The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Fox News is not news, Mr. Kieve

Boy, does Bob Kieve have it wrong but more importantly completely misses the point ("Fox News is the target of an advertiser boycott," Aug.10).

The crux of the problem that Moveon.org, and so many others, has with Fox, is not that they don't like what Fox says or more accurately claims it reports; it's that Fox News clearly misrepresents itself. That is the objection.

Moveon.org doesn't like Rush Limbaugh's opinions or perspective either, but Limbaugh isn't being boycotted because he doesn't call himself a news organization.

People are being told that they are being given "fair and balanced" information, yet in the case of the Fox this so-called "news" is just blatant conservative spin, propaganda and proven time and time again to be lies. That is false advertising and consumer fraud, which dangerously lowers citizens' ability to rely on the quality and accuracy of their media sources and seriously endangers and erodes our democracy--which is exactly what is happening.

By the way, did Kieve also defame the "patriots" who boycotted and eviscerated the careers of the Dixie Chicks back in 2003? I completely believe in freedom of speech and the press, but I also believe that we have a right as consumers to know what we are getting and paying for up front and Fox News is a scam.

We better start understanding, acknowledging and respecting the difference between opinion, fact and fiction in this country and the difference between editorial/opinion pieces and factual, accurate reporting or we will not be able to sustain the democracy we hold so dear.

It's important that someone point this problem out lest journalistic standards that are crucial to any democracy be further compromised and systematically destroyed and our country along with it.

A person can and should be able to express his or her opinion freely and openly, Mr. Kieve, along with the rest of us. Just don't label it news.

Carolyn Allen

San Jose

Resident speaks
for free speech

Can one person, Bob Kieve, president of Empire Broadcasting, be wrong?

Boy, can he ever! He claims in the August 8 issue of the Courier that contacting Fox advertisers to point out the content of what Fox is broadcasting is somehow attacking freedom of speech. He bolsters his argument with a non sequitur, assuming "Fox-haters" would censor media that reflect philosophies of which they don't approve.

Bob says, "...It would be better if we simply responded to those opinions with which we disagree." I submit that is exactly what we are doing, and it in no way restricts freedom of speech. Fox has a license to broadcast and it will continue to broadcast. I just want the advertisers to know that I understand the difference between fact and fiction.

A handful of corporations own the media, and there is no way for viewers to directly respond. Americans were given misinformation by the media that led many to support an unnecessary war. It is time we expect the media to serve the public interest, as they once were required to do.

Phillip P. Pflager

Palm Avenue

A 'great lady'
has passed on

I was sorry to read of the death of Lois Woodruff. Mrs. Woodruff and her husband ran the Cupertino Library book sale for years.

She also did so much for the children's summer reading program--a great lady.

Diane Hawkes

Sunnyvale