Fox News is less informative than no news
By Marty BeckermanNovember 22nd, 2011, 11:45 amComments (20)
If you want to know what's happening in the world, and your viewing choices are between Fox News Channel and a blank screen, the latter would be more informative, according to Fairleigh Dickinson University researchers.
While New York Times and USA Today readers are twelve percent more likely to know that Egyptians recently overthrew their government than people who abstain from all media sources, Fox News viewers are eighteen percent less likely. (The latter are also six percent less likely to know that Syrians have not overthrown their government.) A previous poll found that Fox News viewers are more misinformed than Americans who receive their information elsewhere, but this new study indicates they are more misinformed than people who receive their information nowhere.
"[T]he results show us that there is something about watching Fox News that leads people to do worse on these questions than those who don’t watch any news at all," said Dan Cassino, a political-science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. "The fact that Fox News, the preferred media outlet for many of the candidates, doesn't do better in informing viewers is very surprising."
So what should Fox News viewers do instead? (Besides watching paint dry, which is apparently more educational?) According to the press release, "Listening to NPR also helps, but the biggest aid to answering correctly is The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." But you already knew that... unless you watch Fox News.
Comments ( 20 )
That so funny.
Wait.
That's not funny. That's really scary. The electorate is uniformed. These might willingly elect a moron.
already did: Dubya.
you mean again? as in 2000 and 2004?
is that people who watched The Daily Show had a significant lead. Think about that: Fake news being more informative than "real" news.
"Infotainment", a horrifying neologism.
What I also find interesting is that both Fox and the Wash Times are run by immigrants, foreigners come here to (successfully) change our country from within. Why doesn't that bother "real Americans", or - in the case of the Moonie Times - real Christians?
Murdoch is white, so it's not an issue.
Nice racism there, Gazbo.
What on earth did Gazbo say that was racist? How is asking the question, "Why are some immigrants frightening while others are unquestioned?" racist?
It's because Observer is a racist, but his MO is accusing everyone else of what he's guilty of. *Yawn*
Welcome back, @troll. You're comment is interesting since it comes from the only commenter on here that has openly used racial epithets in their replies. Nothing worse than that.
That was really convincing, conservatroll. We all know who the real racist is: You.
It's not my fault that I don't like black people.
Oh no, people can use different names on here? Who'd a thunk it?
Has anybody outside of Farleigh Dickinson University ever heard of FDU? Hooksexup really pulled this study out of their asses, didn't they.
The "previous poll" was debunked by Politifact. Perhaps the Hooksexup authors are not as well informed as the rest of us?
was debunked by reality.
I didn't think that anything was less newsworthy than the drivel that Hooksexup calls news.
I hate Hooksexup. That's why I read it 24/7 and comment like a troll every chance I get.
Der, eye am dum. Der
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