NationStates Jolt Archive


Fox News to hire "Fact Writer"

The Nazz
10-12-2006, 23:13
I guess their declining ratings are causing them to try to change course. They're advertising for a free-lance fact writer (http://www.mediabistro.com/joblistings/jobview.asp?jtit=Instructor&pss2=stamp383&wcit=Fort%20Lauderdale%20&wzip=33304&ocmt.x=40&emai=stanfordbri@gmail.com&lname=Spears&ema2=stanfordbri@gmail.com&emfr=1&pss=stamp383&said=&empl=Florida%20Atlantic%20University&fname=Brian&wcid=219&agem=stanfordbri&phur=&wsid=10&pare=&joid=47810&page=1&ocmt.y=10) to be based in New York.
Publication or Company Fox News Channel
Industry Television
Job Duration Freelance (Other)
Job Location New York, NY USA
Job Requirements Freelance Fact Writer

New York

Requirements/Responsibility:

FOX News Channel, a fast-paced 24-hour television news operation in New York City, is seeking a Freelance Fact Writer for its information center.

Responsibilities include writing on-air facts and press conference quotes for daytime programming. Individuals must have strong writing skills, be able to handle multiple assignments and deadlines, and work well in a team atmosphere. Excellent communication and writing skills are also required.

A successful candidate will:

* Possess a strong interest in news and be well-informed about current events
* Be detail oriented and pay close attention to spelling, grammar, syntax
* Have ability to write in a concise, conversational and colorful style at an extremely fast pace

Must be willing to work on a flexible schedule including weekend shifts.

This is a high-pressure position where your work product gets national exposure on a daily basis.

A bachelor's degree is required.

Fox News Channel is an EOE.

Interested applicants please send resumes to:

Fox News Channel
Human Resources
2nd floor
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036

Fax: 212-301-8588
Email: Resumes@foxnews.com
It should make for an interesting change in the way they present the news. [/snark]
Nevered
10-12-2006, 23:15
well.

I guess FOX doesn't just report the facts.

now, they're going to make them up, too!
The Potato Factory
10-12-2006, 23:17
Wow. I should apply for that job.

"This just in; President Bush says: I fucked your dad."
The Nazz
10-12-2006, 23:21
If I lived in New York, I'd be tempted, except for the fact that it's a free-lance gig.
The South Islands
10-12-2006, 23:22
An unfourtunate choice of words, to be sure.
Arthais101
10-12-2006, 23:27
Wait, unless I vastly misunderstand the words "fact writer" did fox news just admit that they're now just blatantly making shit up?
The Nazz
10-12-2006, 23:30
Wait, unless I vastly misunderstand the words "fact writer" did fox news just admit that they're now just blatantly making shit up?

Probably not. My guess is that it's a badly worded job title, which makes it an opportunity for a joke or two at their expense.
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
10-12-2006, 23:44
A bachelor's degree is required.
FUCKBERRIES! And I was going to apply too.
Port Arcana
10-12-2006, 23:49
Pfft, American media. :p
Fleckenstein
11-12-2006, 00:01
"This just in; President Bush says: I fucked your dad."

"John Kerry spotted defecating on troop care packages, more at 11"
RuleCaucasia
11-12-2006, 00:45
I don't get it. The word "fact" implies truth or veracity. It is diametrically opposed to an "untruth" or a "lie." Why is the job title poorly worded? Those who write facts are disseminating the truth. There's nothing wrong with that.
The Nazz
11-12-2006, 00:46
"John Kerry spotted defecating on troop care packages, more at 11"

"George Bush--great president, or the greatest president?" Oh wait, that's Colbert. ;)
Turquoise Days
11-12-2006, 00:52
I don't get it. The word "fact" implies truth or veracity. It is diametrically opposed to an "untruth" or a "lie." Why is the job title poorly worded? Those who write facts are disseminating the truth. There's nothing wrong with that.

AWOOGA Sense of humour failure in sectors three through twelve! AWOOGA
RuleCaucasia
11-12-2006, 00:55
AWOOGA Sense of humour failure in sectors three through twelve! AWOOGA

What are you talking about? Did I say something wrong? What sectors?! :confused:
Turquoise Days
11-12-2006, 00:58
What are you talking about? Did I say something wrong? What sectors?! :confused:

Fox is noted for, its somewhat, shall we say flexible interpretation of the tagline 'Fair and Balanced'. Thus, it amuses us to comment on the job description 'Fact Writer'. As for the sectors, they are the one's you're currently in. Flee now, before its too late!
Arthais101
11-12-2006, 00:59
What are you talking about? Did I say something wrong? What sectors?! :confused:

*sigh* ok lemme explain easily. "fact writer" can mean one of two things. It can mean either:

a) one who takes facts, and writes them down in a format that is presentable for newscasters, so they can deliver that news

or

b) writes up a fiction out of wholecloth but presents it as facts

Now while they of course meant the former, fox news, which has a reputation for being...less than factually honest, all the time, gave some of us a chuckle as it seemed to be implying they were in fact admitting to just blatantly making shit up.
PsychoticDan
11-12-2006, 01:01
So, let me get this straight. First, the Republcan party abandones Bush. Then, Bush, because of the force of current events, abandones his administration (where's Cheney? Rice? Baker and the rest of his dad's old guard are running the show now.) Now, Bush's chief PR firm, er, I mean friendly news service, looks like they're abandoning him, too. It's too bad it took a massive defeat at the polls, Iraq to get so bad that one can no longer deny that it may be the worst foriegn policy disaster in the history of the US and declining ratings respectively for all of these things to occur. His administration's incompetence was plainly obvious to honest, informed folk years ago but popularity polls, politics and ratings I guess are stronger than truth. Had people in power been more interested in the security of the US than in their own fortunes we'd be in much better shape right now. Ultimately I blame Karl Rove. He's the one who gave so much electoral power to stupid people. Karl Rove may go down in history as the architect of the destruction of the US.
RuleCaucasia
11-12-2006, 01:05
So, let me get this straight.

What does any of that have to do with FOX News? I see no connection between the news service and the administration; in fact, there is none. Are you one of the people who believe in a massive right-wing conspiracy? Well, there is none, and FOX News is entitled to hire someone whose job is to collate and organize various facts for a more colorful presentation. Why do people chuckle at the fact that FOX is trying to present news in a less insipid format while still holding fast to its integrity by checking all its facts before broadcasting them?
Turquoise Days
11-12-2006, 01:06
What does any of that have to do with FOX News? I see no connection between the news service and the administration; in fact, there is none. Are you one of the people who believe in a massive right-wing conspiracy? Well, there is none, and FOX News is entitled to hire someone whose job is to collate and organize various facts for a more colorful presentation. Why do people chuckle at the fact that FOX is trying to present news in a less insipid format while still holding fast to its integrity by checking all its facts before broadcasting them?

*chuckles*
RuleCaucasia
11-12-2006, 01:08
*chuckles*

I assume that is the purpose of an employee in whose job description it clearly states that he must "check facts." I didn't see a requirement that said "good at fact fabrication to brainwash people into turning America into Nazi Germany" as some liberals tend to believe.
PsychoticDan
11-12-2006, 01:14
What does any of that have to do with FOX News? I see no connection between the news service and the administration; in fact, there is none. Are you one of the people who believe in a massive right-wing conspiracy? Well, there is none, and FOX News is entitled to hire someone whose job is to collate and organize various facts for a more colorful presentation. Why do people chuckle at the fact that FOX is trying to present news in a less insipid format while still holding fast to its integrity by checking all its facts before broadcasting them?

No conspiracy, but if you deny that Fox is a cheerleader for the administration, or apparently WAS a cheerleader then you're naive. I'm not one of those people who will accuse Fox of lying, but their editorial slant is, or was, obvioulsy pro neocon. Well, now that the neocons are out it appears they're jumping ship, too.
UpwardThrust
11-12-2006, 01:19
I assume that is the purpose of an employee in whose job description it clearly states that he must "check facts." I didn't see a requirement that said "good at fact fabrication to brainwash people into turning America into Nazi Germany" as some liberals tend to believe.

Ahh now we got to the heart of the matter, its the ebil librulz again
Arthais101
11-12-2006, 01:23
Why do people chuckle at the fact that FOX is trying to present news in a less insipid format while still holding fast to its integrity by checking all its facts before broadcasting them?

Oh it probably checks its facts all right. It just doesn't broadcast the ones that disagree with it.

Or, as a recently leaked memo suggests, decides what the facts are before hand, then goes looking for evidence to support it, rather than drawing inferences after the evidence is collected.
RuleCaucasia
11-12-2006, 01:26
decides what the facts are before hand, then goes looking for evidence to support it

We are entitled to free speech in this country, and I commend FOX News for searching for real tangible evidence with which to back up their assertions. Many other news companies do not or rely on extremely scant data (recently, a NY Times article stated that 6 Iraqis were killed by immolation, a claim which was later proved false by conservative blogs).
Arthais101
11-12-2006, 01:47
We are entitled to free speech in this country, and I commend FOX News for searching for real tangible evidence with which to back up their assertions.

See, the problem is...a news entity should get evidence FIRST, then make assertions. Not decide what is true first, then go look for evidence to support it.

Likewise, while news agencies may get things wrong, believing something to be true, it's very different from seeing something you believe to be true and reporting on it and going out and trying to find something to substantiate what you want to report.

It's bad when a news agency reports on false facts they believe to be true. It's FAR worse when a news agency knows what it wants to say before it has reason to believe it to be true.
RuleCaucasia
11-12-2006, 01:50
Stuff.

As long as a news agency reports what it has ascertained to be the truth, I see no problem with that. What I do see a problem with is the press lying (as in the case with the six Iraqi men who allegedly were burned to death) or outright fabricating multimedia content (Reuters, and other which have gone undetected...so far).
Utracia
11-12-2006, 02:19
*chuckles*

Hey, we all need amusement in our lives. :D
Non Aligned States
11-12-2006, 02:28
a claim which was later proved false by conservative blogs).

If you use blogs to ascertain the truth of things, you had better be prepared to be disappointed a lot. Doesn't matter what stripe they are.

From the looks of things though, it's good odds that you only trust neocon viewpoints over others, regardless of factual truth.
Naream
11-12-2006, 02:56
thay like all media Companys report on what is profitable, some just use differant marketing stratagies then others.
Commonalitarianism
11-12-2006, 03:50
It should be "Fact checker". This is standard for most media companies. Untrue statements lead to libel lawsuits. They must have fired their last one.
The Nazz
11-12-2006, 03:53
It should be "Fact checker". This is standard for most media companies. Untrue statements lead to libel lawsuits. They must have fired their last one.

Personally, I think they were talking about a fact writer as opposed to a feature writer or story writer--a person who's supposed to write individual facts instead of full stories.