7.0
This film examines how media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox News, have been running a "race to the bottom" in television news, and provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangerous impact on society when a broad swath of media is controlled by one person. Media experts, including Jeff Cohen (FAIR) Bob McChesney (Free Press), Chellie Pingree (Common Cause), Jeff Chester (Center for Digital Democracy) and David Brock (Media Matters) provide context and guidance for the story of Fox News and its effect on society. This documentary also reveals the secrets of Former Fox news producers, reporters, bookers and writers who expose what it's like to work for Fox News. These former Fox employees talk about how they were forced to push a "right-wing" point of view or risk their jobs. Some have even chosen to remain anonymous in order to protect their current livelihoods. As one employee said "There's no sense of integrity as far as having a line that can't be crossed."
Christiane Amanpour
Self (archive footage)
George W. Bush
Self (archive footage)
George Carlin
Self (archive footage)
Tom Brokaw
Self (archive footage)
Harry Belafonte
Self (archive footage)
Neil Cavuto
Self (archive footage)
Al Franken
Self (archive footage)
Bill O'Reilly
Self (archive footage)
Jon Stewart
Self (archive footage)
Richard Clarke
Self (archive footage)
Douglas Cheek
Self - Narrator (voice)
Rupert Murdoch
Self (archive footage)
Ronald Reagan
Self (archive footage)
Director
Robert Greenwald
January 14, 2023
10
It's dated. In 2004, when it came out, it was really insightful. It dealt with Fox News and their journey from the news to commentary.
Unfortunately times have changed and it's not just Fox that has made the shift. Most cable news, most 24/hr news and more than a few print sources have also made the change from news to commentary.
However, that doesn't make it any less important, if for no other reason than it documents the start of the trend to kill actual journalism in America.