Former MSNBC and Fox News host Greta Van Susteren unleashed a fiery debate along with investigative journalist Sharyl Attkisson on FCC fine print about “broadcasting false content.”
Van Susteren reached out on Twitter, asking Attkisson her thoughts on the Federal Communications Commission’s rules on news outlets that intentionally broadcast false content.
.@SharylAttkisson , have you seen this (below) from FCC homepage? Words to focus on ..illegal …intentionally …distort…your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/ZweBH0DRwy
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 29, 2018
The veteran journalist responded with a double take-down of both the media and the federal government which doesn’t appear to be doing anything about those outlets pushing “fake news.”
I think there’s more than enough evidence of intentional distortion in some instances but have given up on the idea that our govt. will act on such laws or rules unless it is to certain interests’ benefits and not others. You? https://t.co/iqvq3J7fdh
— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) December 30, 2018
Van Susteren suggested it would be a good starting point in a “dialogue about journalism” and how professionals could all do better while she also noted that the FCC language on their homepage “puts some crooked people at risk.”
I think at a minimum this would be good to start a dialogue about journalism and how we all can do a better job… https://t.co/ycuPnBjv54
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
I also think this language on FCC home page puts some crooked people at risk (need solid proof…like contemporaneous notes)…and this behavior also harms all the good decent journalists out there (and there are many) https://t.co/ycuPnBjv54
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
She also contended that journalists need to set “high standards” for themselves.
I think journalists should police journalism more…and give no “professional courtesy” to sloppy journalism…it hurts all of us when even one journalist is dishonest….or when even one news executive pushes an agenda on the journalists ..we need high standards for ourselves https://t.co/ycuPnBjv54
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
She even noted in a response to one comment that all good journalism should start with one thing.
We should all start w/ one thing: facts (not agenda) https://t.co/DyFAZg0CYV
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
Attkisson opined the state of the industry which turns a “blind eye to itself.”
Unfortunately we have devolved into an industry that in some cases invests in one-sided and sometimes incorrect criticism, and unethical practices, while turning a blind eye to itself.
— Sharyl Attkisson?️♂️ (@SharylAttkisson) December 30, 2018
The tweets sparked many comments as others weighed in and Van Susteren continued to expound on the idea of ethics in journalism.
It usually is standing up against management https://t.co/kCJgkqGwWO
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
“Makes me mad when facts are not considered ‘gold,’ whatever they may be..and when executives at news organizations do what they can to slant the news to meet an agenda (and one inconsistent w/ the facts, whatever they may be),” she wrote.
“I think these executives hurt good decent journalists and hurt American people ..facts should drive all news…and opinion shows should be driven by facts, whatever they may be,” she added in another tweet.
The rush to get it first often leads to poor journalism ..mistakes are made when rush before you get all the facts https://t.co/7gCJhHnGd9
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
Van Susteren emphasized that the FCC noted the intention of violations when making an assessment.
The key word is INTENTIONAL — eg if any network executive told an anchor or threatened an anchor to deliberately slant the news, that would be horrible — if accidentally misstate, then, while not good to make a mistake, not to the level of intentional.. https://t.co/CEcIO8FSqa
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
And she noted, without naming names, the case of a network anchor being directed to “deliberately slant the news.”
You would have to ask individual anchors/correspondents …I do know of one disgraceful effort by a network executive to get an anchor to deliberately slant the news https://t.co/xsCBkuuQtF
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
The eye-opening discussion from Van Susteren and Attkisson led many Twitter users to applaud them as great examples of what journalists should be like.
My two favorite journalists- please work together
— Andrew Denney (@1219ddenney) December 30, 2018
Come back? Where? I don’t see any place for me to go…I will only return to TV if 1/sufficient resources to do a good job and 2/ executives don’t do the unethical and try to get me to do something inconsistent w/ facts, whatever the facts might be https://t.co/xAdUFdlWxZ
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 30, 2018
Thank you Greta for making this point with credibility, authority, experience, perspective, audience, force of words. ? I appreciate your understanding of journalism & choice to share thoughts here in this medium in today’s media landscape.
— DGold Radio (@dgold) December 30, 2018
Journalists who intentionally write false stories and their editors knowingly publish with intent to mislead the public should be held severally liable and prosecuted. Freedom of Speech comes with responsibility and integrity.
— SandyG (@muffypih) December 30, 2018
Preach it Greta! The best keepers of journalistic integrity MUST BE the journalists of and between themselves. Sadly, no one’s listening to this antiquated ideology. It’s all about clicks and ratings – TRUTH is lost. We miss you and your honesty.
— 2SS_SAC (@ScoxSheryl) December 30, 2018
ABSOLUTELY! Regardless of whether they lean-left or right. Case in point the professionally rude Jim Acosta. Shame on CNN This is why the refrain “fake news” resonates.
— The Black Hand (@blackha50711355) December 30, 2018
Hear! Hear!! Bust ‘em up, ladies!
— Gilbert Henry (@RandyWeeble) December 30, 2018
“journalism”
– out-do other click-bait tweets/outlandish headlines to virtue signal, push narrative, & inflate marketing click-through metrics
– blame imaginary, woke 8yr olds & anonymous sources when the story falls apart.
– call criticism an attack on the Free Press
– repeat— Dr Pepper Addict (@jer2911tx) December 30, 2018
That ship has sadly sailed long ago. No going back now. The activists have picked sides and because of that we don’t know who to trust. An entire industry has handed over its credibility.
— BW (@b_weishahn) December 30, 2018
I wish the two of you would do a show!!! You are two of the last real journalists out there. I have so much respect for both of you!
— Jo (@JoGelinas) December 30, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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