters for America|language=en|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=April 22, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028231803/https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-promoting-protests-against-social-distancing-measures-god-bless-them|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/04/22/840717864/fox-news-gets-push-back-for-supporting-anti-shutdown-protests|title=Fox News Gets Push-Back For Supporting Anti-Shutdown Protests|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=April 22, 2020|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029001707/https://www.npr.org/2020/04/22/840717864/fox-news-gets-push-back-for-supporting-anti-shutdown-protests|url-status=live}}</ref> Trump made posts on Twitter in support of the protests on April 17, reading "LIBERATE [[COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan|MICHIGAN]]", "LIBERATE [[COVID-19 pandemic in Virginia|VIRGINIA]]" and "LIBERATE [[COVID-19 pandemic in Minnesota|MINNESOTA]]" respectively; the timing of the tweets corresponded with a segment on ''[[America's Newsroom]]'' that had covered them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/909431/trump-repeatedly-tweets-about-liberating-midwestern-states|title=Trump repeatedly tweets about 'liberating' midwestern states|date=April 17, 2020|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=April 22, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009092033/https://theweek.com/speedreads/909431/trump-repeatedly-tweets-about-liberating-midwestern-states/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/trump-tweets-praise-right-wing-protests-against-social-distancing-measures|title=Trump tweets praise of right-wing protests against social distancing measures after Fox segment|last=Gertz|first=Matt|website=Media Matters for America|date=April 17, 2020|language=en|access-date=April 22, 2020|archive-date=October 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009092035/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/trump-tweets-praise-right-wing-protests-against-social-distancing-measures/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fox News pundits showed inconsistent views towards the [[Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|wearing of face masks]] to lessen spread of infected droplets by the wearer. Hannity and ''Fox & Friends'' host Steve Doocy have supported the practice,<ref name="mm-mocks">{{cite web|title=Rush Limbaugh mocks Dr. Anthony Fauci for wearing a mask at White House event|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/rush-limbaugh-mocks-dr-anthony-fauci-wearing-mask-white-house-event|date=May 15, 2020|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=Media Matters for America|language=en|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309031658/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/rush-limbaugh-mocks-dr-anthony-fauci-wearing-mask-white-house-event|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lidsky|first=David|date=June 28, 2020|title=This one image shows how wearing a mask has become political|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90522318/this-one-image-shows-how-wearing-a-mask-has-become-political|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211114007/https://www.fastcompany.com/90522318/this-one-image-shows-how-wearing-a-mask-has-become-political|url-status=live}}</ref> as did Carlson and Ingraham in late-March; on his March 30 episode, Carlson stated that "Of course masks work. Everyone knows that. Dozens of research papers have proved it", and cited that they were "key" to controlling the pandemic in East Asia, and criticized the government's early guidance against using them for protection of the wearer.<ref name="Gertz-2020" /><ref name="Srikanth-2020" /> However, as masks became a partisan political issue over the months that followed, Carlson and Ingraham began to perpetuate opposition towards the practice, on a later episode, Carlson claimed that masking and social distancing had no basis in science.<ref name="Srikanth-2020">{{cite web|last=Srikanth|first=Anagha|date=July 8, 2020|title=Tucker Carlson wrongly claims coronavirus prevention measures aren't backed by science|url=https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/506456-tucker-carlson-wrongly-claims-coronavirus/|access-date=July 10, 2020|website=TheHill|language=en|archive-date=December 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201224938/https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/506456-tucker-carlson-wrongly-claims-coronavirus|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Reuters-2017">{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-sweden-idUSKBN15Y0QH|title=Trump baffles Sweden with crime comment, says it was based on TV report|date=February 19, 2017|work=Reuters|access-date=February 20, 2017|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105111724/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-sweden-idUSKBN15Y0QH|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gertz-2020">{{cite web|last=Gertz|first=Matt|title=How Fox News helped turn masks into another culture war flashpoint|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/how-fox-news-helped-turn-masks-another-culture-war-flashpoint|date=July 1, 2020|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=Media Matters for America|language=en|archive-date=October 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030190935/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/how-fox-news-helped-turn-masks-another-culture-war-flashpoint|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 26, 2021, Carlson claimed that making children wear masks was [[child abuse]], and that people who spot parents making their children wear masks should call police and [[child protective services]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Graham|first=David A.|date=April 27, 2021|title=Tucker Carlson, Unmasked|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/04/tucker-carlson-unmasked/618730/|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=The Atlantic|language=en|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130153403/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/04/tucker-carlson-unmasked/618730/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite having made some efforts to promote the [[COVID-19 vaccination in the United States|vaccination program]], via public service announcements, promotion of the federal Vaccines.gov website, and selected hosts making statements in support of vaccination,<ref>{{cite magazine|date=July 22, 2021|title=What's Behind Fox's Vaccine-Coverage Shift?|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/07/whats-behind-fox-news-vaccine-coverage|access-date=August 19, 2021|magazine=Vanity Fair|language=en-US|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726003322/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/07/whats-behind-fox-news-vaccine-coverage|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gertz|first=Matt|title=Fox News' anti-vaccine campaign isn't over|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/fox-news-anti-vaccine-campaign-isnt-over|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=Media Matters for America|date=July 20, 2021|language=en|archive-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208134805/https://www.mediamatters.org/coronavirus-covid-19/fox-news-anti-vaccine-campaign-isnt-over|url-status=live}}</ref> Media Matters for America found that from June 28 to August 8, at least 60% of Fox News segments discussing [[COVID-19 vaccine]]s "included claims undermining or downplaying [them]", such as political arguments, disputes and conspiracy theories regarding their safety, and arguments that they were a "cynical political ploy by Democrats". The amount of such content was shown to have intensified during the week of July 26, while Tucker Carlson, Brian Kilmeade, and frequent guest [[Marty Makary]] were identified as having discussed such content most often during the period.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fox's effort to undermine vaccines has only worsened|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/foxs-effort-undermine-vaccines-has-only-worsened|access-date=August 19, 2021|website=Media Matters for America|date=August 19, 2021|language=en|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029043249/https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/foxs-effort-undermine-vaccines-has-only-worsened|url-status=live}}</ref> Fox News implemented a [[Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic|vaccine passport]] system in July 2021 despite its hosts criticizing vaccine passports,<ref>{{cite web |last=Woodward |first=Alex |date=July 20, 2021 |title=Fox News hosts railed against 'vaccine passports' – the company requires them to return to work without a mask |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/fox-clear-pass-vaccine-passports-b1887260.html |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/fox-clear-pass-vaccine-passports-b1887260.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Khandelwal |first=Devika |date=July 21, 2021 |title=True: Fox News has rolled out "FOX Clear Pass," a type of vaccine passport. |url=https://www.logicallyfacts.com/en/fact-check/true-does-fox-news-studios-require-a-vaccine-passport-for-employees |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=[[Logically (company)|Logically]] |language=en-gb |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204033811/https://www.logicallyfacts.com/en/fact-check/true-does-fox-news-studios-require-a-vaccine-passport-for-employees |url-status=live }}</ref> and more than 90% of Fox Corporation's full-time employees had been fully vaccinated by September 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sadeque |first=Samira |date=September 15, 2021 |title=Nearly all Fox staffers vaccinated for Covid even as hosts cast doubt on vaccine |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/15/fox-news-vaccines-testing-tucker-carlson |access-date=February 28, 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029043700/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/sep/15/fox-news-vaccines-testing-tucker-carlson |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other Fox News Media properties have also faced criticism and controversies over their coverage of the pandemic. In March 2020, Fox Business anchor [[Trish Regan]] left the network amid criticism of a March 7 segment on her program, where she accused Democrats of politicizing the pandemic so they could blame Donald Trump for it, and seek a [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|second impeachment]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Grynbaum|first=Michael M.|date=March 27, 2020|title=Trish Regan, Fox Business Host Who Dismissed Virus Concerns, Departs|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/business/trish-regan-fox-business-coronavirus.html|access-date=March 27, 2020|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424012627/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/business/trish-regan-fox-business-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 10, 2020|title=Trish Regan Says Coronavirus Is An Impeachment 'Scam'|url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trish-regan-says-coronavirus-is-an-impeachment-scam-against-trump-all-over-again-trying-to-demonize-and-destroy-the-president/|access-date=March 27, 2020|website=Mediaite|language=en|archive-date=April 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426202458/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/trish-regan-says-coronavirus-is-an-impeachment-scam-against-trump-all-over-again-trying-to-demonize-and-destroy-the-president/|url-status=live}}</ref> One month later, [[Fox Nation]] severed its ties with conservative vloggers [[Diamond and Silk]] after they repeatedly promoted various COVID-19 conspiracy theories.<ref>{{cite news|last=Baragona|first=Lachlan Cartwright{{!}}Justin|date=April 27, 2020|title=Fox News Cuts Ties With Diamond & Silk|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-cuts-ties-with-diamond-and-silk|access-date=April 28, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325220552/https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-news-cuts-ties-with-diamond-and-silk|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Johnson-2020">{{cite web|first1=Ted|last1=Johnson|first2=Dominic|last2=Patten|date=April 28, 2020|title=Fox News Severs Ties With Diamond And Silk, Trump Campaign Surrogates Who Pushed Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/diamond-and-silk-fox-news-donald-trump-1202919395/|access-date=April 28, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|archive-date=April 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428012100/https://deadline.com/2020/04/diamond-and-silk-fox-news-donald-trump-1202919395/|url-status=live}}</ref> On December 23, 2020, Fox Business program ''Mornings with Maria'' was duped by the animal rights group [[Direct Action Everywhere]], airing an interview with an activist posing as [[Smithfield Foods]]' CEO Dennis Organ to discuss its response to the pandemic. He suggested that "the conditions inside of our farms can sometimes be petri dishes for new diseases", and that the [[meat packing industry]] could "effectively [bring] on the next pandemic." The program's anchor [[Maria Bartiromo]] issued an apology at the end of the show, saying that they had been "punked".<ref>{{cite news |last=Burke |first=Minyvonne |date=December 23, 2020 |title=Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo interviewed animal activist posing as Smithfield Foods CEO |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fox-business-host-maria-bartiromo-interviewed-animal-activist-posing-smithfield-n1252278 |url-status=live |work=[[NBC News]] |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111032915/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fox-business-host-maria-bartiromo-interviewed-animal-activist-posing-smithfield-n1252278 |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Goldman|first=David|title=Fox News' Maria Bartiromo thought she was interviewing the CEO of Smithfield Foods. It was an impostor|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/23/media/maria-bartiromo-smithfield/index.html|access-date=April 12, 2021|website=CNN|date=December 23, 2020|archive-date=December 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224032143/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/23/media/maria-bartiromo-smithfield/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Reactions===
An academic study conducted by economists at the [[University of Chicago]], Harvard University, and other institutions, found a correlation between viewership of ''Hannity'' and a greater number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, relative to viewership of ''[[Tucker Carlson Tonight]]'' on the same channel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bfi.uchicago.edu/working-paper/2020-44/|title=Misinformation During a Pandemic|website=Becker Friedman Institute|language=en|access-date=April 21, 2020|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309202320/https://bfi.uchicago.edu/working-paper/2020-44/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fox fired Regan, who had claimed that the concern over coronavirus was "another attempt to impeach the president" on her show on March 9; her last appearance was on March 13.<ref>{{cite news |last=Grynbaum |first=Michael M. |date=March 27, 2020 |title=Trish Regan, Fox Business Host Who Dismissed Virus Concerns, Departs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/business/trish-regan-fox-business-coronavirus.html |work=The New York Times |language=en |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424012627/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/27/business/trish-regan-fox-business-coronavirus.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In April 2020, the Washington League for Increased Transparency and Ethics (WASHLITE) sued Fox News under the state's Consumer Protection Act for allegedly "falsely and deceptively disseminating 'news'" that coronavirus was "not a danger to public health and safety." In response, Fox News maintained that its "political commentary" amounts to "constitutionally protected opinions" and that hosts Sean Hannity and [[Trish Regan]] participated in an "intense public debate" over the predicted severity of the threat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.salon.com/2020/04/16/fox-news-fights-coronavirus-misinformation-lawsuit-first-amendment-protects-false-speech/|title=Fox News fights coronavirus misinformation lawsuit: First Amendment protects "false" speech|last=Derysh|first=Igor|date=April 16, 2020|website=Salon|language=en|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=June 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629051242/https://www.salon.com/2020/04/16/fox-news-fights-coronavirus-misinformation-lawsuit-first-amendment-protects-false-speech/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-state-nonprofit-files-lawsuit-seeking-to-stop-fox-news-from-broadcasting-false-information-about-the-coronavirus/|title=Washington state nonprofit files lawsuit saying Fox News misled viewers about coronavirus|date=April 3, 2020|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814190159/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-state-nonprofit-files-lawsuit-seeking-to-stop-fox-news-from-broadcasting-false-information-about-the-coronavirus/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 27, [[King County, Washington|King County]] Superior Court Judge Brian McDonald decided Fox News was within their [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights. Washlite [[appeal]]ed the case,<ref>{{cite news|last=Stone|first=Ken|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2020/05/27/seattle-judge-throws-out-covid-19-hoax-suit-against-fox-news/|title=Seattle Judge Throws Out COVID-19 'Hoax' Suit Against Fox News|work=Times of San Diego|language=en|date=May 27, 2020|access-date=May 27, 2020|archive-date=May 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515144702/https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2020/05/27/seattle-judge-throws-out-covid-19-hoax-suit-against-fox-news/|url-status=live}}</ref> and on August 30, 2021, the appeal was rejected on the grounds that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution bars WASHLITE's action.<ref>{{cite web|title=WASHINGTON LEAGUE FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY & ETHICS, a Washington non-profit corporation, Appellants, v. FOX NEWS, FOX NEWS GROUP, FOX NEWS CORPORATION, RUPERT MURDOCH, AT&T TV, COMCAST, Respondents|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WASHLITE-APPEAL-RULING.pdf|access-date=August 31, 2021|archive-date=August 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831064119/https://timesofsandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WASHLITE-APPEAL-RULING.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

A November 2021 survey from the [[Kaiser Family Foundation]] found that 36% of Fox News viewers believed or were unsure about four or more false claims about the pandemic, while 52% believed or were unsure of 1 to 3 false claims. The false claims checked in the survey included the idea that the COVID-19 vaccines cause [[infertility]] and that the government is exaggerating the number of deaths due to COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mole |first=Beth |date=November 9, 2021 |title=38% of US adults believe government is faking COVID-19 death toll |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/38-of-us-adults-believe-government-is-faking-covid-19-death-toll/ |access-date=January 5, 2024 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=January 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105011026/https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/11/38-of-us-adults-believe-government-is-faking-covid-19-death-toll/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== False claims about the 2020 election ==
{{See also|Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election}}
After Trump's defeat in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], Fox News promoted baseless allegations that voting machine company [[Smartmatic]] and [[Dominion Voting Systems]] had conspired to rig the election for [[Joe Biden]]. Hosts [[Jeanine Pirro]], [[Lou Dobbs]] and [[Maria Bartiromo]] promoted the allegations on their programs on sister network [[Fox Business]]. In December 2020, Smartmatic sent a letter to Fox News demanding retractions and threatening legal action.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Legal-Notice-and-Retraction-Demand-from-Smartmatic-USA-Corp-to-Fox-News.pdf|title=Re: Legal Notice and Retraction Demand from Smartmatic USA Corp|date=December 10, 2020|author=J. Erik Connolly|publisher=Benesch|via=Mediaite|access-date=June 11, 2021|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214172710/https://www.mediaite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Legal-Notice-and-Retraction-Demand-from-Smartmatic-USA-Corp-to-Fox-News.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=November 2021}} However, Pirro, Dobbs, and Bartiromo refused to issue retractions as they played a three-minute video segment consisting of an interview with an election technology expert who refuted the allegations promoted by the hosts, responding to questions from an unseen and unidentified man.

Two lawsuits resulted:
* In February 2021, Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation suit against the network and the three hosts.
* On March 26, 2021, Dominion filed a $1.6 billion defamation suit against the network.<ref>{{cite news|last=Izadi|first=Elahe|date=March 26, 2021|title=Fox News sued by Dominion Voting for $1.6 billion over election fraud claims|language=en-US|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/03/26/fox-dominion-lawsuit-defamation/|access-date=March 26, 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326155159/https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/03/26/fox-dominion-lawsuit-defamation/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fox News did not simulcast the [[Public hearings of the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack|2022 public hearings of the January 6 committee]] although competitor channels aired it. For the duration of the first hearing, Fox News simulcast it with no audio and cut footage.

In April 2023, Fox News announced that it had settled with Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil, whom former Fox News host Lou Dobbs had accused of helping rig the 2020 presidential elections against Donald Trump. Khalil's lawsuit was separate from the ongoing lawsuits with Smartmatic and Dominion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fox News settles lawsuit with Venezuelan over election vote-rigging claims |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/apr/10/fox-news-settles-lawsuit-with-venezuelan-over-election-vote-rigging-claims |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=April 10, 2023 |language=en-GB |date=April 10, 2023 |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410070758/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/apr/10/fox-news-settles-lawsuit-with-venezuelan-over-election-vote-rigging-claims |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Dominion defamation lawsuit against Fox Corporation ===
{{Main|Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network|l1=''Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network''}}
{{See also|Dominion Voting Systems#Defamation lawsuit against Fox News}}

On March 26, 2021, Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.6 billion defamation suit against Fox News.

On May 18, 2021, Fox News filed a motion to dismiss the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit, asserting a [[First Amendment]] right "to inform the public about newsworthy allegations of paramount public concern."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Folkenflik |first1=David |last2=Romo |first2=Vanessa |date=May 18, 2021 |title=Fox News Moves To Have Dominion Voting Systems Lawsuit Dismissed |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/998099249/fox-news-moves-to-have-dominion-voting-systems-lawsuit-dismissed |access-date=May 23, 2021 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521081212/https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/998099249/fox-news-moves-to-have-dominion-voting-systems-lawsuit-dismissed |url-status=live }}</ref> A Dominion lawyer said that a dismissal of the lawsuit would give Fox News a "blank check" to lie.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 10, 2021 |title=Fox News Wants 'Blank Check' to Broadcast Lies, Dominion Tells Judge |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-10/fox-wants-blank-check-to-broadcast-lies-dominion-tells-judge |access-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112220147/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-10/fox-wants-blank-check-to-broadcast-lies-dominion-tells-judge |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 8, 2021, Dominion sued its parent companies, [[Fox Corporation]] and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox Broadcasting]], for defamation and for failing to preserve documents relating to the role Murdoch played in spreading false claims about Dominion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Larson |first=Erik |date=November 10, 2021 |title=Dominion Voting Sues Fox, Seeking Election Evidence From Murdochs |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-10/fox-sued-as-dominion-seeks-election-evidence-from-rupert-murdoch |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119094730/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-10/fox-sued-as-dominion-seeks-election-evidence-from-rupert-murdoch |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Durkee |first=Alison |date=November 11, 2021 |title=Did Murdochs Push Election Fraud Claims? Dominion Sues Fox Corp. To Find out |work=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/11/11/did-murdochs-push-election-fraud-claims-dominion-sues-fox-corp-to-find-out/ |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-date=November 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211124152125/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2021/11/11/did-murdochs-push-election-fraud-claims-dominion-sues-fox-corp-to-find-out/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On February 16, 2023, Dominion filed a [[motion for summary judgment]], citing dozens of internal communications sent during the months after the 2020 presidential election.<ref name="Dominion_brief">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/59b93674-ba03-4bc1-94da-5e15f776fc43.pdf |title=Dominion's Brief in Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment on Liability of Fox News Network, LLC and Fox Corporation Dated: January 17, 2022 Public Version Filed on February 16, 2023 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=February 19, 2023 |archive-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227171734/https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/59b93674-ba03-4bc1-94da-5e15f776fc43.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 18, 2023, Fox and Dominion settled for $787.5 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fox News Settles Dominion Defamation Case for $787.5 Million, Dominion Lawyer Says |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/04/18/fox-news-settles-dominion-defamation-case-for-7875-million-dominion-lawyer-says/?sh=7dac07541509 |website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418215902/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2023/04/18/fox-news-settles-dominion-defamation-case-for-7875-million-dominion-lawyer-says/?sh=7dac07541509 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Evidence ====
Dominion showed evidence indicating that privately the Fox hosts did not believe the election fraud lies they pushed publicly.<ref name="Yang_2/18/2023">{{cite web |last=Yang |first=Mary |date=February 18, 2023 |title=Compare the election-fraud claims Fox News aired with what its stars knew |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/02/18/1157972219/fox-news-election-fraud-claims-vs-what-they-knew |access-date=February 23, 2023 |website=[[NPR]] |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223011818/https://www.npr.org/2023/02/18/1157972219/fox-news-election-fraud-claims-vs-what-they-knew |url-status=live }}</ref> Several prominent network hosts and senior executives—including chairman [[Rupert Murdoch]] and CEO [[Suzanne Scott]]—discussed their knowledge that the allegations of election fraud they were reporting were false. The communications showed their concerns that if they did not continue to report these falsehoods, viewers would be alienated and switch to rival conservative networks like [[Newsmax]] and [[OANN]], impacting corporate profitability.<ref>Multiple sources:
* {{cite news | last=Barr | first=Jeremy | title=Fox News hosts, execs privately doubted 2020 conspiracy claims shared on air | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=February 17, 2023 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/02/16/fox-news-2020-lies-dominion-suit/ | access-date=February 17, 2023 | archive-date=February 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217043530/https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/02/16/fox-news-2020-lies-dominion-suit/ | url-status=live }}
* {{cite web | last1=Peters | first1=Jeremy W | last2=Robertson | first2=Katie | title=Fox Stars Privately Expressed Disbelief About Trump's Election Fraud Claims | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=February 16, 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/business/media/fox-dominion-lawsuit.html | access-date=February 18, 2023 | archive-date=April 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230419071342/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/business/media/fox-dominion-lawsuit.html | url-status=live }}
* {{cite web | last=Darcy | first=Oliver | title=Analysis: Fox News has been exposed as a dishonest organization terrified of its own audience | website=[[CNN]] | date=February 17, 2023 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/business/fox-news-dominion-lies/index.html | access-date=February 20, 2023 | archive-date=February 20, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220015142/https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/17/business/fox-news-dominion-lies/index.html | url-status=live }}
* {{cite web | last=Joyella | first=Mark | title=CNN's Oliver Darcy: Leaked Messages In Dominion Lawsuit 'Expose Fox News As A Propaganda Network' | website=[[Forbes]] | date=February 17, 2023 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2023/02/17/cnns-oliver-darcy-leaked-messages-in-dominion-lawsuit-expose-fox-news-as-a-propaganda-network/ | access-date=February 20, 2023 | archive-date=February 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219101230/https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2023/02/17/cnns-oliver-darcy-leaked-messages-in-dominion-lawsuit-expose-fox-news-as-a-propaganda-network/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Internal texts and other products of discovery against Fox revealed that [[Tucker Carlson]] privately doubted the false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and mocked Trump advisors, including [[Rudy Giuliani]] and [[Sidney Powell]]. Carlson texted to [[Laura Ingraham]], "Sidney Powell is lying by the way. I caught her. It's insane" and "Our viewers are good people and they believe it."<ref name="Peters_Robertson_2/16/2023">{{cite web | last1=Peters | first1=Jeremy W | last2=Robertson | first2=Katie | title=Fox Stars Privately Expressed Disbelief About Trump's Election Fraud Claims | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=February 16, 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/business/media/fox-dominion-lawsuit.html | access-date=February 18, 2023 | archive-date=April 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20230419071342/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/16/business/media/fox-dominion-lawsuit.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, Carlson texted to [[Sean Hannity]], saying fellow Fox reporter Jacqui Heinrich should be fired for fact-checking false claims Carlson and Trump circulated about Dominion. He wrote "Please get her fired. Seriously.... What the fuck? I'm actually shocked... It needs to stop immediately, like tonight. It's measurably hurting the company. The stock price is down. Not a joke.", and said he "just went crazy on" a Fox executive over Heinrich's reporting.<ref name="Stahl_2/17/2023">{{cite web | last=Stahl | first=Jeremy | title=Tucker Carlson's Dominion Text Messages Are a Thing of Beauty | website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] | date=February 17, 2023 | url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/02/tucker-carlson-text-messages-dominion-lawsuit-fox-news.html | access-date=February 18, 2023 | archive-date=February 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217222914/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/02/tucker-carlson-text-messages-dominion-lawsuit-fox-news.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Rupert Murdoch privately messaged that [[Big lie#Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election|Trump's voter fraud claims]] were "really crazy stuff", telling Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott that it was "terrible stuff damaging everybody, I fear". As a January 2021 Georgia runoff election approached that would determine party control of the U.S. Senate, Murdoch told Scott, "Trump will concede eventually and we should concentrate on Georgia, helping any way we can."<ref name="Peters_Robertson_2/16/2023" /><ref name="Rubin_Bruggeman_2/16/2023">{{cite web | last1=Rubin | first1=Olivia | last2=Bruggeman | first2=Lucien | title=Fox News hosts called 2020 election fraud 'total BS' in private, new Dominion court filing says | website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] | date=February 16, 2023 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/fox-news-hosts-called-2020-election-fraud-total/story?id=97261751 | access-date=February 18, 2023 | archive-date=February 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217234056/https://abcnews.go.com/US/fox-news-hosts-called-2020-election-fraud-total/story?id=97261751 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Klasfeld_2/16/2023">{{cite web | last=Klasfeld | first=Adam | title='Really crazy stuff': Rupert Murdoch trashed Rudy Giuliani's election theories, unsealed filing in Fox News suit reveals | website=[[Dan Abrams#Law&Crime|Law & Crime]] | date=February 16, 2023 | url=https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/really-crazy-stuff-rupert-murdoch-trashed-rudy-giulianis-election-theories-unsealed-filing-in-fox-news-suit-reveals/ | access-date=March 5, 2023 | archive-date=March 8, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308005248/https://lawandcrime.com/2020-election/really-crazy-stuff-rupert-murdoch-trashed-rudy-giulianis-election-theories-unsealed-filing-in-fox-news-suit-reveals/ | url-status=live }}</ref> When Murdoch was deposed, he acknowledged that some [[Fox News#2020 election fraud allegations and lawsuits by Dominion and Smartmatic|Fox News commentators]] were endorsing election fraud claims they knew were false.<ref name="Matza_2/27/2023">{{cite web | last=Matza | first=Max | title=Rupert Murdoch says Fox News hosts endorsed false election fraud claims | website=[[BBC News]] | date=February 28, 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64794606 | access-date=February 28, 2023 | archive-date=March 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307075629/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64794606 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Peters_Robertson_2/27/2023">{{cite web | last1=Peters | first1=Jeremy W | last2=Robertson | first2=Katie | title=Murdoch Acknowledges Fox News Hosts Endorsed Election Fraud Falsehoods | website=[[The New York Times]] | date=February 27, 2023 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/business/media/fox-news-dominion-rupert-murdoch.html | access-date=February 28, 2023 | archive-date=March 5, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305135145/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/business/media/fox-news-dominion-rupert-murdoch.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Smartmatic defamation lawsuit against Fox Corporation ===

In February 2021, [[Smartmatic]] USA Corporation launched a defamation lawsuit against Fox Corporation, claiming $2.7&nbsp;billion in damage as a result of the coverage of Donald Trump's claim that the 2020 US Presidential election was stolen. Fox motioned to dismiss, but in March 2023, the New York state Supreme Court denied the motion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fox News braces for more turbulence as second defamation lawsuit advances |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/13/smartmatic-defamation-lawsuit-against-fox-news |work=The Guardian |date=March 13, 2023 |author1=Ed Pilkington |access-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-date=March 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313140235/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/13/smartmatic-defamation-lawsuit-against-fox-news |url-status=live }}</ref> A lawyer for Smartmatic said the company would not accept a financial settlement smaller than Dominion's, and furthermore they demanded that Fox make a "full retraction" of its election lies.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Marshall |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Smartmatic wants more than Dominion's $787 million payout, plus a retraction from Fox for its 2020 election lies, lawyer says {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/media/smartmatic-fox-news-retraction/index.html |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=April 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424222642/https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/media/smartmatic-fox-news-retraction/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 9, 2025, a court ruled that Smartmatic's lawsuit could proceed.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=2025-01-10 |title=Fox News headed for trial, again, over 2020 election fraud claims |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/10/nx-s1-5256432/smartmatic-fox-news-trial-defamation-election-2020-trump |access-date=2025-05-09 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

=== Ray Epps conspiracy theory ===
{{Main|Ray Epps (military veteran)}}
In July 2023, Ray Epps started legal proceedings against Fox News, following former host Tucker Carlson sharing incorrect allegations that Epps was an [[agent provocateur]] during the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |date=July 13, 2023 |title=Analysis {{!}} Fox News's trouble with Tucker Carlson and Ray Epps |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/13/tucker-carlson-ray-epps-fox/ |access-date=July 14, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

=== New York City Pension Funds lawsuit against Fox Corporation ===
In September 2023, [[New York City pension funds]] filed a lawsuit against Fox Corporation alleging negligence for knowingly opening itself up to defamation lawsuits. At the time, New York City pension funds held 857,000 shares of Fox stock worth $28.1 million.<ref>{{cite news |last=Robertson |first=Katie |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Fox Sued by New York City Pension Funds Over Election Falsehoods |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/business/media/fox-shareholder-lawsuit.html |access-date=September 13, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204033814/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/business/media/fox-shareholder-lawsuit.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The state of Oregon joined the lawsuit on behalf of the [[Oregon Public Employees Retirement System|Oregon Public Employee Retirement]] fund which at the time held 225,000 shares worth $5.2 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=IV |first=Antonio Pequeño |title=Fox Sued Again: NYC Pension Funds Allege False Election Coverage Exposed Company To Defamation |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/09/12/fox-sued-again-nyc-pension-funds-allege-false-election-coverage-exposed-company-to-defamation/ |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=September 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913152950/https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/09/12/fox-sued-again-nyc-pension-funds-allege-false-election-coverage-exposed-company-to-defamation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Hunter Biden lawsuit===
On July 1, 2024, [[Hunter Biden]] sued Fox News. He alleges "[[revenge porn]]" due to them sharing nude photos of him on air, without his permission. The lawsuit "alleges Fox violated New York state's so-called revenge porn law, which makes it illegal to publish intimate images of a person without their consent. He is also suing for unjust enrichment and intentional infliction of emotional distress."

The lawsuit also addresses a program that Fox had aired in October 2022, called "The Trial of Hunter Biden: A Mock Trial for the American People." After Biden had threatened a lawsuit in 2022, Fox took down the program. According to the lawsuit, the news corporation still promotes the since removed program with clips and reels. Fox News called the lawsuit "politically motivated" and "devoid of merit."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Queen |first=Jack |date=July 2, 2024 |title=Hunter Biden sues Fox News over 'mock trial' miniseries |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hunter-biden-sues-fox-news-over-mock-trial-miniseries-2024-07-01/ |access-date=September 26, 2024 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Biden dropped the lawsuit on July 22.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-22 |title=Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against Fox News over explicit images featured in streaming series |url=https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-fox-news-lawsuit-c09957a54e0b4a8dea5f61f87a5eb3f5 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

== Human rights violations ==
In mid-2021, Fox News agreed to pay a $1 million settlement to New York City after its [[Commission on Human Rights]] cited "a pattern of violating the [[New York City Human Rights Law|NYC Human Rights Law]]". A Fox News spokesperson claimed that "FOX News Media has already been in full compliance across the board, but [settled] to continue enacting extensive preventive measures against all forms of discrimination and harassment."<ref>{{cite news|last=Perrett|first=Connor|date=June 29, 2021|title=Fox News agrees to pay $1 million fine for human rights law violation in New York City|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-1-million-fine-human-rights-law-violation-2021-6|access-date=July 3, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=en-US|archive-date=July 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703151400/https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-1-million-fine-human-rights-law-violation-2021-6|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Criticism of pundits ==

===Notable pundits===
* [[Glenn Beck]], the host of an eponymous afternoon commentary show, stated in 2009 that he believed President Obama is "a racist" and has "a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture."<ref name="ObamaCBS">{{cite news | first=David | last=Bauder | title=Fox's Glenn Beck: President Obama is a racist | date=July 28, 2009 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/29/politics/main5195604.shtml | agency=Associated Press | access-date=July 29, 2009 | work=CBS News | archive-date=October 21, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021173025/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/29/politics/main5195604.shtml | url-status=dead }}</ref> These remarks drew criticism, and resulted in a boycott promulgated by [[Color of Change]].<ref name="Ariens">{{cite news|first=Chris |last=Ariens |title=Glenn Beck's 'Racist' Comment Sends Advertisers Elsewhere |date=July 28, 2009 |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/glenn_becks_racist_comment_sends_advertisers_elsewhere_123710.asp |work=TVNewser |access-date=August 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810010229/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/glenn_becks_racist_comment_sends_advertisers_elsewhere_123710.asp |archive-date=August 10, 2009 }}</ref> The boycott resulted in eighty advertisers requesting their ads be [[Glenn Beck (TV program)#Advertiser boycott|removed from his programming]] to avoid associating their brands with content that could be considered offensive by potential customers. Beck later apologized for the remarks, stating on ''Fox News Sunday'' that he has a "big fat mouth" and miscast as racism what is actually, as he theorizes, Obama's belief in [[black theology]].<ref name="Ariens"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0810/Beck_I_have_a_big_fat_mouth.html|title=Beck: "I have a big fat mouth"|author=Media|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226222656/https://www.politico.com/blogs/onmedia/0810/Beck_I_have_a_big_fat_mouth.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Steve | last=Krakauer | title=Glenn Beck's 'Obama is Racist' Comment Fuels MSNBC and Beyond | date=July 29, 2009 | url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/glenn-becks-obama-is-racist-comment-fuels-msnbc-and-beyond/ | work=Mediaite | access-date=July 29, 2009 | archive-date=June 19, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619203745/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/glenn-becks-obama-is-racist-comment-fuels-msnbc-and-beyond/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSTRE57C07920090813|title=Fox News' "Glenn Beck" loses advertisers|date=July 12, 2009|access-date=July 13, 2009|last=Hein|first=Kenneth|work=Reuters|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019111038/https://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSTRE57C07920090813|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/08/18/glenn-beck-boycott-censorship-or-good-citizenship/?icid=main%7cmain%7cd%7c5%7clink6%7chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F08%2F18%2Fglenn-beck-boycott-censorship-or-good-citizenship%2F|work=politicsdaily.com|title=Glenn Beck Boycott: Censorship or Good Citizenship?|first=Carl M.|last=Cannon|date=August 18, 2009|access-date=September 30, 2009|archive-date=May 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508113914/http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/08/18/glenn-beck-boycott-censorship-or-good-citizenship/?icid=main%7cmain%7cd%7c5%7clink6%7chttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicsdaily.com%2F2009%2F08%2F18%2Fglenn-beck-boycott-censorship-or-good-citizenship%2F|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=Corky | last=Siemaszko | title=Advertisers continue to abandon Glenn Beck after pundit had called President Obama a 'racist' | date=September 3, 2009 | newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)]] | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/09/03/2009-09-03_advertisers_.html | access-date=September 3, 2009 | archive-date=May 25, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525221212/http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/09/03/2009-09-03_advertisers_.html | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/04/waitrose-fox-news-barack-obama|title=Waitrose dumps Fox News in protest over remarks about Barack Obama|last=Jones|first=Sam|date=October 4, 2009|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=October 6, 2009|location=London, UK|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411093739/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/04/waitrose-fox-news-barack-obama|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.google.com/View?id=dd4bwz2p_12gn7hrdgj |title=10.6.09 – Glenn Beck Release |access-date=October 30, 2010 |archive-date=June 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603031428/http://docs.google.com/View?id=dd4bwz2p_12gn7hrdgj |url-status=live }}</ref> Beck left Fox News in June 2011 after twenty-nine months with the network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.times-herald.com/HOTstory/Glenn-Beck-has-last-Fox-News-Channel-show2011-07-03T07-37-34|title=Glenn Beck has last Fox News Channel show|date=July 3, 2011|access-date=July 4, 2011}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>[http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/07/critics-notebook-glenn-beck-says-goodbye.html Los Angeles Times] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224203328/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/07/critics-notebook-glenn-beck-says-goodbye.html |date=February 24, 2021 }} "Critic's Notebook: Glenn Beck says goodbye"</ref>
* [[Neil Cavuto]], who is also Fox News' vice president of business news and a current member of the network's executive committee, was described as a "Bush apologist" by critics<ref>[http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0613-23.htm Waking to Reality; Bush Numbers Drop as Americans Reject Spin] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206124438/http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0613-23.htm |date=February 6, 2006 }} (editorial), ''Daily Camera'', June 13, 2005</ref> after conducting an allegedly deferential interview with President George W. Bush. Democratic strategists and politicians boycotted Cavuto's show in 2004 after he claimed, on air, that al-Qaeda leader [[Osama bin Laden]] was rooting for Bush's campaign opponent, Senator John Kerry.<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200411040008 Cavuto defended suggestion that bin Laden was wearing Kerry campaign button in videotaped message] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224105455/http://mediamatters.org/items/200411040008 |date=February 24, 2008 }}, Media Matters for America, November 4, 2004</ref> Cavuto has also received criticism for gratuitous footage and photos of scantily clad [[supermodel]]s and [[Pornographic film actor|adult film stars]] on his program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200512190010|title=Cavuto's World populated by Victoria's Secret, Playboy models and a pole-dancing Pamela Anderson|work=Media Matters for America|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=April 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423063244/http://mediamatters.org/items/200512190010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/video/2006/05/15/porn-world-with-neil-cavuto-fox-business-show-f/135698|title=Porn World with Neil Cavuto: Fox business show featured more scantily clad women|website=[[Media Matters for America]]|date=October 10, 2007|access-date=September 10, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202013816/http://mediamatters.org/video/2006/05/15/porn-world-with-neil-cavuto-fox-business-show-f/135698|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Alan Colmes]], who from 1996 to 2009 was co-host of the political debate program ''[[Hannity & Colmes]]'', was touted by Fox News as "a hard-hitting [[Liberalism in the United States|liberal]]"<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080228151455/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,1536,00.html Alan Colmes' Bio], [[FoxNews.com]], October 10, 2002</ref> who was used to counter the opinions of his co-host, conservative talk radio personality Sean Hannity. However, while speaking to ''[[USA Today]]'', Colmes described himself as "quite moderate". He was characterized by several newspapers as being Hannity's "[[sidekick]]".<ref name="fair_aggressive_conservative">[https://fair.org/home/an-aggressive-conservative-vs-a-quotliberal-to-be-determinedquot/ "An Aggressive Conservative vs. a "Liberal to be Determined"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225010436/https://fair.org/home/an-aggressive-conservative-vs-a-quotliberal-to-be-determinedquot/ |date=February 25, 2021 }} by Steve Rendall, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, November/December 2003</ref> Liberal commentator and future Minnesota Senator [[Al Franken]] lambasted Colmes in his book, ''[[Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them]]''. Throughout the book, Colmes' name is printed in smaller type than all other words to emphasize Franken's belief that Colmes' role was to feebly defend liberal positions, allowing him to be bulldozed by Hannity. Franken accuses Colmes of refusing to ask tough questions during debates and neglecting to challenge erroneous claims made by Hannity or his guests.<ref name="fair_aggressive_conservative"/>
* [[John Gibson (media host)|John Gibson]], the former host of an afternoon program called ''[[The Big Story (2000 TV series)|The Big Story]]'', was cited as an example of Fox News blurring the lines between objective reporting and opinion programming. Gibson caused a general uproar among listeners immediately after the [[Florida election recount|2000 presidential election controversy]] when, during the opinion segment of his show, Gibson asked: "Is this a case where knowing the facts actually would be worse than not knowing? I mean, should we burn these ballots, preserve them in amber, or shred them?" and, "George Bush is going to be president. And who needs to know that he's not a legitimate president?"<ref>[http://fair.org/take-action/action-alerts/fox-reporter-on-florida-ballots-burn-them-or-shred-them/ Fox Reporter on Florida Ballots: Burn Them or Shred Them?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224141701/https://fair.org/take-action/action-alerts/fox-reporter-on-florida-ballots-burn-them-or-shred-them/ |date=February 24, 2021 }}, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, December 20, 2000</ref> In an opinion piece on the [[Hutton Inquiry]] decision, Gibson said the [[BBC]] had "a frothing-at-the-mouth [[anti-Americanism]] that was obsessive, irrational and dishonest" and that the BBC reporter, [[Andrew Gilligan]], "insisted on air that the [[Iraqi Army]] was heroically repulsing an incompetent [[United States Armed Forces|American military]]."<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/liar-liar Liar Liar]  by John Gibson, [[FoxNews.com]], January 29, 2004</ref> In reviewing viewer complaints, [[Ofcom]] (the United Kingdom's statutory broadcasting regulator) ruled that Fox News had breached the program code in three areas: "respect for truth", "opportunity to take part", and "personal opinions expressed (in an opinion slot) must not rest upon false evidence." Fox News admitted that Gilligan had not actually said the words that Gibson appeared to attribute to him; Ofcom rejected the claim that it was intended to be a paraphrase.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051127143339/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/pcb_11/upheld_cases Standards Cases – Upheld cases; The Big Story: My Word (archived from the original)], [[Ofcom]], January 28, 2004</ref> Gibson also called [[Joseph C. Wilson|Joe Wilson]] a "liar", claimed that "the [[Far-left politics|far left]]" is working for al-Qaeda<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200601200009 Matthews, Gingrich, Hannity, others seize on new bin Laden tape to discredit war critics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209091748/http://mediamatters.org/items/200601200009 |date=December 9, 2008 }}, [[Media Matters for America]], January 20, 2006</ref> and stated that he wished that [[Paris]] had been host to the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympic Games]], because it would have subjected the city to the threat of terrorism instead of [[London]].<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200507080002 Fox's Gibson on "golden opportunity" missed: If France had been selected for 2012 Olympics, terrorists would "blow up Paris, and who cares?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302030830/http://mediamatters.org/items/200507080002 |date=March 2, 2009 }}, Media Matters for America, July 8, 2005</ref>
* [[Steven Milloy]], a commentator for FoxNews.com, has been critical of the science behind global warming and [[secondhand smoke]] as a [[carcinogen]]. In a February 6, 2006, article in ''[[The New Republic]]'', [[Paul D. Thacker]] revealed that [[ExxonMobil]] had donated $90,000 to two [[non-profit organization]]s run out of Milloy's house.<ref name="tnr">"Smoked Out: Pundit for Hire." Paul D. Thacker. ''The New Republic'', February 6, 2006.</ref> In addition, Milloy received almost $100,000 a year from [[Philip Morris USA]] during the time he was arguing that secondhand smoke was not carcinogenic.<ref name="pmbudget">[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/kwk84a00 Philip Morris budget for "Strategy and Social Responsibility", detailing $180,000 in "fees and expenses" paid to Steven Milloy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901155806/http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/kwk84a00 |date=September 1, 2013 }}. Accessed October 5, 2006.</ref> Milloy's website, junkscience.com, was reviewed and revised by a [[public relations]] firm hired by [[R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company|RJR Tobacco]].<ref name="rjrmemo">[http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/syq70d00 Activity Report, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., December 1996, describing R.J.R. Tobacco's input into Milloy's junkscience website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113025048/http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/tid/syq70d00 |date=January 13, 2015 }}. From the [http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/ Legacy Tobacco Documents Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623173240/http://legacy.library.ucsf.edu/ |date=June 23, 2015 }} at the [[University of California, San Francisco]]. Accessed October 5, 2006.</ref> In response to Thacker's disclosure of this [[conflict of interest]], Paul Schur, director of media relations for Fox News, stated that "... Fox News was unaware of Milloy's connection with Philip Morris. Any affiliation he had should have been disclosed."<ref name="tnr"/>
* [[E.D. Hill]] introduced an upcoming discussion before a commercial break about a [[fist bump]] between Barack and [[Michelle Obama]] after the 2008 Democratic primaries by stating that the gesture was either "A fist bump? A pound? [or] A terrorist fist jab?", but never explained the term when the segment continued after the break.<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox News Asks If Michelle and Barack Did a 'Terrorist Fist Jab'|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/fox-news-asks-i.html|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=June 9, 2008|access-date=June 10, 2008|archive-date=May 24, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524154732/http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/fox-news-asks-i.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The incident was considered controversial among bloggers and political commentators.<ref>Politico: [https://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0608/Fistjabbing_with_the_enemy.html Fist-jabbing with the enemy.]  June 9, 2008.</ref><ref>''[[Morning Joe]]'', [[NBC News]], [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001 June 10, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201235806/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001 |date=December 1, 2019 }}.</ref><ref>''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]'', NBC News, [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001 June 9, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201235806/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001 |date=December 1, 2019 }}.</ref><ref>''Verdict with Dan Abrams'', NBC News, [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001 June 9, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201235806/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001 |date=December 1, 2019 }}.</ref> Hill apologized for her comments the next day.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120905224158/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/hill_apologizes_for_terrorist_tease_86774.asp?c=rss "Hill Apologizes For "Terrorist" Tease"]. ''[[TV Newser]]'' (blog of [[mediabistro.com]]).</ref>
* [[Dick Morris]] appeared several times on Fox News, including one appearance on ''Fox & Friends'' two days before the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential election]], predicting that [[Mitt Romney]] would win the election in a [[Landslide victory|landslide]].<ref>''Fox & Friends'', Fox News Channel, November 4, 2012.</ref> Morris was the least accurate major pundit in predicting the 2012 election.<ref name=VoteSeeing>{{cite web |url=http://www.voteseeing.com/2012/11/2012-presidential-prediction-rankings.html |title=2012 Presidential Prediction Rankings |access-date=December 7, 2012 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110234310/http://www.voteseeing.com/2012/11/2012-presidential-prediction-rankings.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After the election, Morris did not appear on Fox News for almost three months. Finally on February 5, 2013, Fox News announced that it would not renew Morris' contract.<ref name="Politico">{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/02/dick-morris-out-at-fox-news-156210 |title=Dick Morris out at Fox News |publisher=[[Politico]] |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=February 5, 2013 |archive-date=May 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503211106/http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/02/dick-morris-out-at-fox-news-156210.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Karl Rove]] protested Fox News' calling of the 2012 election for Barack Obama on November 7, 2012. Megyn Kelly then brought a camera crew to ask the off-air analysts team if they stood by their decision. After Rove continued to refuse Fox News's decision, Kelly responded by asking him, "Is this just math that you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better? Or is this real?"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/11/jon-stewart-fox-news-election.php |title=Jon Stewart Delights In Fox News' Epic Election Night Meltdown |access-date=April 29, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126060647/http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/11/jon-stewart-fox-news-election.php |archive-date=January 26, 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-7-2012/post-democalypse-2012---america-takes-a-shower---karl-rove-s-math|title=The Daily Show|work=Comedy Central|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=March 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301051725/http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-7-2012/post-democalypse-2012---america-takes-a-shower---karl-rove-s-math|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dowd|first=Maureen|title=Romney Is President|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/opinion/sunday/dowd-romney-is-president.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB&_r=0|newspaper=New York Times|date=November 10, 2012|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308151706/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/opinion/sunday/dowd-romney-is-president.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB&_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Megyn Kelly]] drew controversy after making remarks in December 2013 reacting to a ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' article that postulated that "[[Santa Claus]] should not be a white man anymore". On her Fox News program, ''[[The Kelly File]]'', Kelly quipped that, "For all you kids watching at home, Santa just is white, but this person is just arguing that maybe we should also have a black Santa," adding, "But Santa is what he is, and just so you know, we're just debating this because someone wrote about it." Kelly also stated that [[Jesus]] was white later in the segment.<ref name=FN-131213>{{cite news | url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/megyn-kelly-says-santa-is-white-remarks-were-tongue-in-cheek/ | title=Megyn Kelly says 'Santa is white' remarks were tongue-in-cheek | publisher=[[Fox News]] | date=December 13, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | archive-date=December 9, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209002402/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/12/13/megyn-kelly-responds-to-critics-over-santa-is-white-flap/?intcmp=features | url-status=live }}</ref> Soon after, Jon Stewart,<ref name=Luippold>{{cite news | url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/17/jon-stewart-megyn-kelly_n_4459151.html | title=Jon Stewart Hits Back At Megyn Kelly's 'White Santa' Defense | work=[[Huffington Post]] | date=December 17, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | author=Luippold, Ross | archive-date=March 23, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070922/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/17/jon-stewart-megyn-kelly_n_4459151.html | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Stephen Colbert]],<ref name=Taibi>{{cite news | url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/13/colbert-megyn-kelly-santa-white_n_4440467.html | title=Stephen Colbert Mocks Megyn Kelly's Santa Comments | work=[[Huffington Post]] | date=December 13, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | author=Taibi, Catherine | archive-date=March 23, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070913/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/13/colbert-megyn-kelly-santa-white_n_4440467.html | url-status=live }}</ref> [[Rachel Maddow]],<ref name=Benen>{{cite web | url=https://msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-86 | title=This Week in God | publisher=[[MSNBC]] | date=December 14, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | author=Benen, Steve | author-link=Steve Benen | archive-date=March 26, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326113247/http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/week-god-86 | url-status=live }}</ref> and others satirized her remarks. A few days later, Kelly made additional on-air statements and characterized her original comments as "[[tongue-in-cheek]]".<ref name="Klein-131212">{{cite news | url=http://knowmore.washingtonpost.com/2013/12/12/watch-megyn-kelly-insist-that-a-mythical-present-giving-man-who-commands-flying-reindeer-is-definitely-white/ | title=Watch Megyn Kelly insist that a mythical present-giving man who commands flying reindeer is definitely white | publisher=[[Washington Post]] | work=Wonkblog | date=December 12, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | author=Klein, Ezra | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216214556/http://knowmore.washingtonpost.com/2013/12/12/watch-megyn-kelly-insist-that-a-mythical-present-giving-man-who-commands-flying-reindeer-is-definitely-white/ | archive-date=December 16, 2013 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name=Chotiner>{{cite magazine | url=https://newrepublic.com/article/115938/megyn-kelly-scandal-and-santa-claus-race-not-religion | title=Who Cares if Santa Claus is Real? The Megyn Kelly Scandal Is About Race. | magazine=[[The New Republic]] | date=December 15, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | author=Chotiner, Isaac | archive-date=December 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205030007/https://newrepublic.com/article/115938/megyn-kelly-scandal-and-santa-claus-race-not-religion | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Hart>{{cite news | url=https://huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/16/oreilly-white-santa-megyn_n_4456439.html | title=Bill O'Reilly: Santa Is White | work=[[Huffington Post]] | date=December 16, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | author=Hart, Andrew | archive-date=March 23, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070910/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/16/oreilly-white-santa-megyn_n_4456439.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Whitaker>{{cite web | url=https://msnbc.com/politicsnation/bring-the-black-santas | title=Bring on the black Santas! | publisher=[[MSNBC]] | date=December 16, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | author=Whitaker, Morgan | archive-date=September 2, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902023247/http://www.msnbc.com/politicsnation/bring-the-black-santas | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Scott-131215>{{cite news | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/TV/2013/1215/Megyn-Kelly-said-Santa-and-Jesus-are-white.-Really-video | title=Megyn Kelly said Santa and Jesus are white. Really? | newspaper=[[Christian Science Monitor]] | date=December 15, 2013 | access-date=December 17, 2013 | author=Scott, David Clark | archive-date=April 14, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414223619/http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/TV/2013/1215/Megyn-Kelly-said-Santa-and-Jesus-are-white.-Really-video | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Discredited military and counterterrorism editor===
* ''The New York Times'' ran an article entitled, "At Fox News, the Colonel Who Wasn't" by [[Jim Rutenberg]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sec-global.com/services/ctp/vsg/news/020429.html|title=SEC – VeriSEAL – News: At Fox News, the Colonel Who Wasn't<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=March 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303120123/http://sec-global.com/services/ctp/vsg/news/020429.html|url-status=live}}</ref> revealing that [[Joseph A. Cafasso]], whom Fox had employed for four months as a Military and Counterterrorism Editor, had bogus military credentials.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/29/business/at-fox-news-the-colonel-who-wasn-t.html|title=At Fox News, the Colonel Who Wasn't|date=April 29, 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 6, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011081853/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/29/business/at-fox-news-the-colonel-who-wasn-t.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Other criticisms==
===Criticism of media coverage===
* ''[[Outfoxed]]'', a documentary film on Fox News by activist [[Robert Greenwald]], made assertions of bias in Fox News by interviewing a number of former employees who discuss the network's practices. For example, Frank O'Donnell, identified as a Fox News producer, says: "We were stunned, because up until that point, we were allowed to do legitimate news. Suddenly, we were ordered from the top to carry ... Republican, [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] propaganda[,]" including being told what to say about [[Ronald Reagan]]. The network made an official response<ref name="foxnews_outfoxed_statement">{{cite web |title=FOX News Channel Statement on 'Outfoxed' |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C125436%2C00.html |website=Fox News |access-date=January 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051205131054/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,125436,00.html |archive-date=December 5, 2005 |date=July 13, 2004}}</ref> and claimed that four of the individuals identified as employees of Fox News either were not employees (O'Donnell, e.g., worked for an affiliate over which Fox News claims to have no editorial authority) or had their titles inflated.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/details-about-employees-featured-in-outfoxed Details About Employees Featured in 'Outfoxed'] ., [[FoxNews.com]], July 13, 2004</ref>
* ''Fox Attacks'' was a 2007–08 [[viral video]] campaign<ref name=laweekly>{{cite web | last = Bradley | first = Bill | title = Robert Greenwald's Modest Proposal | work = [[LA Weekly]] | date = March 21, 2007 | url = http://www.laweekly.com/2007-03-22/news/robert-greenwald-s-modest-proposal/ | access-date = February 19, 2015 | archive-date = March 18, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140318223358/http://www.laweekly.com/2007-03-22/news/robert-greenwald-s-modest-proposal/ | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=Bus>{{cite book | last =Boehlert | first=Eric | title = Bloggers on the Bus: How the Internet Changed Politics and the Press | publisher =Free Press | date =February 16, 2010 | url =https://archive.org/details/bloggersonbushow00boeh
| url-access =registration | page =[https://archive.org/details/bloggersonbushow00boeh/page/14 14] | quote =fox attacks greenwald. | isbn=9781416560357 }}</ref><ref name="jumpcut">{{cite web | last =Tryon | first =Chuck | title =Digital distribution, participatory culture, and the transmedia documentary | publisher =Jump Cut | date =Summer 2011 | url =http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc53.2011/TryonWebDoc/2.html | access-date =February 19, 2015 | archive-date =February 25, 2021 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210225170011/http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc53.2011/TryonWebDoc/2.html | url-status =live }}</ref> designed to expose Fox News' alleged right-wing bias.<ref name=LAT1>{{cite news | last =Goldstein | first = Patrick| title =Satire busts a Hump | work = [[Los Angeles Times]]| date = April 24, 2007 | url =https://articles.latimes.com/2007/apr/24/entertainment/et-goldstein24/2 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140326055014/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/apr/24/entertainment/et-goldstein24/2 | url-status =dead | archive-date =March 26, 2014 }}</ref><ref name = Davies>{{cite thesis | last = Davies | first = Lyell | title = Expose, impel, and sustain change : the committed documentary In political life | publisher = University of Rochester Program in Visual and Cultural Studies | date = February 9, 2011 | url = https://urresearch.rochester.edu/institutionalPublicationPublicView.action?institutionalItemId=9088 | access-date = February 19, 2015 | archive-date = March 7, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210307223322/https://urresearch.rochester.edu/institutionalPublicationPublicView.action?institutionalItemId=9088 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="HP">{{cite news| last = Linkins| first = Jason| title = MoveOn, Brave New Films Urge News Orgs To Not Emulate Fox| work = Huffington Post| date = April 3, 2008| url = https://huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/26/moveon-brave-new-films-ur_n_93586.html| access-date = December 12, 2019| archive-date = March 23, 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070912/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/26/moveon-brave-new-films-ur_n_93586.html| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=SFGate>{{cite news | last =Garofoli | first =Joe | title =Did top Dems make a dangerous right turn? | work =[[San Francisco Chronicle]] | date =May 1, 2008 | url =http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Did-top-Dems-make-a-dangerous-right-turn-3285515.php | access-date =February 19, 2015 | archive-date =February 28, 2021 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210228205036/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Did-top-Dems-make-a-dangerous-right-turn-3285515.php | url-status =live }}</ref><ref name=USA>{{cite news| last = Bauder| first = David| title = Davis, Wolfson attending convention for Fox| work = [[USA Today]]| date = August 25, 2008| url = http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2008-08-24-677014704_x.htm| access-date = February 19, 2015| archive-date = March 8, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210308153528/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2008-08-24-677014704_x.htm| url-status = live}}</ref> It was produced by Greenwald and [[Brave New Films]] after the production of ''Outfoxed''. Greenwald continued his anti-Fox campaign with more than twenty-five short videos on [[YouTube]] concerning Fox News' negative treatment of Barack Obama during the 2008 election cycle.<ref name="jumpcut"/><ref name = Davies/><ref name=SFGate/><ref name=MediaMakers>{{cite press release | title= Film Producers Robert Greenwald and Christopher Sprinkle Debut the 2009 Mediamaker Series | publisher= California State University San Marcos | url= http://www.csusm.edu/news/topstories/articles/2009/01/tsMediamaker09.html | url-status= dead | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150219184252/http://www.csusm.edu/news/topstories/articles/2009/01/tsMediamaker09.html | archive-date= February 19, 2015 | df= mdy-all }}</ref> As part of the ''Fox Attacks'' campaign, Brave New Films also released "open letters" to other media outlets, and circulated anti-Fox petitions which garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures.<ref name=Bus/><ref name="HP"/><ref name=LAT2>{{cite news| last = Sarno| first = David| title = Politics' video game| work = Los Angeles Times| date = April 9, 2008| url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-apr-09-et-webscout9-story.html| access-date = December 12, 2019| archive-date = September 22, 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180922175146/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/09/entertainment/et-webscout9| url-status = live}}</ref><ref name=jvoices>{{cite web | last =Krawitz | first =Cole | title =Filmmaker Robert Greenwald and independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders launch online video campaign, denouncing FOX News | publisher =jvoices | date =August 24, 2007 | url =http://jvoices.com/2007/08/24/filmmaker-robert-greenwald-and-independent-us-sen-bernie-sanders-launch-online-video-campaign-attaching-fox/ | access-date =February 19, 2015 | archive-date =February 25, 2021 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20210225175811/http://jvoices.com/2007/08/24/filmmaker-robert-greenwald-and-independent-us-sen-bernie-sanders-launch-online-video-campaign-attaching-fox/ | url-status =live }}</ref>
* CNN founder [[Ted Turner]] accused Fox News of being "dumbed down" and "propaganda" and equated the network's popularity to [[Adolf Hitler]]'s rise to power in [[Nazi Germany]] during a speech to the [[National Association of Television Program Executives]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4211395.stm Fox News 'propaganda' says mogul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314175850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4211395.stm |date=March 14, 2021 }}, [[BBC News]], January 27, 2005</ref> In response, a Fox News spokesperson said, "Ted is understandably bitter having lost his ratings, his network, and now his mind. We wish him well." The [[Anti-Defamation League]], to whom Turner had apologized in the past for a similar comparison, said Turner is "a [[Recidivism|recidivist]] who hasn't learned from his past mistakes."<ref>[http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4629_52.htm ADL: Ted Turner Hasn't Learned From His Mistakes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060724234845/http://www.adl.org/PresRele/HolNa_52/4629_52.htm |date=July 24, 2006 }}, Anti-Defamation League, January 26, 2005</ref>
* Fox News, while covering a car chase, inadvertently broadcast the suspect shooting himself and quickly apologized as being a mistake.<ref name=JulieMoos2012/> Al Tompkins of the [[Poynter Institute]], stipulated by e-mail; "There is simply no excuse for this. It is [[sensationalism]] to carry it in the first place."<ref name=JulieMoos2012>[http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/189974/fox-broadcasts-live-suicide-as-car-chase-ends-in-suspect-shooting-himself/ FOX broadcasts live suicide as car chase ends in suspect shooting himself] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001140430/http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/189974/fox-broadcasts-live-suicide-as-car-chase-ends-in-suspect-shooting-himself/ |date=October 1, 2012 }} Poynter.org September 28, 2012, 3:57, by Julie Moos</ref>
* Fox News apologized for fabricated quotes attributed to John Kerry in an article on its website during the [[2004 US presidential campaign|2004 presidential campaign]],<ref>Burkeman, Oliver. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/04/digitalmedia.uselections2004 "Fox News apologizes for Kerry fabrication."] ''The Guardian'', October 4, 2004.</ref> stating that the piece was a joke which accidentally appeared on the website.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fox Posts Reporter's Kerry Spoof on Website
 |author=Times Staff Writer |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-oct-02-na-fox2-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles, CA|date=October 2, 2004 |access-date=April 29, 2011 |quote=The chief political correspondent for "Fox News" wrote a fictitious story Friday referring to Sen. John F. Kerry as a "metrosexual" who does manicures that was temporarily posted on the network's website.}}</ref>
* Fox News aired a segment celebrating a 14-year-old [[Transgender youth|transgender boy]] in California. Several conservative commentators criticized Fox News for airing the segment.<ref>{{cite web |last=Foley |first=Ryan |date=June 13, 2022 |title=Conservatives angered by Fox News profile on trans-identified child: 'Horrifying, evil and sick' |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/conservatives-angered-by-fox-news-profile-on-trans-child.html |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=The Christian Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Criticism of individuals===
* Media Matters for America, which has since announced a campaign of "guerrilla warfare and sabotage"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/03/media-matters-war-against-fox-051949|title=Media Matters' war against Fox|first=Ben|last=Smith|website=POLITICO|date=March 26, 2011 }}</ref> against Fox News, contends that the network specializes in "political sabotage" by putting up moderate-to-conservative "Democrats" as token liberals against more staunchly conservative Republicans. It cites the following people as examples of this:
** [[Pat Caddell]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200409160005|title=Who is Pat Caddell?|website=[[Media Matters for America]]|access-date=February 11, 2006|archive-date=April 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408103728/http://mediamatters.org/items/200409160005|url-status=dead}}, Media Matters for America, September 16, 2004</ref> – called the Democratic Party a "confederacy of [[gangster]]s" and defended conservative writer Ann Coulter when she said she could not talk about former senator and presidential candidate [[John Edwards]] if she could not use the word "faggot".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/ann-coulter-defends-edwards-comments |title=Ann Coulter Defends Edwards Comments |work=Fox News |date=March 6, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824151924/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256949,00.html |archive-date=August 24, 2007 }}</ref>
** [[Susan Estrich]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200406090009|title=Hannity & Colmes substitute host Estrich: progressive standard-bearer?|website=[[Media Matters for America]]|access-date=February 11, 2006|archive-date=September 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927162957/http://mediamatters.org/items/200406090009|url-status=dead}}. Media Matters for America, June 9, 2004</ref> – known for her support for the defunct [[Democratic Leadership Council]] and once told Sean Hannity that she was his "biggest liberal friend".{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}
* Another allegation of Fox's critics is that it sometimes ridicules protesters, especially ones for liberal causes. For example, during the [[2004 Republican National Convention]], Bill O'Reilly referred to some of the protesters as "terrorists" (though he added, "most protesters are peaceful").<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/conventions/chi-0409030248sep03,1,6976681.story?coll=chi-navrailnews-nav&ctrack=1&cset=true
 | title = Fox News scores with GOP, spurs protesters
 | access-date = December 11, 2007
| author1 = Leon Lazaroff
 | author2 = John Cook
 |date=September 3, 2004
| newspaper = Chicago Tribune
 }}{{dead link|date=October 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{citation |journal=[[The O'Reilly Factor]] |title=Small Minority of Protestors Can Cause Big Trouble |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/small-minority-of-protestors-can-cause-big-trouble |language=en |date=August 26, 2004|first= Bill|last= O'Reilly|publisher= [[FoxNews.com]]|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118011450/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,130209,00.html |archive-date=January 18, 2007 }}</ref> Fox News online columnist [[Mike Straka]] referred to [[Anti-war movement|anti-war]] protesters at the September 24, 2005, march in Washington, D.C., as "jobless, anti-American, clueless, smelly, stupid traitors" and "protesters from hell".<ref>[http://mediamatters.org/items/200507060002 Fox & Friends' Kilmeade called G8 protesters "morons without jobs," insisted new Goldberg attack book not skewed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080224105512/http://mediamatters.org/items/200507060002 |date=February 24, 2008 }}, Media Matters for America, July 6, 2005</ref><ref>{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}[https://www.foxnews.com/story/grrr-protesters-from-hell Grrr! Protesters From Hell] by [[Mike Straka]], [[FoxNews.com]], September 27, 2005</ref>'
[[Image:Moske fox svt.jpg|thumb|230px|The Fox News report on Malmö was replayed on Swedish television, here on [[SVT1]].]]
* [[Swedish Iranians|Iranian-Swedish]] newspaper commentator, author and legal professional Behrang Kianzad <ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaOukq1wGbE|title = SVT Debatt, Autumn 2015|website = [[YouTube]]| date=August 26, 2015 }}</ref> wrote in the ''[[Expressen]]'' newspaper that "there are lies, damned lies and Fox News",<ref name="revirosengard">[http://expressen.se/index.jsp?a=214197 Expressen: Räven går i Rosengård] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060217084812/http://www.expressen.se/index.jsp?a=214197 |date=February 17, 2006 }} Behrang Kianzad</ref> in response to a Fox News story about allegedly [[Muslim]] violence in the city of [[Malmö]]. The report focused on the borough of [[Rosengård]] where two out of 1,000 school students were ethnic Swedes.<ref name="breakpoint" >Harrigan, Steve [https://www.foxnews.com/story/swedes-reach-muslim-breaking-point Swedes Reach Muslim Breaking Point]  Fox News, November 26, 2004</ref> Kianzad wrote that rock-throwing against police, firefighters and ambulance personnel happened not just in Rosengård and not as a Muslim custom. He also pointed out that the Fox News segment had false facts, namely that Malmö has about 7% immigrants from Muslim countries and not 25%. Furthermore, Kianzad pointed out the rhetoric used by Fox News to imply that Malmö had reached some sort of breaking point due to Muslim immigrants and that these immigrants were potential terrorists."<ref name="revirosengard" />
* In August 2006, two Jordanian-Arab freelancers who were working for Fox News as producers resigned from the network, citing its coverage that month of Israel's [[2006 Lebanon War|conflict]] with the militant group [[Hezbollah]] in Lebanon. Their resignation letter read in part: "We can no longer work with a news organization that claims to be fair and balanced when you are so far from that ... Not only are you Fox News an instrument of the Bush White House, and Israeli propaganda, you are warmongers with no sense of decency, nor professionalism."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/16/148232|title=Fox News Producer Resigns Over Middle East Coverage|work=Democracy Now!|access-date=October 16, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114052855/http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06%2F08%2F16%2F148232|archive-date=November 14, 2007}}</ref>
* On January 19, 2007, a segment on ''Fox & Friends'' featured an anonymously sourced article in the conservative web magazine ''[[Insight (magazine)|Insight]]'' that claimed that associates of Democratic Senator [[Hillary Clinton]] had discovered that Senator Barack Obama had attended a "Muslim seminary" as a child in Indonesia. The term "Muslim seminary" refers to a specifically religious form of [[madrassa]] (school). It was determined within days that Obama had instead, as he had said in his memoirs, attended first a Catholic and then a modern public elementary school. The latter was, as Obama had written, "predominantly Muslim" (as Indonesia is predominantly Muslim), and not a [[seminary]] of any kind.<ref>{{cite news
| url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/22/obama.madrassa/index.html
| title=CNN debunks false report about Obama
| publisher=CNN |date=January 22, 2007
| access-date = January 26, 2007}}</ref> On January 31, 2007, ''The Washington Post'' suggested that because of Fox News' reporting of the ''Insight'' article, Obama had "frozen out" the network's reporters and producers while giving interviews to every other major network. After the incident, John Moody, a vice president at Fox, wrote to staff: "For the record: seeing an item on a website does not mean it is right. Nor does it mean it is ready for air on FNC. The urgent queue is our way of communicating information that is air-worthy. Please adhere to this."<ref>{{cite news
 |url  = http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2007/01/obama.html
 |title  = Obama's Grudge Factor
 |newspaper = Washington Post
 |date  = January 31, 2007
|access-date = January 31, 2007
|url-status  = dead
 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070131223346/http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2007/01/obama.html
 |archive-date = January 31, 2007
|df  = mdy-all
}}</ref>
* In March 2007, the [[Nevada Democratic Party]] pulled out of a planned debate to be hosted by Fox News. Its spokesmen cited a joke by Roger Ailes, which hinged on President George W. Bush confusing the names of Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden, as evidence that Fox News is biased against the party. Fox News chairman David Rhodes responded to the cancellation by saying that the Democratic Party is "owned by [[MoveOn.org]]" (which had created a petition against the debate).<ref name="Dems cancel debate over Fox chief-2007">{{cite news |url= http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/10/debate.canceled/index.html |title= Dems cancel debate over Fox chief's Obama joke| publisher= CNN|date=March 11, 2007|access-date=March 11, 2007}}</ref>
* On May 25, 2008, Fox News political contributor [[Liz Trotta]] stated on the air, while talking about the presidential election, "And now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that somebody knock off Osama, uh Obama. Well, both, if we could"; she then laughed. She apologized for the remark on-air on Fox News the next day, saying, "I am so sorry about what happened yesterday and the lame attempt at humor."<ref>
[https://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0508/Fox_analyst_apologizes_for_Obama_assassination_joke.html Fox analyst apologizes for Obama assassination joke], Michael Calderone, ''Politico'', May 26, 2008</ref> Trotta and Fox News were criticized for the remark by ''[[The New York Times]]'' editorial board and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/assassination-humor-fox-crosses-a-line/|title=Assassination Humor? Fox Crosses a Line|author=The Editorial Board|access-date=July 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423142954/http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/assassination-humor-fox-crosses-a-line/|archive-date=April 23, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* In June 2007, when Democratic Congressman [[William J. Jefferson]] of [[Louisiana]] was indicted on corruption, racketeering, and bribery charges, Fox News ran a video of Michigan Democratic Congressman [[John Conyers]]. Conyers criticized the network for "a history of inappropriate on-air mistakes" and the network's "lackluster on-air apology" (which did not name him),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/06/05/john-conyers-responds-to-fox-news/|title=Conyers responds to Fox News|publisher=Crook and Liars|date=June 5, 2007|access-date=June 5, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230356/http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/06/05/john-conyers-responds-to-fox-news/|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref> and a second, more specific apology was issued.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv/2007/06/08/TV-Notes-Isaiah-Washington-is-fired-from-Grey-s-Anatomy/stories/200706080309|title=TV Notes: Isaiah Washington is fired from 'Grey's Anatomy'|date=June 5, 2007|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en}}</ref> In November 2006 Fox News had aired footage of then-Rep. [[Harold Ford, Jr.|Harold Ford, Jr]]. while talking about Senator Barack Obama.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediamatters.org/items/200706060006?f=h_topic|title=Fox News' African-American elected official mix-up not its first|website=[[Media Matters for America]]|access-date=June 5, 2007|archive-date=January 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116020148/http://mediamatters.org/items/200706060006?f=h_topic|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On September 5, 2011, Fox News criticized a speech by [[James P. Hoffa]] in [[Detroit]] calling for an "army of voters" to "take the SOBs out" and "give America back to Americans". However, Fox News edited out the mention of voters to make the speech sound like a call for violence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.973kiro.com/813/541140/Dave-Ross-Brevity-or-deception|title=Brevity or deception?|date=December 31, 1969|work=MyNorthwest.com|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304184504/http://973kiro.com/813/541140/dave-ross-brevity-or-deception|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/fox-news-accused-of-doctoring-controversial-jimmy-hoffa-speech-55140/|title=Fox News Accused of 'Doctoring' Controversial Speech by Jimmy Hoffa|work=Christian Post|date=September 6, 2011 |access-date=October 16, 2015}}</ref>
* On January 11, 2015, Fox News commentator [[Steven Emerson]], who had been criticized for inaccuracies in the past,<ref name="Salon 2013-04-18">{{cite news |last=Seitz-Wald |first=Alex |title=GOP Rep. embraces Boston conspiracy theory |url=http://www.salon.com/2013/04/18/gop_rep_embraces_boston_conspiracy_thoery/singleton/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616113308/http://www.salon.com/2013/04/18/gop_rep_embraces_boston_conspiracy_thoery/singleton/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2013 |work=Salon.com |date=April 18, 2013 |access-date=April 19, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Fear, Inc.">{{cite news |url=http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/religion/report/2011/08/26/10165/fear-inc/ |title=Fear, Inc.: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America |newspaper=[[Center for American Progress]] |date=August 26, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="salon2002">{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2002/03/05/emerson/print.html |title=Books &#124; Terrorists under the bed |work=Salon.com |date=March 5, 2002 |access-date=April 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051113234343/http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2002/03/05/emerson/print.html |archive-date=November 13, 2005  }}</ref><ref name="Defectors Story">{{cite news |title=A Defector's Story |work=[[New York Times]] |author = Adrienne Edgar | date= May 19, 1991}}</ref> reported that [[Birmingham]], a city of over 1 million people in the United Kingdom, is a Muslim-only city: "In Britain, it's not just [[no-go area|no-go zones]], there are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim where non-Muslims just simply don't go in".<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11339077/The-truth-about-Birmingham-foxnewsfacts.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11339077/The-truth-about-Birmingham-foxnewsfacts.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Rob | last=Crilly | title=The truth about Birmingham – #foxnewsfacts | date=January 12, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|UK Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]] commented, "When I heard this, frankly, I choked on my porridge and I thought it must be [[April Fools' Day]]. This guy's clearly a complete idiot."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11340399/David-Cameron-US-terror-expert-Steve-Emerson-is-a-complete-idiot.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/11340399/David-Cameron-US-terror-expert-Steve-Emerson-is-a-complete-idiot.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=David Cameron: US terror 'expert' Steve Emerson is a 'complete idiot'|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=January 12, 2015|location=London|first=Matthew|last=Holehouse|date=January 12, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Emerson, said to be an expert of [[Islamic terrorism]], later apologized for what he called a "terrible", "inexcusable", "reckless" and "irresponsible" error,<ref name="BBC-20150113">{{cite news|title=Fox News comments: Steven Emerson admits 'terrible error'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30791147|work=BBC News|date=January 13, 2015}}</ref> and made a donation of £500 to the [[Birmingham Children's Hospital]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Fox News terrorism commentator Steven Emerson donates £500 to hospital|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-30795167|access-date=January 13, 2015|work=BBC|date=January 13, 2015}}</ref>
* On November 2, 2022, Fox News commentator [[Jesse Watters]] mocked a [[Starbucks]] employee—who is a part of [[Starbucks Workers United]]—lamenting oppressive working conditions while calling for [[labor union|unionization]], stating that "hard work" got him to his position. The video clip was edited, however, so that the employee appeared to just be complaining about an eight hour work day.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kane|first=Vivian|date=November 2, 2022|title=Fox News Hosts Should Try Working One Day in a Service Industry Job Before Mocking Overworked Starbucks Employees|url=https://www.themarysue.com/fox-news-starbucks-unionization-video/|website=The Mary Sue|access-date=November 3, 2022|language=en}}</ref>
* In July 2023, James Ray Epps, a man who participated in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News. Epps claims that Fox News falsely reported that he was an undercover FBI agent and responsible for the mob that broke into the Capitol.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Epps sues Fox News, accuses the network of 'telling a fantastical story' about him working for the FBI |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/7/13/23792830/fox-news-ray-epps-lawsuit |access-date=July 15, 2023 |website=Deseret News|date=July 14, 2023 }}</ref>

==Fox News Channel responses to criticism==
In June 2004, CEO Roger Ailes responded to some of the criticism with a rebuttal in an online ''Wall Street Journal'' editorial,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005157|title=Elite, Arrogant, Condescending: The L.A. Times' editor is terrified of Fox News. How pathetic.|first=Roger|last=Ailes|publisher=OpinionJournal, [[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=June 2, 2004}}</ref> saying that Fox News' critics intentionally confuse opinion shows such as ''The O'Reilly Factor'' with regular news coverage. Ailes stated that Fox News has broken stories harmful to Republicans, offering, "Fox News is the network that broke George W. Bush's [[Driving under the influence|DUI]] four days before the election" as an example, referring to Bush's DUI charge in 1976 that had not yet been made public. The DUI story was broken by then-Fox affiliate [[WPXT]] in [[Portland, Maine|Portland]], [[Maine]], although Fox News correspondent [[Carl Cameron]] also contributed to the report and, in the words of National Public Radio ombudsman [[Alicia Shepard]], Fox News "sent the story ping-ponging around the nation" by broadcasting WPXT's coverage.<ref name="ajr">{{cite web|url=http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=218|title=Alicia C. Shepard, "A Late-Breaking Campaign Skeleton," ''American Journalism Review,'' December 2000|access-date=October 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129032127/http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=218|archive-date=November 29, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> WPXT News Director Kevin Kelly said that he "called Fox News in New York City to see if we were [[flogging a dead horse]]" before running the story, and that Fox News confirmed the arrest with the campaign and ran the story shortly after 6 p.m.<ref name="ajr"/>

Upon the release of ''Outfoxed'', Fox News issued a statement<ref name="foxnews_outfoxed_statement"/> denouncing MoveOn.org, Greenwald and ''The New York Times'' for [[copyright infringement]]. Fox News dismissed their judgments of former employees featured in the documentary as the partisan views of disgruntled workers who never vocalized concern over any alleged bias while they were employed at the network. Ailes also shrugged off criticisms of the former Fox News employees by noting that they worked in Fox affiliates and not at the actual channel itself. Fox News also challenged any news organization that sought to portray Fox News as a "problem" with the following proposition: "If they put out 100 percent of their editorial directions and internal memos, Fox News Channel will publish 100 percent of our editorial directions and internal memos, and let the public decide who is fair. This includes any legitimate cable news network, broadcast network, ''The New York Times'', ''Los Angeles Times'', and ''The Washington Post''."<ref name="foxnews_outfoxed_statement"/>

Former Fox News personality [[Eric Burns]] has suggested in an interview that Fox News "probably gives voice to more conservatives than the other networks. But not at the expense of liberals." Burns justifies a higher exposure of conservatives by saying that other media often ignore conservatives.<ref name=Phillips2003>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwantmedia.com/people/people28.html|title=I Want Media Is on Hiatus – Adweek|work=AdWeek|access-date=October 16, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602040735/http://www.iwantmedia.com/people/people28.html|archive-date=June 2, 2013}}</ref>

Fox News personalities have also taken part in back and forth disagreements with media personalities such as Jon Stewart<ref name=hannitystuart>{{cite news |title = Jon Stewart Addresses Hannity: "Sh*t Just Got Weird" |url = http://tellmenow.com/2014/04/jon-stewart-addresses-hannity-sht-just-got-weird/ |publisher = Tell Me Now |date = April 25, 2014 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002440/http://tellmenow.com/2014/04/jon-stewart-addresses-hannity-sht-just-got-weird/ |archive-date = May 2, 2014 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> and Stephen Colbert.<ref name=Wemple2014>{{cite news |first = Erik |last = Wemple |title = Bill O'Reilly vs. Stephen Colbert, still going strong |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/04/11/bill-oreilly-vs-stephen-colbert-still-going-strong/ | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | date = April 11, 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[The Fox Effect]]''
* [[Al Jazeera controversies and criticism]]
* [[BBC controversies]]
* [[CBS News controversies and criticism]]
* [[CNN controversies]]
* [[MSNBC controversies]]
* [[Media bias in the United States]]
* [[Military–industrial–media complex|Military industrial complex]]
* [[Press TV controversies]]
* [[Sensitive urban zone#January 2015 controversy|Sensitive urban zone – January 2015 controversy]]
* [[The New York Times controversies]]
* [[Wikipedia:Reliable sources/Perennial sources]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.foxnews.com foxnews.com]
* [https://newscorp.com/ News Corporation] – Fox's parent company
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060125041529/http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/A/htmlA/ailesroger/ailesroger.htm Museum of Broadcast Communications: Roger Ailes]
* [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/oct/05/broadcasting.sport Special report: Fox – the naked truth] (October 5, 2004), Zoe Williams, ''[[The Guardian]]''
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJRyRnj1TlQ The Fifth Estate: Sticks and Stones] (March 2005), an Investigation of Fox News for the ''[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]'', 45 minutes
* [https://monthlyreview.org/2014/06/01/rupert-murdoch-not-silent-but-deadly/ An analysis of the socio-economic and political impact of Fox News], [[Robert W. McChesney]], ''[[Monthly Review]]'', Volume 66, Issue 02 (June 2014)
* [https://townhall.com/columnists/lindachavez/2017/04/21/foxs-sex-appeal-problem-n2316127 Fox's Sex Appeal Problem], [[Linda Chavez]], ''[[Townhall]]'', April 21, 2017

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fox News Channel Controversies}}
[[Category:Criticisms of companies]]
[[Category:Fox News criticisms and controversies| ]]
[[Category:Journalism controversies by outlet]]
[[Category:Mass media-related controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:Media bias controversies]]
[[Category:Political controversies in television]]
[[Category:Television controversies in the United States]]
[[Category:Sexual harassment journalism]]
[[Category:Climate change denial]]
[[Category:COVID-19 misinformation]]
[[Category:Fox News|Fox News]]