Facebook wants to decide what is authentic journalism for you and is now enlisting anchors from CNN, Fox News and Univision for a new video service.
The social-media giant announced Wednesday that it is fully funding original news content for its video service, known as Watch, by producing shows from seven partners and hosted by Anderson Cooper of CNN, Shepard Smith of Fox News and Jorge Ramos of Univision among others.
The shows will feature live breaking news, daily news briefings, and some weekly series, according to Variety.
“We tried to assemble a diverse set of partners who are already doing quality news who are also really adept at engaging the audience,” Campbell Brown, Facebook’s head of global news partnerships, said. Brown happens to be a former CNN host and NBC News reporter.
With the recent controversies around Facebook’s changes to its newsfeed, which boosted certain “trusted” news outlets and suppressed other – usually conservative – voices, the move to produce its own brand of “trustworthy” news does more than raise eyebrows.
Facebook is funding news programs from CNN, ABC, Univision and… FOX News. FOX NEWS?!?! Facebook is paying for FOX News content???
“Shepard Smith will host…”
— Steven Greenstreet (@MiddleOfMayhem) June 6, 2018
“We’ve talked a lot over the last six months over the quality of news on Facebook,” Brown said. “This is another investment in quality journalism on Facebook.”
“Anderson Cooper Full Circle” will be airing daily on Facebook Watch, and will include interactions with Facebook users directly through live polls and conversations. A twice-daily news report from Fox News, “Fox News Update,” will also be launching featuring 3-5 minute segments and with FNC chief news anchor Shepard Smith hosting each weekday afternoon.
Facebook understands it, and that’s why they chose Shepard Smith
— Dee (@Dee601) June 2, 2018
Facebook kills trends tests breaking news and just to be FAIR Shepard Smith will be anchoring a digital version of Fox News on the FB platform along with others at Fox. But Shep specifically named. Oh, don’t worry, FB promises to “keep an eye” in fairness.
More BS at FB.— Wah wah Boo Who? (@who_wah) June 2, 2018
Though Brown touted the initial shows as “diverse,” it seems the diversity is only left of the aisle. Certainly planting Smith as the face of the Fox News component will not win over many who consistently bash the liberal host on Fox News Channel.
In fact, viewers repeatedly beg Fox News to remove the anti-Trump, left-leaning Smith even though the network announced a multi-year deal in March to keep him in place. Smith’s over-the-top hatred of Trump has raised the ire of conservatives while simultaneously crowning him a liberal media darling. His on-air shouting rant about a “lying” Trump last year earned Smith plenty of backlash.
Sean Hannity blasted his “clueless” colleague earlier this year after Smith dismissed what he characterized as opinion shows on Fox News Channel – like “Hannity” – as existing “strictly to be entertaining.”
Despite Smith’s obvious bias and frequent overly-dramatic, on-air meltdowns, the new Facebook news service deemed the Fox News anchor a good example of its “diverse” commitment to “quality journalism.”
Wow ~ two things I dislike & NEVER trust ~ @facebook & @ShepNewsTeam !
Count me WAY out!— TKS ? ? (@TKS1313) June 6, 2018
Now more reasons that ever to ditch FB.
— Moxie Magee (@MoxieMagee) June 6, 2018
Smith’s enthusiasm for the new platform was obviously not shared by Twitter users.
COMING SOON: A new way to watch Shep! https://t.co/lUMLbbwxG1
— Shepard Smith (@ShepNewsTeam) June 6, 2018
I don’t like watching Shep on Fox… I don’t think we need another way to watch him!
— Jeremy (@SN0WFLAKESLAYER) June 6, 2018
No thanks!
— 2013 Champs! (@cjackson65) June 6, 2018
Hopefully the new way to watch Shep will be on CNN where he belongs ???
— Thepunkster (@thepunkster2) June 6, 2018
Here’s the best way to watch Shep. Click. pic.twitter.com/PYN1C9MY1h
— Basket of Ankle Monitors (@dhobe13) June 6, 2018
Doesn’t everyone turn off the TV when @ShepNewsTeam comes on??? Why would there need to b more ways to watch???
— Paul Urso (@PJJr29) June 6, 2018
Hahahaha! People aren’t looking for new ways to watch you! People change the channel when you come on!
— Dave Howe (@MSgtHowe) June 6, 2018
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll make sure not watch you on Facebook either. If I was interested in anti-Trump propaganda I’d watch CNN.
— Duane Da`Vein (@DuaneDaVein) June 6, 2018
Not doing Facebook anymore
— Laura Kammer (@LauraKammer3) June 6, 2018
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- INSIDER: Victor Davis Hanson questions the motivation behind pro-Hamas protests, offers a roadmap to end it - April 23, 2024
- Mike Johnson hits campaign trail for Republican who accused GOP colleagues of terrible things on CNN - April 23, 2024
- Biden admin slaps convenience store chain with ‘insane’ lawsuit same day as Joe’s awkward campaign stop - April 23, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!