Occupy Fox News: The Rise Of The Other 99%

For the past month Manhattan has been the epicenter of a new movement that seeks to reinstate the people as the stewards of American politics and to foreclose on the corporations who have been managing Washington as if it were a wholly owned subsidiary. But now the revolution heads west to Los Angeles where News Corp, the parent of Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, will be holding their annual shareholders meeting on Friday, October 21.

The meeting promises to be a stimulating affair as Rupert Murdoch and his spawn face expulsion from the board of their own company. A surprising number of institutional shareholders and analysts have already publicly advised their clients to withhold their votes to reelect the Murdoch clan and a handful of their allies. The Guardian is reporting that opposition to “The Family” is presently as high as 25% before the meeting is even gaveled in to order.

Murdoch-NOTWDumping the Murdochs will still be an uphill battle given that they control 39% of the voting shares. Astonishingly, they still have supporters despite the fact that they have presided over unlawful and unethical practices that have materially damaged the company’s revenue and reputation. But even if they survive it will be in a weakened and humiliated state. There is certain to be vocal opposition in the room from big shareholders disgusted by nepotistic cronyism and the lack of independence, as well as rebel voices who may engage in a bit of theatrical protesting.

The real protesting, however, will be going on outside the meeting as the Occupy Los Angeles crowd migrates over from their base in Downtown L.A. to give Fox a taste of what it’s like to be occupied. They will be joined by FreePress, Change to Win, Common Cause LA, Brave New Films, and others. If you’re in L.A., be sure sure to head down to Fox Studios at 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles (Street parking is available on Motor Ave. A map is here). The protest is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21, 9–11 a.m.

Rupert Murdoch and News Corp are the epitome of what the 99% are protesting: an unaccountable corporation that manipulates the political process while seeking to enrich itself at the expense of the public that it is failing to serve. And as a media enterprise they also contribute to the disinformation and divisiveness that is tearing this country apart.

But remember, there is another 99% in America. That is the 99% of the nation that does not watch Fox News. The highest rated program on Fox (The O’Reilly Factor) pulls in about 1% of the population. That’s about half the audience of the lowest rated broadcast network news program (CBS Evening news). NBC’s Nightly News draws four times the viewers of Fox. Yet Fox deftly uses their platform to exult themselves and shout down everyone else.

After taking the Tea Party under their wing and promoting it incessantly, Fox now regards protesters as ignorant, smelly, and unpatriotic. Their overt hostility to the majority of citizens who want economic and social justice is fraught with lies and riddled with childish insults that cater to the diminished IQ of their viewers. Polls show that, even after Fox’s relentless propaganda, support for the Occupy movement is twice as much as the Tea Party, which is still viewed negatively by most people.

So let Fox have the 1% of America’s most delusional television viewers. The rest of us will make our voices heard the old fashioned way: by organizing, communicating, and exercising our rights. Stand up. Speak out. Occupy. We are the 99% who do not watch Fox News.

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11 thoughts on “Occupy Fox News: The Rise Of The Other 99%

  1. And you wonder why people aren’t sure of intentions – you’re all over the place. One time it’s about getting justice for some group – the down trodden or some other group, another time it’s about getting corporate money out of our politics, another time it’s about someone facing justice for bringing down the economy – now it’s about Fox News because they are conservative and don’t push your point of view – yeah you deserve to be trusted to do the right thing. You’re a bunch of lunatics and out of control haters.

    • Thanks for your opinion.

      Sorry that my articles require you to have more than one concept in your limited brain at one time. When I post a remedial version of this web site I’ll let you know. In the meantime, try this. It’s more your speed.

      • I see steve’s also into ascribing motives to others. Someone ought to remind him that “because…” when he has no idea why always leads to trouble.

  2. Rupert Murdoch and News Corp are the epitome of what the 99% are protesting: an unaccountable corporation that manipulates the political process while seeking to enrich itself at the expense of the public that it is failing to serve. And as a media enterprise they also contribute to the disinformation and divisiveness that is tearing this country apart.

    Ah, linguistic perfection. (And the rest of the post isn’t bad either.)

    • That was my favorite part of this post as well. Nailed it!!! When reports of Khadaffi being killed were coming out it was big news. Rachel Maddow showed how CNN and MSNBC were reporting it as it broke and Fox was reporting on Rick Perry supporting a flat tax(regressive tax, bad news for poor and middle class). It doesn’t fit well with their narrative that Obama is a complete incompetent in over his head. Anything that will make him look good will not be reported. Disinformation and republican propaganda are all we get from this joke known as Fox News!

  3. Rupert has 13% of shares and 40% of the votes. That is so un-democratic

    • That dual-class share structure is one of things that shareholders are upset about.

  4. “…the Occupy movement is twice as popular as the Tea Party…”

    The Occupy movement has only been around a few weeks. Other polls are showing that their tactics are wearing thin. If they keep this up, they will smell like weeks-old fish.

    • Typical elementary school level comment. Grow up, fer chrissake.

      • You’re the one who is commenting like a child. Here in Portland OR, here is what has transpired at the Occubaggers’ illegal encampment: Rampant drug and alcohol use. Horrible sanitary conditions. Environmental degradation of a downtown park. A protestor singing “F*** the USA”. A registered sex offender taking up residency at the encampment. About 20 kids have been camping out at this place. At night. Downtown.

        Much of this is happening at other cities. This will implode on the movement.

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