This 3-hour barrage of questioning was similar to observing two gladiators battle for their lives within the confines of a Roman Colosseum. However, instead of two well buffed combatants armed with steel and spear defending themselves from hostile opposition, we have to endure and watch these two characters bear witness:
Thanks to @KeithWildman for this amazin’ Twitpic.
The axes were lobbed to and fro across the horseshoe-shaped table, as father and son were set to testify of any background knowledge of these scandalous accusations known around the globe as “HackGate”.
While news coverage of these proceedings saturated the airwaves, I had to bear in mind the level of objectivity most networks would have to honor while broadcasting these lines of questioning. One broadcast network in particular, Fox News, sprang into the forefront to make its required presence along side of their news covering rivals.
Fox News’ involvement with this case carries a multi-tiered array of involvement as Murdoch & Murdoch are indeed owners of said Fox News. Which means Fox News would make darn sure that the representation of the two head-honchos would need to be minimalisticly demonizing as possible while its being televised.
The energy saver light bulb in my head illuminated as I decided to track how fairly and balance(ly) would Fox portray the attacks from the British Assassination Squad. How do you ask? By of course, the use of softening the offensive blows with less-than incriminating bulletins spackled with streaming banner-text across the screen.
Let’s see how Fox’s graphics compares to their lesser known rival CNN and their use of well-timed banners addressing the overall presentation.
The saying is that a picture’s worth 1000 words, but strategic words on that picture can illustrate an entirely different story altogether. Both networks appear to be quite parallel with one another as far as their word selection, but notice the gradual contrast and digression of tone between both networks:
CNN provided very succinct and factual updates whereas Fox might as well have been playing a very sympathetic violin solo in the background… There was severe case of repetition on Fox’s behalf, most of the captions were used over and over again, evoking a sense of sympathy to the viewer.
Now that these CEOs have the luxury of hindsight, after getting caught with their hands in the cookie jar so to speak, they can express their “deepest sympathies”. Just like a mischievous 12-year old, they promise never to do it again (with their fingers crossed behind their backs no less…) Who could have foreseen that the News Corp. mogul was mere minutes away from an assault a la “shaving cream” pie?
Jolly good show Sir Jonnie Marbles!!! You have won the hearts of many more fans across the globe for this noble deed.
After the excitement levels began to wear off, the two titans of industry was able to clean themselves up, dust off the additional layer of public shame that was just bestowed upon them, and finish the last line of questioning. How poetic, this event ended just as it started, this time with Murdoch eating his shaving cream flavored humble-pie.
Aside from this devious scandal, the overall theme of conduct upheld by Murdoch & Murdoch was very typical of their brood. Both were able to deflect any blame and ownership of malicious tactics; teetering back and forth of acknowledging their roles with within their corporation and blasting their subordinates.
Murdoch, Jr. would use typical delayed reactions toward answering most questions by always addressing/re-addressing the interviewer and rephrasing the question on numerous occasions. Murdoch, Sr.’s body language displayed visible discomfort throughout the entire session, his notable fist pounds on the desk projected an aging alpha male form of aggression.
Either way, for their corporation to operate under the guise of being fair and balanced is so distant from their wicked realities. Fox News, under the News Corp umbrella, has maintained a landslide of scrutiny when it comes to objectivity and favoritism while participating in raking up 32-billion dollars in annual revenue. Given News Corp.’s history toward political donations, even more persecution was brought onto their billionaire-boys club for only aiding the Republican Governors Association.
I question whether or not if this is far from ethical example of journalism would be acceptable for the world’s 2nd largest media conglomerate; would they truly want other institutions to follow suit?
This is the worst kind of oxymoron to represent a corporation, however, I would rather place emphasis on the suffix instead by removing the "oxy".
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