This article is written in American English, which has its own spelling conventions (color, labor, traveled), and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. According to the relevant style guide, this should not be changed without broad consensus.
The subject of this article is controversial and content may be in dispute. When updating the article, be bold, but not reckless. Feel free to try to improve the article, but don't take it personally if your changes are reversed; instead, come here to the talk page to discuss them. Content must be written from a neutral point of view. Include citations when adding content and consider tagging or removing unsourced information.
Discussions on this page often lead to previous arguments being restated. Please read recent comments, look in the archives and review the FAQ before commenting.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Concern: The introduction mentions alleged bias or other controversial information.
WP:LEAD - The lead should be capable of standing alone as a concise overview of the article, establishing context, explaining why the subject is interesting or notable, and briefly describing its notable controversies. It is appropriate to overview the controversies and allegations of bias, as these are substantial.
Concern: The introduction mentions allegations of conservative bias but I've seen studies that say Fox News is centrist and/or liberal. Shouldn't these viewpoints be mentioned in the lead as well?
Although there are studies with various viewpoints on Fox, the view that Fox is conservative dominates. For the lead we restrict ourselves to the dominant view, conservative bias, while noting that this viewpoint has dissenters. The lead should only briefly summarize the notable controversies. The notability of this particular controversy is measured by studies, documentaries, films, boycotts from influential persons based on the perception of bias, and numerous pop culture references to the alleged conservative bias. No other viewpoint has gained as much currency, and therefore including them in the lead would violate WP:FRINGE; WP:NPOV and WP:LEAD.
Concern: Does the article take any position regarding the allegations of bias?
Wikipedia takes no position on whether Fox News is biased. The introduction highlights the existence of a notable controversy concerning the perception that the network promotes conservative political positions. Neither the introduction nor the article takes a position on whether such a perception is accurate, we merely reflect the consensus of reliable independent sources.
Previous discussions: See archives 21, 19, 18, 17, 16 (Includes RfC) and 15.
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Companies, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of companies on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.CompaniesWikipedia:WikiProject CompaniesTemplate:WikiProject Companiescompany articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Conservatism, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of conservatism on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.ConservatismWikipedia:WikiProject ConservatismTemplate:WikiProject ConservatismConservatism articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Journalism, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of journalism on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.JournalismWikipedia:WikiProject JournalismTemplate:WikiProject JournalismJournalism articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Radio, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Radio-related subjects on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.RadioWikipedia:WikiProject RadioTemplate:WikiProject RadioRadio articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Media, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Media on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.MediaWikipedia:WikiProject MediaTemplate:WikiProject MediaMedia articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject New York City, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of New York City-related articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.New York CityWikipedia:WikiProject New York CityTemplate:WikiProject New York CityNew York City articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Politics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of politics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PoliticsWikipedia:WikiProject PoliticsTemplate:WikiProject Politicspolitics articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Television, a collaborative effort to develop and improve Wikipedia articles about television programs. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page where you can join the discussion.
To improve this article, please refer to the style guidelines for the type of work.TelevisionWikipedia:WikiProject TelevisionTemplate:WikiProject Televisiontelevision articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject United States, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of topics relating to the United States of America on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the ongoing discussions.
WARNING: ACTIVE ARBITRATION REMEDIES The article Fox News is currently subject to discretionary sanctions authorized by active arbitration remedies (see WP:ARBAPDS). An administrator has applied the following restrictions to this article:
24-hr BRD cycle: If a change you make to this article is reverted, you may not reinstate that change unless you discuss the issue on the talk page and wait 24 hours (from the time of the original edit). Partial reverts/reinstatements that reasonably address objections of other editors are preferable to wholesale reverts.
These restrictions have been imposed pursuant to an arbitration decision which authorized discretionary sanctions for all edits about, and all pages related to, post-1992 politics of the United States and closely related people. If you breach the restriction on this page, you may be blocked or otherwise sanctioned. Any uninvolved administrator may levy restrictions as an arbitration enforcement action on users editing in this topic area, after an initial alert. Please edit carefully.
Remedy instructions and exemptions
Enforcement procedures:
Violations of any of these restrictions should be reported immediately to the arbitration enforcement noticeboard.
Editors who are aware of discretionary sanctions in this topic area and who violate these restrictions may be sanctioned by any uninvolved administrator, even on a first offense.
If you are unsure if your edit is appropriate, discuss it here on this talk page first. Remember: When in doubt, don't revert!
This talk page is automatically archived by Lowercase sigmabot III. Any threads with no replies in 1 month may be automatically moved. Sections without timestamps are not archived.
Please stay calm and civil while commenting or presenting evidence, and do not make personal attacks. Be patient when approaching solutions to any issues. Ifconsensus is not reached, other solutions exist to draw attention and ensure that more editors mediate or comment on the dispute.
My recent edits on the new relationship between Trump/Trumpism and Fox News has been reverted. I understand that the lead should be a summary of the article, but I think these new developments (as well as the rise of Newsmax and OANN as far-right alternatives as a result of Fox's more critical stance on Trump, bolstered by Trump himself) should be mentioned as this issue has been mentioned a few times on the talk page. – Bangalamania (talk) 03:47, 17 November 2020 (UTC)
The problem here is that Fox News still counts a being pro-Trump, with its prime-time conspiracy theorists considering Mr. Trump to be the legitimate winner of the 2020 presidential election. It may be useful to note in the body of the article, however, that Fox News has been met with increasing criticism from right-wing watchers who do not consider it conservative enough and would prefer far-right media outlets. While that may be true, it would be ironic, considering that Fox News was the one that reflected and reinforced its viewers' anti-Democratic Party ideas. As much as I have been disgusted by its journalistic standards, I would actually feel bad to see it dissolve because it was not "conservative" enough. FreeMediaKid! 01:05, 18 November 2020 (UTC)
Completely agree with you on all points there, although I would add that if it is mentioned in the body of the article that there should be a brief mention in the lead of Trump supporters' opposition to Fox ebbing away. And I do note the irony of seeing right-wingers calling out Fox for being "Faux News" because it isn't right-wing enough. --Bangalamania (talk) 13:58, 18 November 2020 (UTC)
Hello freemediakid!, can you provide a reliable independent source for you statement about conspiracy theorist. But I also agree with the OP, it could use an update as this is a big change in the way they are reporting. WILDGUN96 (talk) 04:36, 23 December 2020 (UTC)
A edit I made moving the descriptor of "conservative" to the end of the first paragraph of the lead and added "some" to the statement former employees have said that Fox ordered them to "slant the news in favor of conservatives", with the reason given that these edits were "not an improvement". As per remedies, I have raised this here to see if a consensus developed. In the mean time, as more than 24 hours has passed since my original edit, again as per remedies, I will re-instate. thorpewilliam (talk) 04:57, 29 November 2020 (UTC)
Your edits (the first of which removed "conservative" and the second of which de-emphasized it) are a violation of the editing restrictions on this page, as well as a the spirit of WP:BRD. Fox News is a "conservative cable news channel" and should be described as such (as countless reliable sources do). Just saying it's a "cable news channel" and adding a sentence lower down the lead about how it is "known for its conservatism" is not the same, and fails to clearly and succinctly inform readers that its primary claim to notability is as a conservative news channel. Snooganssnoogans (talk) 06:34, 29 November 2020 (UTC)
Its primary claim to notability is not as a conservative news channel. Its commentary content certainly is, but its news reporting is (nominally, at least) independent. RS do describe it as having such an opinion stance, but it's not befitting of the first sentence. thorpewilliam (talk) 10:11, 1 December 2020 (UTC)
Editing practices that are antithetical to improving this articleEdit
A certain editor, whom I will not name, has as I see it showed an aversion to even slight improvements to this article. I plan to restore my most recent edit, which was already a compromise as I see it, as more than 24h has passed. Any editor who has an opposition to these is free to justify those here, in accordance with ArbCom remedies. Kind regards, thorpewilliam (talk) 00:54, 5 December 2020 (UTC)
Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 5 December 2020Edit
This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.
Shorten the final paragraph of the article’s introduction. It is nearly identical to the Political alignment section of the article. I understand why deleting the paragraph would not be feasible, but I believe cutting it down is very much necessary given that there’s few differences between the paragraph and the Political alignment section of the article. DrPepperIsNotACola (talk) 07:44, 5 December 2020 (UTC)
Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Swil999 (talk) 09:48, 5 December 2020 (UTC)
Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 18 December 2020Edit
This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.
I personally find your "accessible reading material" on FOX NEWS is
incorrectly based! FOX NEWS' contributions are open, clear, and informative for all open minded, clear thinking & true information seekers!
Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. O3000 (talk) 18:24, 18 December 2020 (UTC)
Fox's pattern of anti-semitic attacks on George SorosEdit
More specifically, I suggest that the section talk in general about Fox's controversial hosts and the network's apparant continued support for them; touching briefly on any specific incidents with them on the assumption that the host's bio page would have more detailed coverage. It's not just Beck that is controversal at Fox, but also Tucker Carlson, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, etc. My point at the NPOV board is that this article gets a bit too focused on microscopic aspects when those aspects are better covered as part of the macroscopic picture of criticism of Fox. --Masem (t) 16:31, 13 January 2021 (UTC)
"Specific incidents" would seem to also include specific long-term TARGETS of Fox's attacks, correct?IHateAccounts (talk) 16:38, 13 January 2021 (UTC)
The way I would envision a section would be "Controversial hosts" and would be read something like (not final wording, this is off the cuff) "Fox News has been criticized for its continued support of its controversial hosts of its various talk and opinion shows. Among such hosts include: (list format here to have two or three sentences on each) Glenn Beck, who has spent several years making anti-Semitic remarks and false conspiracy theories about George Soros. Fox has defended Beck's comments as..." with the understanding that if I went to Beck's page, there's probably a good full paragraph or three about this (and I see there is). Remember that this article (Fox News) should center on criticism of Fox News, and so in talking about Beck specifically, we need to establish just enough (his repeated attacks on Soros) to understand in reasonable depth why Fox is criticized for carrying Beck, not for why Beck is criticized. Leave details of the latter to Beck's page. --Masem (t) 22:43, 13 January 2021 (UTC)
@Masem: Asking you and others to help provide sources regarding anti-semitism by Fox hosts or regular contributors below. IHateAccounts (talk) 18:18, 18 January 2021 (UTC)
===General background:===
Comment only. I like the information all being in one spot. (like a book). Don't break it all up please. 18:26, 14 January 2021 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:199:101:5F0:E455:40FF:2C22:563C (talk)
"and conservative columnists, such as Jennifer Rubin"Edit
Jennifer Rubin does not identify as a Conservative and has sought to distance herself from that label. Should this sentence be rewritten? Juno (talk) 03:06, 26 January 2021 (UTC)
Well, Rubin was a conservative when she had the valor (the gall, I would call it, although that term has negative connotations, so it is best to avoid it) to criticize Fox News. While I do believe that she still considers herself to be a 1990s-kind conservative and not a right-wing populist, it is irrelevant to write down what she believes now. However, if she had cited Fox News as a reason for her denouncing current right-wing politics—which could be mistaken as 1990s conservatism—I could see someone clarifying in the Fox News article that she has since renounced the label, citing Fox News as one of the reasons. FreeMediaKid! 09:09, 2 February 2021 (UTC)
Semi-protected edit request on 20 February 2021Edit
This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= or |ans= parameter to no to reactivate your request.
In the controversy section, there is a subsection called Journalistic ethical standards. This section should include the case of McDougal v. Fox News Network, LLC. This case determined that Tucker Carlson is NOT being a reliable source of facts. This is the argument of the Fox news lawyers. There are many articles about this case including the judge of the case:
Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Melmann 15:57, 20 February 2021 (UTC)