Networks respond to false Fox ad
Fox News is under fire for a Friday ad that inaccurately accused its competitors, including CNN, of failing to cover last weekend's Tea Party protests in Washington.
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Fox News is under fire for a newspaper ad they purchased Friday that inaccurately accused its competitors, including CNN, of failing to cover last weekend's Tea Party protests in Washington.
"How did, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, and CNN miss this story?" Fox's newspaper ad asks.
The answer: They didn't.
CNN provided live coverage of the rally in Washington on Saturday, dispatching more than a dozen personnel, including multiple camera crews and the CNN Express Bus, to cover the event. Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser was live at Freedom Plaza; Correspondent Kate Bolduan reported live from the Capitol and throughout the crowd; All Platform Journalist Jim Spellman provided live hits all day after traveling for weeks on the Tea Party Express Bus; and CNN Correspondent Lisa Desjardins was live for CNN and CNN Radio from the National Mall.
CNN's Rick Sanchez weighs in on Fox's ad
CNN's coverage also included numerous live reports and interviews with protesters and newsmakers, including rally day speaker Sen. Jim DeMint and activist Art Gerhart, who was on the set with anchor Don Lemon to discuss the event.
In addition, CNN.com provided a live stream of the rally throughout the day.
ABC referred Friday to a statement by Matt Kibbe, president of FreedomWorks - the group that organized the event – characterizing the network's coverage that day as "fair and honest." The rally story was featured on the network's morning shows, nightly news broadcast, in extensive radio reporting and online.
MSNBC also pointed to its own reporting. "Just like every other network mentioned in the ad, MSNBC covered last Saturday's protest," the network said in a statement.
CBS detailed its coverage of the event in a statement issued Friday afternoon.
"CBS News had multiple crews on site with our Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes reporting," the network said in a statement. "It was the lead story on the CBS EVENING NEWS; CBS Radio News provided hourly reports during the day and CBSNews.com had the story in its rotating lead all day. They also processed the Nancy Cordes video and linked it throughout the site."
And CNN criticized Fox for its inaccurate statement. "Fox News' ad released today is blatantly false regarding CNN's coverage of the 9/12 rally," CNN said in a statement.
Watch some of CNN's Tea Party coverage here, and read some of our in-depth reporting.
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I think the lesson here is one we keep having to learn over and over again. If we yell "death panels," but then later apologize and say we were wrong, it doesn't matter – our goal has been accomplished. Right now, countless Americans have once again had their worst fears confirmed by our good friends at Fox, and nothing so trivial as actual fact will be heard over the ringing of that bell.
Why should Fox's ads be any different than most of their political coverage. They lie all of the time trying to make conservatives sound good. The ad was no different than the right has been with health care. They lie to support themselves because if people know the truth they would stay from FOX and the right.
Everyone knows Fox "News" is really just the "GOP Propaganda Channel."
Glenn Beck helped to organize this event, and Fox has been behind the bogus "Tea-bagger" movement all along. So much for "Fair and Balanced."
As a credible "news" source, Fox is a complete and utter JOKE.
HAHAHA!!!! I could watch you libs all day!
Is Fox News still REQUIRED viewing on our military posts/ bases and ships at sea as it was during the Bush administration?
CNN not as much but all the other networks have not reported any anti Obama.. They are bed with the left and are now ashamed to get called out. Keep drinking the cool aide has the country follows the step of cuba...
Its time that news programs start being taken to task over the crap they keep pulling. Lying and trolling are bad. Whether its from the news or from regular people.
One question: WHO CARES? CNN, the readers here don't care about this non-story. Whether or not you missed coverage on the 'tea party' rally is completely irrelevant. Instead of committing to your duty to report the news, you are turning this into a giant business scheme. Which news source are we going to go to for our future news-needs? I don't know...but me personally? I'm going to start looking for REAL news and turn off my TV and stop going to CNN and Fox and MSNBC as they seem more like advertising agencies than news sources.
hmmm. I saw the protest at Washington but it wasn't on CNN. They may have covered it and aired it later but when I saw it on FOX I ran the channels to see who else was carrying it ... saw it nowhere else. I will say that every news network is scripted. They say only what will bring in big bucks whether it's true or not. CNN, C-SPAN, ABC, NBC, CBS every last one of them is out for glory not truth. You'd get more truth out of the national enquirer than any news network these days.
The way I see it; all media needs to get a real job. Actually work for a living instead of ambulance chasing for a dollar.
...so all of your viewers, CNN, apparently replied to this topic. All the others are viewing Fox News.
Why is anyone surprised at this? Neil Cavuto falsely claimed in his most self righteous indignant voice that FOX News covered the Million Man March in his attempt to support FOX News' support of the "spontaneous" tea bag parties. CAvuto obviously did not realize that FOX News was not even in existance when the march took place. But hey, when the IQ of your audience is low then you can say and do anything and they'll believe it. I turned off this WWF version of the news a long time ago.
CNN is so lost in their news efforts.... I used to be a true watcher, but there is no way I would now. CNN slams anyone who protests against Obama. Free country right? CNN should take themselves off the air and reevalaute their freedom and priviledges.
The Rupert Murdoch sewer of hate ,prejudice, distortions , Fox news channel should cover its own vomit ,nobody else should have to cover this abomination..
Actually there not under fire for it. The biggest issue is CNN's refusal to cover the ACORN disaster.
Ahah! This is not an issue for CNN nor any other network. This is an issue for FAUX Noise and it's bigoted commentators. Faux News is a joke!!
CNN got scooped by a 25 year old wearing a chinchilla coat. No wonder there are approx 47 people watching anymore. CNN is a shadow of what it used to be and is getting absolutely destroyed by Fox. The truth hurts.
Foxs News should be fined by the FCC for promoting racism. They report the news without facts. The hit job on ACORN will prove how they can manipulate the facts. The Media reported that the 4 boys from Hostra college was accuse of rape. The media has a knee jerk to get a scoop, but the story was not true. It will be the same with ACORN. "Innocent until proven guilty"
Fox "News" (propaganda)...imagine that. You LIE! The whole right-wing fringe has turned into whiners and liars, even with their ridiculous "leaders" that pander to such nonsense.
Fortunately, the truth is available at the click of a mouse in this day and age of communication.
Oh puh-leeze... CNN covered it only enough to disparage it.
And further, CNN was completely MIA on Van Jones and ACORN. I'd like to say you guys were asleep at the switch, but that would imply you actually bothered to show up at the switch.
If CNN was around in the early 70's and Nixon had been a Dem, Watergate would never have been discovered and Nixon would have served out his term.
Almost everything FOX reports is inaccurate.....I'm glad the other networks grew a pair and held them responsible this time!!!
I'm glad I do not watch Fox news: Lies, Lies and Lies, they preach hatred and Lies again! That's all they do, they good at it!!!
CNN please do not be like them, be fair, and DO YOUR JOB CORRECTLY. If you do that, People will alway watch you.
Dick N baited: "If CNN had multiple people covering the Tea Party event…….. why wasn't it carried as a news item?"
It was. I read it on cnn.com that evening. Stop lying to protect Faux News.
ANOTHER POINT: This entire "event" was CREATED BY FAUX NEWS. It was organized in their back room and promoted by Glenn Beck et al. That is a FACT. Given this, why should other news organizations be required to cover what's essentially a Faux News publicity stunt?
CNN bow to FOX NEWS! How about ACORN CNN??? Where's ACORN?? Your so in the tank for the Obama Admin it's funny. Thank god your ratings are horrible!! Hahahahahahaahh!!
Hey fox news we knew it was going on we just didn't care. Your contigent of knuckleheads kept spewing out their own crowd estimation numbers one of you idiots at Faux news said there was 2.5 million people what a joke no wonder any serious free thinker
does not buy into the tactics of such an unamerican news organization
With Fox News it's all about the hate for a black president and a Woman named Pelosi. Conservatives don't like strong Women and they don't like a black man working for them unless it is as their chaueffer or slave.
Everyone wishes republicans just go back under there rock. Change is here and they just cry. Obama in 2012.
Let's all turn on Fox tonight and see what they have to say in their defense. All I'm hearing from is CNN and everyone knows to discount MSNBC. They're afraid of going blind if they covered anything that had to do with down-to-earth Americans and their concerns. Remember, Fox broke ACORN when the other networks turned their backs on the story and now with egg on their face they'll want to get back to Fox with a vengence.