206 replies to this topic

[cybercoma]

The poll surveyed New Jersey residents about the uprisings in Egypt and the Middle East, and where they get their news sources. The study, which controlled for demographic factors like education and partisanship, found that "people who watch Fox News are 18-points less likely to know that Egyptians overthrew their government" and "6-points less likely to know that Syrians have not yet overthrown their government" compared to those who watch no news.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/21/fox-news-viewers-less-informed-people-fairleigh-dickinson_n_1106305.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009&ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

This should raise some serious red flags about....

Edited by cybercoma, 25 November 2011 - 03:29 PM.

[wyly]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/21/fox-news-viewers-less-informed-people-fairleigh-dickinson_n_1106305.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009&ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

This should raise some serious red flags about....

that's hardly a revelation...

[dre]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/21/fox-news-viewers-less-informed-people-fairleigh-dickinson_n_1106305.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009&ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

This should raise some serious red flags about....

Right... the problem is its hard to tell if Fox actually MAKES its viewers stupid, or if they just attract viewers that are already grossly misinformed. Its a chicken/egg thing.

[TimG]

This should raise some serious red flags about....

idiots who repeat poll results without look at what was actually asked and answered.

For starters only 36% of people said they did NOT watch Fox News
vs 79% who said they did NOT listen NPR.
So we are talking about a huge swatch of voting public that cuts across party lines.
People also gave multiple answers.

Second, there are three choices: Yes, No and Don't Know.
There is only one wrong answer yet the spin in HuffandPuff ignores the Don't Knows.

For the question about Egypt: 18% of NPR listeners said No vs. 24% of Fox viewers.
For the question about Syria: 17% of NPR listeners said Yes vs. 20% of Fox viewers.

The results for the Syria question is with in the margin of error and irrelevant.
The Egypt question may be statistically significant but a
6% difference is a lot smaller than the 18% trumpeted in the HuffandPuff.

Edited by TimG, 25 November 2011 - 04:15 PM.

[dre]

idiots who repeat poll results without look at what was actually asked and answered.

For starters only 36% of people said they did NOT watch Fox News
vs 79% who said they did NOT listen NPR.
So we are talking about a huge swatch of voting public that cuts across party lines.
People also gave multiple answers.

Second, there are three choices: Yes, No and Don't Know.
There is only one wrong answer yet the spin in HuffandPuff ignores the Don't Knows.

For the question about Egypt: 18% of NPR listeners said No vs. 24% of Fox viewers.
For the question about Syria: 17% of NPR listeners said Yes vs. 20% of Fox viewers.

The results for the Syria question is with in the margin of error and irrelevant.
The Egypt question may be statistically significant but a
6% difference is a lot smaller than the 18% trumpeted in the HuffandPuff.

Plus like I said... you cant blame fox if the viewers were already stupid BEFORE they started watching

[TimG]

Plus like I said... you cant blame fox if the viewers were already stupid BEFORE they started watching

No. I this the label stupid applies to non-fox viewers who try to draw expansive conclusions from a poll with dubious questions and methodology. All the results could mean is Fox viewers are 6% more likely to guess the answer to a poll question instead of saying 'Don't Know'.

Edited by TimG, 25 November 2011 - 04:23 PM.

[Jack Weber]

Plus like I said... you cant blame fox if the viewers were already stupid BEFORE they started watching

I'm thinkin' it more of a "moths attracted to a light" thing re. the brainless and clueless and Fox News...

On the positive side,I suppose, is that the pathetic attempt to replicate that crap here seems to have been sent to cable purgatory due to lack of interest.

[cybercoma]

Right... the problem is its hard to tell if Fox actually MAKES its viewers stupid, or if they just attract viewers that are already grossly misinformed. Its a chicken/egg thing.

They controlled for education though. That should be very concerning for everyone.

[cybercoma]

idiots who repeat poll results without look at what was actually asked and answered.

For starters only 36% of people said they did NOT watch Fox News
vs 79% who said they did NOT listen NPR.
So we are talking about a huge swatch of voting public that cuts across party lines.
People also gave multiple answers.

Second, there are three choices: Yes, No and Don't Know.
There is only one wrong answer yet the spin in HuffandPuff ignores the Don't Knows.

For the question about Egypt: 18% of NPR listeners said No vs. 24% of Fox viewers.
For the question about Syria: 17% of NPR listeners said Yes vs. 20% of Fox viewers.

The results for the Syria question is with in the margin of error and irrelevant.
The Egypt question may be statistically significant but a
6% difference is a lot smaller than the 18% trumpeted in the HuffandPuff.

You need a tissue? That sure sounds like a lot of crying.

Maybe you should have a good look at the title and figure out why comparing the Fox viewers to NPR viewers is irrelevant.

[MiddleClassCentrist]

My question still, as always, is: Why are all conservative media outlets beligerent bullies on the air toward anything they don't agree with?

Edited by MiddleClassCentrist, 25 November 2011 - 05:38 PM.

[TimG]

Maybe you should have a good look at the title and figure out why comparing the Fox viewers to NPR viewers is irrelevant.

And you really think it makes any difference?

You can whine as much as you like but he poll simply does not support the expansive claims made in the huffandpuff article.

[cybercoma]

My question still, as always, is: Why are all conservative media outlets beligerent bullies on the air toward anything they don't agree with?

Ratings. It's WWE-Style journalism.

[dre]

Ratings. It's WWE-Style journalism.

Thats the thing.... as this study and other studies shows fox does a terrible job at educating viewers about news and events. But so what? Their purpose is to make money for shareholders, by generating good ratings which allow them to sell ad space. From this standpoint Fox is a brilliantly run entertainment business. They understand their audience very well, and they know how to get them to tune in.

[Jack Weber]

Thats the thing.... as this study and other studies shows fox does a terrible job at educating viewers about news and events. But so what? Their purpose is to make money for shareholders, by generating good ratings which allow them to sell ad space. From this standpoint Fox is a brilliantly run entertainment business. They understand their audience very well, and they know how to get them to tune in.

That's because educating viewers is not what Fox,or Newscorp,is all about.They seem to exist to inflame its ideological viewers against "the state".This seems to work with the infantile con libertarian types ,and frankly,the dull witted Tea Party types.This makes them money...Infotainment for right wing kooks who are unable to deal with anything that resembles a countering point of view...

[dre]

That's because educating viewers is not what Fox,or Newscorp,is all about.They seem to exist to inflame its ideological viewers against "the state".This seems to work with the infantile con libertarian types ,and frankly,the dull witted Tea Party types.This makes them money...Infotainment for right wing kooks who are unable to deal with anything that resembles a countering point of view...

Yup. Well... Nascar fans buy stuff too! Fox just allows its advertisers a way to reach to this particular demographic. Thats smart business.