News Hounds Manifesto
Reported by Ellen - July 2, 2004
Like many projects, this one started out as something else. In early 2004, eight middle-aged citizens from different backgrounds and locations around the USA teamed up via MoveOn.org and the internet (thank you, Al Gore!) to volunteer our services for OUTFOXED, a documentary film by Robert Greenwald regarding Fox News Channel. For approximately three months, each of us watched FNC conscientiously for five or more hours a week and posted our findings regarding Fox's self-proclaimed mission of fair and balanced reporting.
Appalled by our results, we, who would not meet in person until months later, banded together in cyberspace in concern and outrage over the failure of American media, and Fox News in particular, to relate the news properly. Rather than serve as the public's eyes and ears, Fox and other media conglomerates have become echo chambers for the rich and powerful with whom they have become all too cozy. This blog is an attempt to counter that alarming condition. We believe that a viable democracy depends upon viable media. We invite you to join us in our efforts here and elsewhere to make a difference in the future of our country.
We offer special thanks to Robert Greenwald, Laurel Busby, Kate McArdle and the rest of the staff at Robert Greenwald Productions, our wonderful Blogfather Jim Gilliam (voted world's best by news hounds across America), MoveOn.org and Center for American Progress with whom we have felt so proud and privileged to associate. We send you and the rest of the media-watching, listening and reading population our News Hounds shout out.
Our hope is that you will visit this site regularly so that over time you will come to see, as we have, the ways in which Fox News in particular, lies and distorts its "news" reporting and spins in favor of the Republican party. Let's put the dogs (and a fox or two) in the doghouse where they belong. We have them OUTFOXED!
Disclaimer: This blog belongs to the News Hounds who were unpaid volunteer Fox News reserachers for the movie, Outfoxed. We have no ongoing formal association with the movie, MoveOn.Org, Center for American Progress or any other person or entity involved with the film with the exception of Jim Gilliam who hosts and maintains our site.
July 27, 2005 Update: Our pack has grown! We were sorry to say good-bye to News Hound Eleanor last fall and we wish her all the best. But we have found some great new recruits in Donna and newest pup, Janie.
