Fox News Viewers: Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered

[babylonsister]

http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/?p=1535

Fox News Viewers: Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered
Filed under: General — Mark @ 8:45 pm


The infatuation Fox News viewers have with their pet network is becoming an evermore heated affair. A new poll reveals the network to have a mesmerizing effect on their disciples.

The poll measured levels of trust in television news viewing. The overall result that is being widely reported is that Fox News is the “most trusted’ of all TV news sources with 49% saying they trust it compared to 37% saying otherwise. But the polls internals tell a more nuanced story.

Republicans have an abiding trust in Fox News: 74% to 15%. The same is true when surveying conservatives: 75% to 13%. Democrats and liberals were not nearly as monolithic in their views. The highest rating any of them gave was only 64% (for NBC). Conversely, Republicans and conservatives were far more negative toward non-Fox news sources where the highest rating was a mere 23% for CNN.

What these numbers tell us is how effectively Fox has programmed their viewers to salivate when the bell rings. For these people, Fox is their remote brain. Consequently they will only respond to Fox and will shun any other source. That is the nature of a disciple/master relationship. It is why Fox commands such loyalty from their viewers. It is not surprising, therefore, that the other networks struggle to compete when their audiences are more independent and intellectually curious. It is that sense of devotion that leads to higher ratings for Fox from an audience that is literally bewitched.

The bothered (irrational anger and Tea Baggery) and bewildered (notably misinformed and deceived) parts are just gravy on Fox’s propaganda train.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. What does this story say about us as a whole?

That so many people can be hypnotized by a network?

Damn scary, I think.

Thanks for posting, my dear babylonsister...this is very interesting.

[MadHound]

4. Hell, people get hypnotized by TV in general

I mean literally. There was a series of experiments done in 1971 where they hooked a number of people up to an EEG machine while watching TV. What they found was that people essentially slipped into a light hypnotic trance and became notably more susceptible to suggestion.

That study got a fair amount of play at the time (even I remember it and I was a kid), but it soon disappeared into the mists of time and nobody has ever really followed up on it.

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. I would offer that the success of FOX News has many players

One thing that can never be challenged in regard to the right wing is that they know the power of words and marketing. The demonization of the word "liberal" over the last decades is a case study in the power of focus groups and marketing genius. I will add that the techniques and strategies of FOX News, Rush etc. are eons old. They are simply being applied in our modern world with modern communication mediums.

I will also add that the mainstream media is as much to blame for their dismal showing as anyone. Instead of challenging directly the dishonesty of FOX over these years they tried to mimic Fox in hopes of stealing market share back.

[Blue Owl]

3. Pavlov's channel

Ha ha -- that's one of the best ways to describe that rotten pile of shit they call a "News" network I've ever heard!

Ring the bell, Bill-O -- and watch the "morans" salivate!

[randr]

5. Just because more people buy white bread does not make it better for you.

[zbdent]

6. you forgot bestupid ...

[Winterblues]

7. A good description of a Cult.

This is exactly how cults work and Republicanism fits all the descriptions..The ONLY difference is the amount of people hoodwinked..

[Martin Eden]

8. Freeper-types are gloating over this poll

They're too fucking stupid to realize it's a measure of how thoroughly their brains have been washed.

[4_TN_TITANS]

9. It's a vindication...

"Look at how many of us are running toward the cliff at the same time - we must be right!"