What is Fox News?

NYU's Jay Rosen: "On Fox, the news exists in order to generate controversy. Controversy exists in order to generate resentment. And the resentment is what generates ratings."

NYU’s Jay Rosen tries to explain:  “On Fox, the news exists in order to generate controversy. Controversy exists in order to generate resentment. And the resentment is what generates ratings.”

Via mistermix who eschewed posting the video because Rosen’s “voice and manner channels a younger Wallace Shawn, which is tough to take.”  Heh.  I almost invariably prefer the written word over videos, unless the visual component truly adds to the understanding of the topic.  It doesn’t here.

FILED UNDER: Media,
James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. I’ll stick with the written word as well. I actually think he has a point in the quotation that you posted.

  2. john personna says:

    You could also say his video is the polar opposite of Fox: slow pace, and no babes

  3. Eric Florack says:

    I suspect that Jay Rosen has just revealed himself clearly as what I have long since started to suspect of him, when he started defending Kos a few years ago and singing the praises of the nutroots.

  4. Herb says:

    “because Rosen’s “voice and manner channels a younger Wallace Shawn, which is tough to take.” ”

    Inconceivable!

  5. Carl says:

    Nicely argued, Jay.  I look forward to hearing/reading more of your thoughts.

  6. Interesting. Wallace Shawn, perhaps.
    However, I would argue that Rosen appears to be channeling a variant of Yoda’s logic…
    “[N]ews exists in order to generate controversy. Controversy exists to generate resentment. And resentment exists to generate ratings.”
    …versus…
    “Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
    =)