Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : Wikipédia)
In Search of a 24-Hour News Channel
A few days ago, wanting to add more 24-hour news channels so that I could stay informed about current events during the weekends, I decided to add the Fox News channel to my list of channels. I use the free Roku system, after having cancelled my cable subscription quite some time ago.
Roku is a streaming platform that allows users to watch television content over the Internet without needing a traditional cable or satellite subscription. The company offers either small devices that connect to a television (Roku players) or televisions that have the Roku system built directly into them.
The way it works is fairly simple: the Roku device connects to the home Internet network (Wi-Fi or sometimes an Ethernet cable), then provides access to an application store featuring what Roku calls channels. These channels can be free or paid and offer movies, series, news, live broadcasts, music and various specialized content.
A First Viewing That Comes as a Shock
On Saturday evening, I sat down in front of the television to watch Fox News live. As someone who regularly watches France24, CNN, RDI, as well as major American networks such as CBS, NBC and ABC, I expected to find a certain level of similarity in the way information was presented.
The reason I had decided to add Fox News to my list was simple: during weekends, with the exception of channels such as France24 or Al Jazeera, most other news networks generally stop their live coverage and instead offer analysis programs, reruns or prerecorded content.
Barely a few minutes after tuning in, I witnessed what can only be described as a true festival — or rather, an orgy — of manipulative commentary presented under the appearance of editorials, but which left me deeply uncomfortable.
The host, adopting a confident tone designed to give the impression that she had complete command of her subject, put forward conspiracy theories, while her guests amplified the discussion by accusing other media outlets of hiding the truth from the public.
I had never witnessed this level of discourse on a channel presenting itself as a 24-hour news source.
A Question of Journalistic Ethics
Yet I know the field of information very well, having been a journalist and publisher since 1993, and having had the privilege of serving as president of the Canadian Association of Journalists, Montreal chapter.
I never imagined that a news channel presenting itself as professional could manipulate its audience in this way and, in doing so, fail to show the most basic respect owed to viewers.
During that hour of viewing, I experienced a complete ethical discomfort, and the program that followed proved even more troubling.
The host, who continually hesitated while speaking and seemed to struggle to organize his thoughts, nevertheless did not hesitate to act as a spokesperson for President Trump and the White House, repeating disputed information released the same day by the American president.
I did not feel as though I was watching a 24-hour news channel, but rather a political communication tool that I perceived as propagandistic and deeply disrespectful toward the fundamental principles of journalism.
Appearances Do Not Define Reality
There is an old saying: “You can dress a pig as a priest, but that does not make it a priest.”
In the same way, a television channel can certainly present itself as a news organization, but if its primary purpose is something else, it does not necessarily make it a genuine media outlet in the ethical sense of the term.
I obviously unsubscribed from this joke of a network that is Fox News and then became interested in its reputation.
Fox News and Criticism Related to LGBTQ+ Issues
Fox News is frequently criticized by LGBTQ+ rights organizations for contributing to negative portrayals of sexual minorities and for covering many LGBTQ+ issues primarily through a lens of cultural and political confrontation.
Here are some examples:
1. Coverage of Transgender People
This is probably the issue that has generated the most recent criticism.
Several Fox News hosts have regularly portrayed transgender issues as a cultural or political threat, particularly regarding transgender youth, gender-affirming care and the participation of transgender athletes in sports competitions.
Organizations such as GLAAD have criticized Fox News for addressing these subjects primarily through a framework of conflict rather than balanced information.
Criticism has particularly focused on the frequent use of expressions such as “gender ideology,” which many LGBTQ+ advocates consider a term designed to portray transgender people and their rights as an ideological project rather than a human reality.
2. The Association Between LGBTQ+ People and Danger to Children
One of the most frequent criticisms concerns the repeated narrative linking LGBTQ+ people — particularly transgender individuals and drag queens — to risks involving children.
Media critics have pointed out that certain Fox News segments have promoted controversial claims about drag performances or inclusive education, presenting them as potential threats to minors.
LGBTQ+ rights organizations believe that this type of framing contributes to increasing distrust toward an entire community.
3. Comments Considered Offensive by Some Hosts
Over the years, some Fox News hosts and contributors have used terms or expressions that have generated negative reactions.
For example, Greg Gutfeld, while hosting the program Red Eye, was criticized by GLAAD for comments involving expressions considered offensive toward transgender people.
Gutfeld rejected those criticisms and defended his style as humorous and satirical.
4. Same-Sex Marriage
Historically, Fox News has given significant attention to opponents of same-sex marriage, especially before the 2015 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges.
The network often presented the issue as a cultural or religious debate, which critics viewed as a way of questioning a civil right rather than simply covering a legal and social development.
5. Disproportionate Coverage of LGBTQ+ Topics
Some media observers also criticize Fox News for dedicating a very large amount of attention to controversies involving LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender individuals.
This approach can create the impression that these issues represent a major social threat, even though they concern a minority of the population.
Conclusion: Not for Me!
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