Cross-posted at Democrashield
Someone at Fox News has been spending a good amount of time on Wikipedia recently.
In fact, you can view all of their edits here.
The IP listed is 12.167.224.228. According to Whois,
Search results for: 12.167.224.228
AT&T WorldNet Services ATT (NET-12-0-0-0-1)
12.0.0.0 - 12.255.255.255
FOX NEWS CHANNEL FOX-NEWS73-224-224M (NET-12-167-224-224-1)
12.167.224.224 - 12.167.224.255
So, what kind of changes has Fox been making?
Follow me below the fold to find out...
In the article on Chris Wallace, a two-paragraph long reference to Media Matters for America was removed.
In the article on Carl Cameron, an entire section detailing Cameron’s criticism of Democrats was removed
Cameron has been criticized as being a partisan Republican in his reporting, often interjecting subjective labels on Democrats in order to attack them. In one segment, for example, Cameron attacked three separate Democrats in a time period of only fifteen seconds, deaming them variously, "fairly typical liberal partisan", "Angry liberal," and "extremist"(http://mediamatters.org/items/200501130003).
Became:
Cameron has been criticized by democrats as being a partisan Republican in his reporting
In another article on Cameron, another entire section was removed detailing Cameron’s history of using fabricated quotes.
Some of the worst edits are to the page on Keith Olbermann. Two edits were made to a section of the page talking about Olbermann’s piece on the passing of Peter Jennings:
On Monday, August 8, 2005, the day following Peter Jennings's death from lung cancer, Olbermann revealed on-air that he had had a benign, fibrous tumor removed from the roof of his mouth just ten days earlier. In an explicit and controversial monologue, he attributed his tumor (and the resulting fear and pain) directly to his 27-year habit of smoking pipes and cigars. He vigorously urged his viewers not to wait until they see symptoms to quit. "Do whatever you have to do to stop smoking — now. While it's easier." According to Don Imus on the following morning's Imus In The Morning broadcast, that statement nearly got Olbermann fired
Was changed to
On Monday, August 8, 2005, the day following Peter Jennings's death from lung cancer, Olbermann revealed on-air that he had had a benign, fibrous tumor removed from the roof of his mouth just ten days earlier. In an explicit and controversial monologue, he attributed his tumor (and the resulting fear and pain) directly to his 27-year habit of smoking pipes and cigars. He vigorously urged his viewers not to wait until they see symptoms to quit. "Do whatever you have to do to stop smoking — now. While it's easier." This move was widely ciritcized by the the media and the blogosphere and Olbermann was attacked for making the death of news icon Peter Jennings about himself. According to Don Imus on the following morning's Imus In The Morning broadcast, that statement nearly got Olbermann fired.
And finally ended up as
On Monday, August 8, 2005, the day following Peter Jennings's death from lung cancer, Olbermann revealed on-air that he had had a benign, fibrous tumor removed from the roof of his mouth just ten days earlier. In an explicit and controversial monologue, he attributed his tumor (and the resulting fear and pain) directly to his 27-year habit of smoking pipes and cigars. He was taken to task inthe blogosphere for trying to make the story about himself the day after news veteran Peter Jennigs passed away from lung cancer. According to Don Imus on the following morning's Imus In The Morning broadcast, that statement nearly got Olbermann fired.
Additionally, a line about criticism of Olbermann’s perceived liberal bias goes from
Some conservatives feel that Olbermann's reporting carries a liberal bias.
To
Conservatives feel that Olbermann's reporting carries a liberal bias.
Finally, on the Olbermann page, references to Bill O’Reilly’s sexual harassment lawsuit are scrubbed and the citation of O’Reilly’s ratings is increased.
On the page of Shepard Smith, a paragraph relating to his arrest in Florida for aggravated battery with a motor vehicle is scrubbed, as well as a paragraph about Smith’s gaffe when he used the word "blowjob" on air—they’re both here. In addition, the link to Smith’s mug shot is removed.
On Al Franken’s page, in regards to his lawsuit against Bill O’Reilly, quotes criticizing the nonsensical nature of the suit are scrubbed.
Reflecting later on the lawsuit during an interview on the National Public Radio program Fresh Air on September 3, 2003, Franken said that Fox's case against him was "literally laughed out of court" and that "wholly (holy) without merit" is a good characterization of Fox News itself.
Becomes
Reflecting later on the lawsuit during an interview on the liberal National Public Radio program Fresh Air on September 3, 2003, Franken said that Fox's case against him was the best thing to happen to his book sales.
References to Greta Van Susteren’s facelift are removed.
The page that gets the most official edits? Brit Hume’s, which contains these gems:
Changing
MSNBC's Keith Olbermann claimed that Hume and FOX News committed "premeditated, historical fraud" in distorting FDR (http://mediamatters.org/items/200502150008); on Olberman's show, James Roosevelt, Jr., said that Hume's "outrageous distortion" of FDR "calls for a retraction, an apology, maybe even a resignation" (http://mediamatters.org/items/200502160003). Al Franken shared such sentiment, calling for Brit Hume's immediate resignation
To
MSNBC's Keith Olbermann claimed that Hume and FOX News committed "premeditated, historical fraud" in distorting FDR (http://mediamatters.org/items/200502150008); on Olberman's show, one of the lowest rated programs on cable news, James Roosevelt, Jr., said that Hume's "outrageous distortion" of FDR "calls for a retraction, an apology, maybe even a resignation" . However, Mr. Olbermann has on more than one occasion tried to stir up controversy in hopes of attaining some of the popularity enjoyed by the targets of his attacks. In this instance, it is Mr. Hume who anchors the highest rated political program on cable television.
In addition, repeated references to the suicide of Hume’s son are removed.
This is hardly all there is, but it’s certainly telling. Someone at Fox News is going online and scrubbing Wikipedia entries to make Fox look better and to attack their political enemies. Perhaps they would claim they’re simply trying to make things fair and balanced, but the rest of us see little more than revisionist history.
[Hat Tip to O'Reilly Radar]
UPDATE: Crooks and Liars has picked up on this story, and they found that Fox has turned their guns on Wikipedia. Stay tuned...