The British FCC – OfCom – has censured Fox News’ John Gibson for robust criticism of the BBC:
“We recognise how important freedom of expression is within the media. This item was part of a well-established spot, in which the presenter put forwards his own opinion in an uncompromising manner. However, such items should not make false statements by undermining facts,” the regulator said. “Fox News was unable to provide any substantial evidence to support the overall allegation that the BBC management had lied and the BBC had an anti-American obsession. It had also incorrectly attributed quotes to the reporter Andrew Gilligan. Even taking into account that this was a ‘personal view’ item, the strength and number of allegations that John Gibson made against the BBC meant that Fox News should have offered the BBC an opportunity to respond.”
But, as Jeff Jarvis has pointed out, all of what Gibson said is demonstrably true.
PILING ON BROOKS: The best explanation of the current fad of bashing David Brooks is professional jealousy. The man is well-liked, has the best column space in America, and has made a fortune writing popular books. Grrr. David Plotz’s latest slam-job is particularly harsh, and undeserved. Brooks’ pop-sociology isn’t meant, as far as I can see, to be much more than a diverting take on current American culture. Is that such a frigging crime? His qualms about the war have been honest and forthright. He hasn’t hidden from the consequences of the liberation. On several occasions, I’ve found Brooks’ columns to be calibrated records of a man trying to think things through – not mere wussiness. It’s not necessarily a virtue to proclaim full speed ahead when a policy you have championed comes unstuck or frayed. And it’s a little trite to link David’s “National Greatness” meme so specifically to the war in Iraq. David is a friend, so you can dismiss this short defense if you want. There have been a few columns that I thought were weak – his mash-note about the current Pope struck me as particularly obtuse. But to say he doesn’t have enough “anger” to be a columnist strikes me as misplaced. We need more Krugmans? And when was the last time you read a Kinsley column that bristled with anger?
The Dish 