Fine line exists between news, entertainment

I strongly disagree with The Gazette's Oct. 30 defense of Fox News Channel (“Never stifle dissent.”). The problem with ultraconservative Fox News is not that they are merely “dissenting” or have a mere “difference of opinion.” They are intentionally reckless in spreading outright falsehoods, mistruths and half-truths.

The mainstream media's job, including The Gazette's, is to accurately inform the public by reporting the truth and exposing the lies, not to defend the liars. I think the mainstream media underestimates the great harm that can come to a country when one political party has its own powerful 24/7 propaganda outlet, especially when that party's president is in power.

Because the mainstream media aren't doing their jobs, the Obama administration is placed in the awkward position of drawing a line in the sand between news and infotainment by insisting upon dealing only with news organizations that don't deliberately lie about serious issues. If this administration doesn't sound the alarm, who will?

Stephen Fitzhenry Marion