CNN’s media reporter Brian Stelter has some interesting takes on CNN and MSNBC beating Fox News in the ratings in January, or putting it another way, Fox News watching its viewership plummet:
- “Think about it this way: January was one of the biggest months of political news in a generation, yet Fox couldn’t capitalize. Instead of competing by promoting correspondents and putting news coverage front and center, the network prioritized ever more outrageous, ever more extreme opinion. ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ essentially expanded to ‘Tucker Carlson Day and Night.'”
- “The public’s demand for news is another big reason [for the Fox News downfall]. Between the pandemic, the transition of power, and the insurrection, many people want reporting ahead of pontificating, and CNN is built for that. Fox is not. (Just count the number of CNN bureaus versus Fox.) Fox is actively avoiding the news when producers believe bluster will rate better — on Tuesday night, for example, CNN and MSNBC showed the US Capitol ceremony for police officer Brian Sicknick while Fox stuck with Sean Hannity’s screech fest. Laura Ingraham only briefly showed the ceremony when Biden visited the Capitol to pay his respects.”
- “In response to [a Washington Post piece on how Fox News might reshape itself], specifically the outlet’s reporting that Fox News president Jay Wallace is under scrutiny, Rupert wrote that ‘Lachlan, myself and Suzanne Scott have complete confidence in Jay Wallace.'” [Is this like a Trump endorsement of a Cabinet member coming a week before he leaves to “spend more time with his family”?]
- “Will the beginning of the Biden presidency cause a broader decline in news interest and viewership?”