Dr. Mr.Murdoch

[unapatriciated]

http://mediamatters.org/press/releases/483110

Washington, DC - Today, Media Matters for America's Ari Rabin-Havt sent a letter to News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch noting Fox News' role in regularly promoting the Tea Party movement. When Rabin-Havt asked Murdoch about that topic at the National Press Club on Tuesday night, Murdoch said he didn't think Fox News "should be supporting the Tea Party" but would like to "investigate" "before condemning anyone."

The letter reads:

Dear Mr. Murdoch:

I wanted to thank you for taking my question Tuesday night at the National Press Club. As a reminder, I asked you whether it was "appropriate for a news network to engage in that much politics" in regards to Fox News' role in regularly promoting the Tea Party movement.

You replied: "No. I don't think we should be supporting the Tea Party or any other party. But I'd like to investigate what you are saying before condemning anyone."

We appreciate your willingness to look into this matter. To aid in your investigation, Media Matters has compiled over 15 examples of your network's "support" of the Tea Party movement. And, contrary to a Fox News spokesperson's suggestion that only the "opinion commentators" are actively encouraging participation in the protests, it is a problem that stretches across the entire network.

Tuesday night, I was pleased to learn that you don't believe that Fox News should be "supporting the Tea Party or any other party" and that you were open to "condemning" anyone who had done so. For the past year, Media Matters has been vocal in criticizing the network's tea party coverage. I hope the attached evidence is enough to convince you to take action. We look forward to hearing the results of your investigation.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like any additional information.

Kind regards,

Ari Rabin-Havt

Vice President of Research & Communications

Media Matters for America
With the letter, Rabin-Havt included the following attachment:...