Fox News forced to remind its news teams that online polls aren't real

Donald Trump has a longstanding relationship with the fine journalists of Fox & Friends.

This is not a reminder that professional journalists should ever need:

A Fox News executive sent a memo Tuesday afternoon reminding television producers and the politics team that unscientific online polls "do not meet our editorial standards."

Dana Blanton, the vice president of public-opinion research at Fox News, explained in the memo obtained by Business Insider that "online 'polls' like the one on Drudge, Time, etc. where people can opt-in or self-select … are really just for fun."

It is, however, a reminder that the fine folks on the air at Fox News really did need:

At least three Fox News hosts cited unscientific online polls in the hours after Monday night's presidential debate to suggest Donald Trump emerged as the winner of the political showdown.

But their lapse earned them praise from where it matters (if you’re a Fox personality):

Every on-line poll, Time Magazine, Drudge etc., has me winning the debate. Thank you to Fox & Friends for so reporting!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 28, 2016

This is the 2016 election, folks. The Republican candidate and the Republican network are touting heavily freeped online polls to pump themselves up after a debate loss.

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