'Fox News on Kennedy: Short Shrift, or Right Coverage for Wrong Reasons?' (Time)

by James Poniewozik

When news of Sen. Edward Kennedy's death broke this morning, cable news kicked into full coverage mode. CNN brought on Paul Begala and others to remember the Senator's political career. MSNBC's Morning Joe had public and personal reminiscences of the politician and his legacy. And Fox & Friends had... a Law & Order: SVU fan who helped cops foil a crime, plus hit country recording artist Jack Ingram singing "Barefoot and Crazy"!

Now, a couple points in the interest of fairness (and, um, balance). Fox News did devote considerable time to Kennedy's death earlier in its morning show. And while the SVU segment was insipid, insipid is what Fox & Friends generally does. It's not as though the show was making itself stupider to spite the Democratic leader. (How could it, really?)

In other words, we had two cable news networks this morning treating the death of Sen. Kennedy as if it were the only news today, and one (Fox) treating it as if it were the day's big story, but one among several others. Could Fox have been giving the story the right amount of coverage, even if for the wrong reasons?

The pattern continued in the 9 and 10 a.m. ET hours. CNN and MSNBC broke from the Kennedy story for only the briefest headline roundups. Fox, on the other hand, gave Kennedy's death the top of its newscast: 12 or 13 minutes at the top of each hour. It also (like its rivals) carried President Obama and Vice President Biden's statement's on their colleague's death. But it also ran segments on health care reform, the budget deficit and the CIA torture investigation.

http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2009/08/26/fox-news-on-kennedy-short-shrift-or-right-coverage-for-wrong-reasons/?iid=tsmodule

and go on and on and on about the amazing American hero yada yada.

They'll be fawning over his 1-term NWO ass like he fould a cure for cancer.

We can say what we want about McCain, but Poppy is a LOT slimier.

41 was President. Have to give a passing President the respect. Remember how much they gave Ford ... I'm expecting as much with Carter.

Of course, the media would slobber over McCain ... "WAR HERO", you know ... that's what they'd lead with.

I'd be more interested in hearing the comparisons between Ted & Strom's coverage ... Can't get enough "Chappaquiddick", but was the KKK days of Thurmond given that much attention?

so will the other networks. He IS a former President. Like him or not.

I think MSNBC and CNN gave the proper amount of time to someone who served his country for so long and so well. I doubt they will do days and days(weeks) of coverage like Michael Jackson received. The country owes Mr.Kennedy a day of remembrance. Let us keep this in context too .....we are talking about cable news networks..aside from the fact that they are simply in the news for the money......most people don't stay tuned in all day long. They may only catch an hours worth of coverage and as long as they were able to receive the "briefest headline roundups" all is well in my book.

.... you're right. CNN gave round the clock coverage of Reagan's death and funeral .... as well they should have.

There are times in life when we put partisaned rancor aside and this is one of those moments.

Kennedy had FAR more impact on the life of ordinary citizens.

considering how much they spent on Jackson, still do, Kennedy deserves that much.

and political leader for 47 years. He deserves the coverage that CNN and MSNBC have been giving him.

CNN, MSNBC, and CBS all devoted tons of coverage to Teddy's remarkable life. Fox had O'Reilly talking about Teddy to Geraldo. Yuck. Insipid. I think even conservative political figures deserve their life to be covered respectfully. Teddy was essentially the most important Senator of our lifetimes (at least mine).

nonstop. Just wait.

Why should Fox News cover Edward Kennedy's death, when they have more pressing matters to focus on. . . like lending credibility to the mentally-challenged "birthers" who can't read a birth certificate held in front of their own noses.

The Fox broadcaster's have to follow their talking points from Rush, ya know.