Fox News Hits 'Em Where it Hurts

Fox News made a very public error, criticizing a Canadian Military that just so happened to be awaiting the four troops on their way home (Ontario) from Afghanistan in caskets. An entire commentary played out criticizing Lt.-Gen Andrew Leslie for declaring his military would take a year long breather from the war in Afghanistan after they wrap-up in 2011. They joked that the "Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, [and] run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants."

These jokes were not taken lightly in a grave time for the Canadian people. The host and his guests were obviously ignorant of Canadian contribution to the war and clearly do not keep up with Canadian news. Canadians were livid about the discussion and demanded the news station apologize for the ignorant comments. Numerous angry Montreal residents wrote into The Gazette complaining about this Red Eye debate.

Fox, realizing their mistake, forced the host of Red Eye, Greg Gutfeld to apologize for his comments. This has agitated the relationship between the US and Canada. It has also destroyed the image of Fox News in many Canadians eyes (not saying that the station was held in high regard to Canadians before this aired). One of Gutfeld's fellow satirists even had a series of comedy gigs in Edmonton canceled by the hosts. Edmonton is the home of a military base and the people there did not take too kindly to these comments.

This demonstrates just how much effect errors in published and broadcast reports can have on a news station. Fox will not be getting very high ratings in Canada for a while.

Craig Silverman's Regret the Error website demonstrates how much news station do screw up and in his interview with Chip Scalan he talks about how errors hurt credibility of news mediums. He also discusses public forums, like the one for The Gazette, where news transparency takes hold. People there point out mistakes and can even incite someone like the Canadian Defense Minister to demand apologies for such mistakes. It is about time Canadians fight back against US criticism and teaches the ungrateful bully that they do know how to stand up for themselves!