Sunday, April 19, 2009 | 2:03 a.m.
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In response to George Pucine’s Thursday letter to the editor, in which he presents facts regarding Fox’s No. 1 status in cable news:
No one should take from Fox News’ high ratings that ratings alone means that what it broadcasts is the truth. It is a bit like saying if McDonald’s is the most popular restaurant, it must mean its food is healthy.
For that matter, take the example of “The Daily Show.” A 2007 study by Pew Research showed that viewers of “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report” have the highest knowledge of national and international affairs, while Fox News viewers rank nearly dead last. And yet, “The Daily Show” has half the daily viewership of Fox News. Quite a contradiction, especially when the host of “The Daily Show” refers to it as a “fake” news program!
Just because a few hangers-on still flock desperately to Fox News, and even though it may be enough to give it No. 1 status in cable news viewership while progressives are splitting their viewership among the other news sources, it doesn’t mean Fox equals truth. After all, more people are watching the combined total of other news sources than are watching Fox. Perhaps there is a reason for that.
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