Culture

Fox Nation: Opinion Based News Site Says 'No' to Biased Media

by Tina Kells | March 30, 2009 at 09:01 am

1142 views | 14 Recommendations | 7 comments

Fox News has launched Fox Nation, an opinion based news site that allows users to interact with the top stories of the day. Building on the high success of such opinion based news stories as the Glenn Beck 912 project drive and the Sean Hannity 'Turbo Tax Cheat Tim Geithner' watch, Fox Nation is looking to inspire people to talk back to the news.

"It's Time to Say NO to Biased Media and Say YES to Fair Play and Free Speech."

Biased media are in the eye of the beholder, and with a site built around such high-decibel stars as Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck, Fox is hoping to leverage its brand online, especially among conservative true believers. "We felt that giving people a real destination to go and express themselves would give them a feeling of belonging," says Senior Vice President Joel Cheatwood. "People feel they're dictated to a lot by the media."

The launch comes as Fox News Channel is touting its aggressive approach to the Obama administration, which has led to rising ratings after eight years in which the network's top commentators often sided with the Bush White House.

Fox Nation aspires to be the Facebook of news by encouraging open debate between members. The site will post controversial opinions by Fox News personalities with the hope of opening dialogues between average Americans of differing points of view.

...the hook will be columns, blogs and videos from the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Greta Van Susteren and Hannity, which will likely draw their strongest followers.

"I don't think this is going to be limited to die-hard Fox News fans," Cheatwood says. When registration begins in two months, users will be asked to abide by "core principles of tolerance, open debate, civil discourse and fair and balanced coverage of the news," with insulting comments deleted.

"If they're critical of Fox News, that's fine," Cheatwood says. "You just can't say anything that's hateful or hurtful to someone else."

Is MySpace and Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch is attempting to revitalizes his per social networking project by entering the already well populated social news space? Currently Fox Nation and MySpace have no official affiliation but if thefoxnation.com takes off maybe that will change.

Like MySpace, Fox News has been struggling to stay on top of its online niche. MySpace was quickly replaced by Faecbook as THE social networking site, and FoxNews.com consistently ranks a distant 3rd behind CNN and MSNBC in the online news wars.

Fox News is betting the farm that Fox Nation will take it to the top.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Roy C

at 10:23 on March 30th, 2009

Interesting. I will have to check it out. I want to see how "open debate" goes, and get some insight into the underlying opinions and attitudes of the news people there.

Moises Navas (not verified)

at 18:11 on March 31st, 2009

Dear Fox News:

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to express our oppinions about our "ROBINHOOD IN CHIEF.

Wendy D. (not verified)

at 19:19 on March 31st, 2009

To Fox News:

This is a great idea whose time is long overdue. Here's hoping that conservatives can have a voice that will be heard and shared finally.

By the way, why is FoxNews lowering it's standards by giving so much air time to ultra liberal Nancy Skinner? She's appeared on Saturday business economic and investing shows, news and Bill Oreilly. Since when is she such an expert on everything except her specialty, Bush bashing? I stopped listening to Nancy Skinner on WLS Sunday afternoons because she blamed former President Bush for everything wrong with this country. Can't Fox News have more intelligent interviews with the likes of Newt Gingrich and Dick Army, real experts on government and economics?

Conservatives need to flood our senators and representatives with emails, phone calls, and letters telling them exactly what we think of Obama's outrageous irresponsible budget. Most responsible individuals don't spend what they don't have. It's time that we expect the same of our government.

ssgman (not verified)

at 07:00 on April 1st, 2009

I think having conservative blogs is a cool thing. My problem is when news media such as Fox News try to pass themselves off as being fair minded. Blogs such as Huffington Post are not connected with any other news outlets. Fox Nation is part of a "legitimate" news organization. I have checked out the sight and is anything but biased free. The headlines are sensational and judging by the comments, very few people actually read what the articles are about. They just spew hate and contempt.

Karval (not verified)

at 08:54 on April 1st, 2009

I think it's about time, and welcomed to have the conservative voice be heard. When will the people of this country wake up? This biased free website is just what we need to allow the truth to be spoken. The media today is beyond far left. Congratulations FOX..we'll be watching, and reading.

Mike DiLibero (not verified)

at 03:32 on April 2nd, 2009

In reference to the North Carolina Senator and his statement about everyone knows there is no such thing as free money, If the people in government really believe that than they would not be voting themselves 5% raises, and would not be making the government bigger. Just look at Chris Dodd and Barney frank. Look at all the politians who "unintentionally did not pay their taxes". These are the law makers breaking their own laws. What is there punishment. This government is very politacally incorrect.

Kevin Collins (not verified)

at 09:41 on April 2nd, 2009

I think this will be a great site to promote the oppinions of the people concerning news topics directly concerning our country. Though I have no doubt that there will be plenty of distasteful and generally uninformed criticism concerning the views of Mr. Hannity and Rush etc.....I believe that there will also be a healthy balance that not only shows both sides of the coin, but will clearly reflect the "spell" that Mr. Obama has cast blindly over not only the public, but the Senate, House, his cabinet. By simply listening to the ranting that will follow by members of the "Obama cult" will solidify that there is no basis to prove most of what his plans are will work in the ways that he has and is promising, and and overwhelming amount of proof that it wont work, never has worked, and never will work. I look forward to the Obama followers solidifying that which Mr. Hannity and Rush as well as many others have been warning us about for days, weeks, and months!