What exactly is wrong with FOX News?

To a certain extent, I find there is a place in the media world for FOX News – as in a right-leaning news network that is. All the other major players in the field are somewhat left on the political spectrum.

So, on paper, FOX News is a good thing. On paper, even Bill O’Reilly is sort of needed in that he is a good counter to left-wing pundits such as MSNBCs Keith Olbermann.

I even welcome the FOX News counter to the Daily Show with Jon Stewart – the ½ Hour News Hour.

So what makes FOX News worse than the others? It isn’t simply that I don’t agree with the opinions of the right-wingers. The old cliché that “I don’t agree with what you say, but I’ll fight to the death for your right to say it” still counts.

The problem is that FOX News & Bill O’Reilly makes things up!

The left wing media does indeed present its news in a way that may benefit the left of the political spectrum. That may be immoral, it may be wrong – but really, there is no way around it. The reporting will naturally be affected by the people who report it. And those will naturally be affected by their employers. And those again, the owners.

So, in affect – there will always be right- & left-wing media. Which is OK, as long as they both report the truth.

The problem with FOX News is that they tend to take that one step further, and go beyond truth and into over-the-top spin. You may push the stories that you don’t like to the back of the news-hour. You may even omit it.

But you do not make up another story that fit your agenda better! That is simply not allowed. If your poll says that George W. Bush is the most foolish person of the year, you don't push him to the bottom of the list, say it’s Britney Spears and hope that noone notices.

(Yes, I know FOX 10 isn’t directly FOX News. So don’t bring the flame-comments just yet. FOX did the same thing with the election, back in 2000, remember?)

You are the only major contester to the left-wing media. And the left does need competition. So why waste that opportunity by constantly undermining your credibility. Because frankly – you don’t have very much left.