John Stossel September 17, 2009 It's time for a change.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - John Stossel September 17, 2009 It's time for a change.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:45:34 AM EDT

He wants us to send him ideas for shows.

I'm Moving to Fox News

Why it's time for a change of networks

John Stossel | September 17, 2009

It's time for a change. Next month, I leave ABC News to start a weekly one-hour prime time show with Fox News.

When I announced that on my blog, plenty of viewers said they were happy to have me leave.

"Goodbye. You suck. You have found a much better home for your garbage reporting and backwards politics."

"Congratulations on the move to the network intellectually suited to your quasi-libertarian corporate-apologist hackery!"

Oh well, you can't please everyone. I don't expect that my libertarian beliefs will please everyone at Fox, either.

Years ago, ABC hired me to do consumer reporting. When I wised up,
deciding consumer "advocates" usually did more harm than good, that
horrified some of my colleagues.

When I did my first TV special, I pointed out that regulation itself,
by stifling innovation, can make life less safe. Two producers angrily
objected, saying, "No respectable journalist would say that." The
senior producer on the program smugly told me, "You just can't say that
on network TV."

ABC's (now NBC's) research director, said: "Why do a show on risk
assessment? You should do something on diet or breast
implants—something we know people will watch."

But give ABC credit. After bitter arguments, it ran the show, titled,
"Are We Scaring You to Death?" A news division's vice president said,
"I don't agree with you, but it's a valid intellectual argument that
deserves to be made."

We were all surprised when 17 million Americans watched. We got 3,000
letters, many from scientists who wrote: "Thank God, somebody's finally
saying these things. I can't believe I saw that on network television."

So I kept doing those kinds of reports.

My bosses often disagreed with my point of view, but they usually let me air it.

But it was frustrating. My vision and that of my producers were often
not in harmony. Too many stories I thought were important—such as the
land theft called eminent domain, or the FDA's endangering people's
lives by withholding life-saving drugs—were not aired.

When I pushed, ABC producers often stared at me as if they were thinking, "Why would you want to do that?"

So after 28 years, it's time to move on.

In my new job, I want to dig into the meaning of the words "liberty"
and "limited government." For many years, through Republican and
Democratic administrations, we have been losing something vital in
America: the commitment to individual liberty and the understanding
that as government grows, liberty shrinks.

Fox offers me more airtime and a new challenge. I'm still thinking
about what I will do with my own show. Economic analyses of the latest
screwball ideas in Washington—certainly. I also want to undertake
exercises in understanding libertarianism, the philosophy of freedom,
which used to be called "liberalism."

What do you think? You can help me shape the new program. I ask you for
your ideas. Which interesting speakers should I book? What thought
experiments should I try with a studio audience? Please let me know.

Maybe I can even learn something from the hostile comments: "You are
intelectually (sic) dishonest and a hack. I'm glad I won't stumble upon
your sloppy one sided reporting ever again."

"Your right-wing rhetoric was hard to disguise. You were found out when Obama was elected President."

It's interesting to explore the premises here. I have been one of the
few reporters on mainstream network TV who did not hide his political
beliefs. Viewers know I am for individual liberty and the free market,
and against government coercion. I thought that this candor might earn
me some credit from those who disagree with me. After all, by putting
my views out there, everyone can judge my reports accordingly.

But—surprise!—it did not win me much credit with those who disagreed.
Instead, many act as if I am the only reporter who has an ideology.

Of course, that's absurd. Every reporter has political beliefs. The difference is that I am upfront about mine.

To be continued.

John Stossel joins Fox News on October 19. He's the author of Give Me a Break and of Myth, Lies, and Downright Stupidity.

http://www.reason.com/news/show/136137.html

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:47:39 AM EDT

[#1]

That was just a matter of time...not if but when.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:50:50 AM EDT

[#2]

Good move. Will be watching the new show

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:51:57 AM EDT

[#3]

Didn't Arfcom predict this in another thread?

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:52:26 AM EDT

[#4]

congratulations.

welcome aboard.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:53:33 AM EDT

[#5]

Superb! Can't wait to see his reports.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:54:01 AM EDT

[#6]

Best of luck to him, I always liked his reporting.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:55:37 AM EDT

[#7]

Mr. Stossel be prepared for your ratings to soar.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:56:56 AM EDT

[#8]

too bad it's on fox news and not regular network fox....

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:57:06 AM EDT

[#9]

I'm really looking forward to his new show. he's a real libertarian and not a fruit cake like Beck.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:57:59 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
Superb! Can't wait to see his reports.

From his little blurb above, it sounds like they should be VERY good.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:58:58 AM EDT

[#11]

I kind of liked him better with ABC. He had more opportunity to change some minds there. At Fox he will be preaching to the choir in large part.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:59:24 AM EDT

[#12]

Hey John! There's a guy named Glen Beck who needs to be on your show on a regular basis.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:59:25 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Best of luck to him, I always liked his reporting.

Me, too. He's a good guy.

Posted: 9/21/2009 6:59:50 AM EDT

[#14]

Pffft!!

Where to start!?!

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:03:16 AM EDT

[#15]

Looking forward to it!

CJ

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:03:19 AM EDT

[#16]

The only sad thing is , a lot less libs will see the show on FOX cause the blind fucks can't handle the truth !

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:04:57 AM EDT

[#17]

I'll give it a watch

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:08:31 AM EDT

[#18]

I'll name my firstborn after him if he manages to get a "Fuck you NBC, you biased media slut!" into his last show.

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:08:58 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
I'm really looking forward to his new show. he's a real libertarian and not a fruit cake like Beck.

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:09:37 AM EDT

[#20]

His mustache will be giving Geraldo's a run for its money!

Eric

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:11:12 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I'm really looking forward to his new show. he's a real libertarian and not a fruit cake like Beck.

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:18:19 AM EDT

[#22]

Stossel's impressed me for years, telling the truth about things. It may have made him a pariah with his media compatriots but I give him a ton of credit for taking stands nobody else would do. Also, for taking that punch from the pro wrestler

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:21:34 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
His mustache will be giving Geraldo's a run for its money!

Eric

Maybe he can replace Geraldo.

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:27:24 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:

Quoted:

His mustache will be giving Geraldo's a run for its money!

Eric

Maybe he can replace Geraldo.

And a joyous day that would be.

Posted: 9/21/2009 7:31:26 AM EDT

[#25]

Good luck John. I will be watching.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - John Stossel September 17, 2009 It's time for a change.

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