Liberal attacks help ratings, says Fox News

Liberal attacks help ratings, says Fox News

By Peter Johnson

USA Today

Recent attacks on Fox News Channel by liberal critics have actually helped ratings, according to the network.

Fox's total viewer numbers are up 13 percent since July 8 compared to the same period last year, it says, while CNN is up 1 percent and MSNBC is down 9 percent.

That July date is when Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting kicked off the attacks, saying that during a six-month period ending in December 2003, 57 percent of the guests on Brit Hume's show "Special Report" were conservative.

That was followed by the release of Robert Greenwald's documentary "Outfoxed," which uses Fox News clips as evidence that the network leans right and supports the Republican agenda. Several groups also have challenged Fox's use of its slogan "fair and balanced" with the Federal Communications Commission.

"The attacks are clearly driving ratings," says Fox News chief Roger Ailes. "The success of Fox News is based on fairness.

"Viewers know when we're being attacked unfairly, and they're responding."

But Greenwald, who says the ratings uptick could be tied to interest in the election, thinks the controversy will hurt Fox News in the long run - with advertisers, if not viewers.

"No advertiser wants to choose sides," he says. "Democrats buy cars and soap, too. That's where Fox News is vulnerable."

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