Althouse: "Fox shifted over the weekend into round-the-clock protest coverage.... MSNBC has been scrambling in a different way."

June 1, 2020

"Fox shifted over the weekend into round-the-clock protest coverage.... MSNBC has been scrambling in a different way."

"The channel thrived from 2017 until earlier this year, lifted by its nonstop coverage of the Trump-Russia story and the story’s denouement in impeachment. It signed up former spies and prosecutors as contributors, and dangled the hope that Robert Mueller would end Mr. Trump’s presidency. But the Russia show came to a disappointing conclusion for its audience with Mr. Trump’s acquittal on Feb. 5, and ratings plummeted.... MSNBC’s audience numbers did rebound with the coronavirus story, but the network’s DNA is politics, and Covid-19 is not at its heart a political story.... CNN once positioned itself between MSNBC and Fox on the political spectrum. But during Mr. Trump’s tenure, the network concluded that there was no profitable middle ground with a president who seeks confrontation with the media. The channel adopted an increasingly political focus.... And as much as MSNBC seemed thrown off by the coronavirus, CNN was ready, flexing its still-supple muscles for covering all-consuming news stories. Now it focuses primarily on the coronavirus, interlaced with impassioned and often viral monologues denouncing President Trump...."

From "Record Ratings and Record Chaos on Cable News/Cable networks are facing threats, and opportunities, in a national crisis. Now, Fox is fighting back and CNBC is looking to the right. CNN is defined by Jeff Zucker, and he may run for mayor" (NYT).

I don't like watching the news on television, but I do glance at it a bit to get a sense of the tone and the emotional dynamic, and, when I'm in the car, I'll listen to a few minutes of the satellite radio version of Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN.

It was easy to see how incredibly relieved these people were to have something to talk about other than coronavirus and the lockdown. My God, they were salivating over this murder. How many times have they shown the snuff film of George Floyd? The excitement is quite disgusting. And now there are fires and glass breaking and giant trucks driving through crowds. It's pornography for news freaks. Does anything hold them back from making the most of it for themselves?

52 comments:

Lurker21 said...: This makes cable news sound a lot more dynamic and active than it probably is. There's a lot more inertia and last-minute scrambling and stupidity than that.; 6/1/20, 9:18 AM
zipity said...: What we saw last weekend is just a preview of what will happen in November if You-Know-Who gets re-elected. Consider this the dress rehearsal; 6/1/20, 9:22 AM
Charlie said...: The good news from this weekend is that social distancing seems to have disappeared, suddenly.; 6/1/20, 9:22 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: CNN and MSDNC and Drudge have blood on their hands.

using poor George a news porn is vile.; 6/1/20, 9:24 AM
n.n said...: Circumstantial evidence for excessive use of force. The autopsy report does not support a correlation with cause of death. The men, apparently, knew each other. Stop the protests, the witch hunts, the warlock judgments, the submission to em-pathetic appeals, and follow due process. Justice, not social justice (its relativistic cousin).

The "protestors", as Antifa before them, set up a kill-zone, this time on the highway, then forced a semi-truck to stop, dragged the driver from the cabin and beat him. 50 shades of riots past. The victim was arrested.; 6/1/20, 9:26 AM
Temujin said...: Fear porn. That is what our news is today.; 6/1/20, 9:27 AM
wendybar said...: Turn it off. There is actually better reporting on the internet. I don't trust or believe much of what the liars on cable have to say whilest they take their million dollar paychecks and pretend they understand what they have created. The division and hate comes directly from them.; 6/1/20, 9:28 AM
rhhardin said...: Is it established that it's a snuff film? What is the autopsy report on causes. The mob didn't wait for it, and the networks certainly won't.; 6/1/20, 9:29 AM
Sebastian said...: "protest coverage"

Newspeak.

"My God, they were salivating over this murder."

Right. They are progs and "journalists."

"The excitement is quite disgusting."

Ah, no more cruel neutrality, I see. I guess progs are overdoing it.

"Does anything hold them back from making the most of it for themselves?"

Yes. The nice white women of America deciding they won't fall for the latest MSM soap opera and unite to throw the bums out at the next election.; 6/1/20, 9:29 AM
Michael K said...: No mention of the 53 year old black federal guard killed by snipers in Oakland, though.

His name was Patrick Underwood, and his name is ignored in all this rioting. He was shot by a sniper, not in a riot.; 6/1/20, 9:31 AM
hombre said...: The police need to get these Republicans under control before they steal or destroy everything. /s; 6/1/20, 9:33 AM
Mike Sylwester said...: I don't watch Fox News much, but I do like to watch the WSJ show on Sunday afternoon and Mark Levin's show on Sunday evening. I was disappointed that both shows were preempted yesterday by news about the George Floyd matter.; 6/1/20, 9:34 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: The major media, particularly leftwing cable news, are atrocious, and part of the problem. Foxnews has many problems, but in the land of the blind, the one-eyed cable news network is king.; 6/1/20, 9:42 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Is it established that it's a snuff film?"

You are watching a video of a human being actually dying. It is the choice to watch that and to experience titillation from what you believe is an actual death taking place before your hungry eyes that makes it a snuff film. Under that definition, my definition, it is established.

The argument that it's not a snuff film is that the filmmakers did not set up a killing for the purpose of filmmaking. The filmmakers are not even in league with the ones performing the actions that are photographed.; 6/1/20, 9:43 AM
Mike Sylwester said...: I was disappointed that both shows were preempted yesterday by news about the George Floyd matter.

I did not watch the Fox News coverage of the George Floyd matter.; 6/1/20, 9:49 AM
buwaya said...: The world is watching, but mainly through that tiny window pane that is CNN.; 6/1/20, 9:50 AM
rehajm said...: MSM likes to 'identify' investigative journalists who investigate the wrong people, so MSM is good at learning who to listen to. Kim Strassel, Lara Logan, Sharyl Attkisson...; 6/1/20, 9:55 AM
n.n said...: that tiny window pane that is CNN

There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal...; 6/1/20, 10:00 AM
Ray - SoCal said...: It seems a light colored work van drove by with an open door, gunman inside opened fire and killed Mr. Underwood. Basically he was a security guard, working for an outside contractor from what I can tell. Very little out there about his family. My sympathies to his family.; 6/1/20, 10:03 AM
MayBee said...: They pivoted from the Russia Collusion coverage as if it never happened.
COVID is no longer an issue because the riots are righteous.

Everyday starts anew in the outrage machine in cable news, and there are no repercussions for being wrong and getting people worked up.
(CNN is a mess); 6/1/20, 10:06 AM
Birches said...: The news kept trying and trying to get racism and police brutality to go viral. Third times the charm.

Be careful what you wish for...; 6/1/20, 10:18 AM
Birches said...: And I agree with Althouse. It's snuff. I won't watch it or Armaud Aubrey either.; 6/1/20, 10:20 AM
Unknown said...: Re Maybee

Everyday starts anew in the outrage machine in cable news, and there are no repercussions for being wrong and getting people worked up.

They are 'Pravda journalists'. Writers for Pravda called themselves 'journalists'. It's the Soviet definition of the word. Their job is to engage in reporting facts, half-truths, lies, omissions, distortions, mistakes etc etc that promote the party line. Their job can be described as the production of agitation and propaganda.; 6/1/20, 10:24 AM
Char Char Binks, Esq. said...: Has Chauvin been convicted? That was quick!; 6/1/20, 10:24 AM
roesch/voltaire said...: I think it is important that the world witness just how brutal and senseless the murder of George Floyd was, and that is why it has been shown so many times.; 6/1/20, 10:32 AM
Lucien said...: It wouldn’t necessarily be a bad idea for our President to hit the “justice for Patrick Underwood” theme hard.; 6/1/20, 10:35 AM
Bilwick said...: Quote of the day, so far (Kurt Schlichter, quoted on Instapundit):

"It's pretty amazing how our media elite was able so quickly stop pretending we were all going to be doomed by this bat soup virus unless we cowered in our homes when it became useful for people to be out supporting the Democratic agenda of violence and tyranny."

I would add not just the media elite, but their puppet Eloi, a few of whom post here. You know who I'm talking about.; 6/1/20, 10:53 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: "MSM likes to 'identify' investigative journalists who investigate the wrong people, so MSM is good at learning who to listen to. Kim Strassel, Lara Logan, Sharyl Attkisson..."

Three outstanding journalists, who happen to be female. The latter two have endured sexual assault and federal spying, and have stood tall. Love people like that.; 6/1/20, 10:54 AM
Ann Althouse said...: “ I think it is important that the world witness just how brutal and senseless the murder of George Floyd was, and that is why it has been shown so many times.”

Do you also believe cable news should have shown the ISIS beheadings, the full death, the ISIS burnings in a cage, the smashed up WTC bodies, not just once, but over and over to drive home how brutal and senseless it was? Why didn’t we get that?

If you knew one day you are going to be brutally murdered, would you prefer the it be filmed and shown on tv repeatedly?; 6/1/20, 10:58 AM
tcrosse said...: Who was holding the camera while the snuff was occurring. Why didn't the cameraperson say or do something?; 6/1/20, 11:02 AM
Sam L. said...: I quit watching TV "news" yearssssssssssssssssss ago.; 6/1/20, 11:03 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The death-porn was worth it for the corrupt leftwing liar media to exploit the situation and blame made-up boogaloo - all while antifa burned it down.

meanwhile poor George is forgotten.; 6/1/20, 11:12 AM
effinayright said...: It's ...interesting... that a retired law prof would refer to a homicide as a "murder" before the alleged perp is convicted.

Just sayin'.

Myself, I watched the Floyd video exactly once, and was entirely repulsed by it. Nothing "titillating" there, in my view.

I had Fox News on last night for a few hours, and IIRC they didn't show that video even once.
I don't know what CNN or MSNBC did.; 6/1/20, 11:13 AM
Kevin said...: "Fox shifted over the weekend into round-the-clock protest coverage...

People weren't watching the protests. We all agree what happened was wrong. There is nothing to teach at this moment.

What people watched was the riots to see if the police would respond.

Occasionally interrupted with statements from blue-city Mayors being shocked that this could happen in their oh-so-progressive city.; 6/1/20, 11:26 AM
Drago said...: roesch/voltaire: "I think it is important that the world witness just how brutal and senseless the murder of George Floyd was, and that is why it has been shown so many times."

Now explain why the media wont show islamic supremacists doing their thing.; 6/1/20, 11:35 AM
Inga said...: “Who was holding the camera while the snuff was occurring. Why didn't the cameraperson say or do something?”

She was a 17 year old girl. She and other onlookers were telling them to stop that they were killing Floyd. What do you think they could’ve done with 4 cops there who were armed?; 6/1/20, 11:40 AM
Francisco D said...: roesch/voltaire said... I think it is important that the world witness just how brutal and senseless the murder of George Floyd was

You have no evidence of murder. What you have is evidence of manslaughter. Which degree of manslaughter will depend on the different coroners findings.

If the ex-con died, not from asphyxiation, but of an underlying heart condition as the original coroner concluded, it looks like depraved indifference.

Maybe the lawyers here can opine.; 6/1/20, 11:43 AM
DanTheMan said...: >>the network concluded that there was no profitable middle ground with a president who seeks confrontation with the media.

Where is this supposed "middle ground" between those who regularly and routinely call Trump a Nazi and a Russian agent?

I suspect it's something like "He only wants to put 3 million people in ovens, not 6. And he might only be a Russian stooge, and not an actual agent."

Why would he be confrontational with such reasonable and honorable people? Quite the mystery.; 6/1/20, 11:48 AM
bagoh20 said...: The coverage of the pandemic so disgusted me that I left watching, and now I have no desire to return. The truth is dramatic enough without a miniseries of fabricated content enhancement on every event. I prefer the internet where I can filter and search for the real story. You still need to skip over a bunch of the same kind of crap, but at least you can do that quick and easy, and you can skip commercials.; 6/1/20, 11:52 AM
Quayle said...: This is going to be strong language but I feel it is warranted. The networks are about money, money, money! They posture as a necessary fourth branch of our blessed republic, as enlightened social justice warriors against oppression and tyranny in all places. But in the C-suites they are as vile a group of capitalists as can be found anywhere. They'll lever on any death or destruction, any conflict or conflagration, any person's fault or moment of failing, to turn and earn a handsome profit.Scratch beneath the veneer and you'll find greed through and through.; 6/1/20, 11:53 AM
rhhardin said...: Ohio, or perhaps just Columbus (unclear on the radio), voted to declare racism a public health crisis. This puts a public health officer in charge.; 6/1/20, 12:05 PM
CWJ said...: "...giant trucks driving through crowds." Plural Althouse?; 6/1/20, 12:06 PM
rhhardin said...: TV is after ratings. The video is ratings gold, both for watching and for the reaction insanities. It's a business.; 6/1/20, 12:07 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: Come on, Althouse. It is show biz!

Trump has his act. Cable news has theirs.; 6/1/20, 12:12 PM
Big Mike said...: But he doesn't want to let go of the riots. He wants the riots spun to hurt Joe Biden.

@Althouse, IMHO if you weren’t deeply embedded in the Madison bubble you’d realize that no spin is needed for the riots to hurt Slow Joe Biden.; 6/1/20, 12:13 PM
walter said...: "He worked uniformed off-duty security for years at El Nuevo Rodeo, a large E. Lake Street dance club in Minneapolis. A block from the Third Precinct, it’s the neighborhood that has experienced some of the heaviest rioting.
According to the former owner Maya Santamaria, Chauvin worked the club most weekends for about 16 years and “really became my main guy here.”
For about a year, George Floyd also worked security at the club, but she said she doesn’t think Floyd and Chauvin crossed paths.
She and Chauvin were friends, she said. But customers did complain about him, she said. Chauvin was quick to get hard core, Santamaria said, and was uneasy with the crowds on “Twerk Fest Tuesdays” when the club catered to more black patrons."
LINK; 6/1/20, 12:21 PM
walter said...: http://elnuevorodeo.com/; 6/1/20, 12:33 PM
bagoh20 said...: What exactly do the protesters want other than free stuff? What policy, law, or action would prevent what happened? Every cop knows he's being recorded, and this one certainly knew it. The policies in place already should have kicked him off the force before this happened.

The problem is coddling, often demanded by unions. It leads to much of the inexcusable being tolerated. From bad cops to pedophile teachers, to corrupt seditious FBI officials. People with government and union jobs have to start getting fired like we do in private non-union industry. You're not doing anyone a favor by keeping incompetent, dishonest, people, especially in positions of power. Look at the cost of letting this one asshole keep his job when he should have been fired long ago. Now four cops were fired, and he is charged with murder. What else do they want? A public execution?

There is no way that questionable police interactions will ever go away. All we can expect is for them to be handled swiftly, fairly, and with the interests of the public first, and not second to the employment interests of the cop.; 6/1/20, 1:14 PM
readering said...: I thought the theory of cable news it that the same stuff gets repeated because different people are watching at different times--like AA says is her practice. I don't have a tv so I don't watch at all.; 6/1/20, 1:24 PM
n.n said...: Has Chauvin been convicted? That was quick!

Yes, a warlock judgment (e.g. trial by press) that was upheld through an em-pathetic appeal.; 6/1/20, 2:12 PM
n.n said...: The news kept trying and trying to get racism and police brutality to go viral.

There is no evidence that diversity was a motive.; 6/1/20, 2:15 PM
narciso said...: well as the treehouse has noted, there's something dodgy about that bar,; 6/1/20, 2:41 PM