by Katie Fretland
We at The Swamp came across this job description for not a fact checker... but a fact writer at Fox News Channel. Here is the posting in full:
Freelance Fact Writer
New York
Requirements/Responsibility:
FOX News Channel, a fast-paced 24-hour television news operation in New York City, is seeking a Freelance Fact Writer for its information center.
Responsibilities include writing on-air facts and press conference quotes for daytime programming. Individuals must have strong writing skills, be able to handle multiple assignments and deadlines, and work well in a team atmosphere. Excellent communication and writing skills are also required.
A successful candidate will:
• Possess a strong interest in news and be well-informed about current events
• Be detail oriented and pay close attention to spelling, grammar, syntax
• Have ability to write in a concise, conversational and colorful style at an extremely fast pace
Must be willing to work on a flexible schedule including weekend shifts.
This is a high-pressure position where your work product gets national exposure on a daily basis.
A bachelor's degree is required.
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Comments
That would be a first for Faux News. Good luck.
Posted by: syj | July 1, 2008 1:20 PM
Fox News and fact writer in the same sentence? Talk about lobbing soft balls...
It's almost as if Bill O'Lielly were hitting on his assistant and denied it - it's that easy!
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | July 1, 2008 1:26 PM
So this is how we get "terrorist fist jab" and "Obama's Baby Mama." How can you even write a job description for a "fact writer" with a straight face?
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | July 1, 2008 1:38 PM
Look at these guys "coming accross" the jobs section. Scooping for new jobs guys. Well people who cover Obama will make great fact writers.
Posted by: Diana | July 1, 2008 1:44 PM
Since when does Fixed News worry about little things like FACTS?
Posted by: John E | July 1, 2008 1:46 PM
Shouldn't this job have been the first position filled before a news organization hits the airwaves?
Posted by: jackson | July 1, 2008 1:51 PM
This is what makes Fox so different from other networks. They don't just check the facts...they write their own!
Posted by: Tom O | July 1, 2008 1:58 PM
Hey, you at The Swamp could really use somebody like that!
Posted by: MJ | July 1, 2008 2:07 PM
Now are these actual facts they want, or are they the facts they make up?
Posted by: Cheryl Hussein | July 1, 2008 2:20 PM
The Tribune and the Swamp could use fact writers. And fact checkers.
For example, in a Swamp article published a few hours ago the Swamp repeated an Obama speech in which he claimed that the first words of the Declaration of Independence were "We hold these truths...". When of course these aren't the first words.
Come to think of it, the Swamp might wish to hire a fact HIDER when it comes to Obama.
Posted by: Bruce | July 1, 2008 2:34 PM
Wow....great reporting! Nothing like copy and pasting an entire article!!!! Throwing meat into a lions cage again? Don't forget to shove a stick into that cage and rattle up the loony left!! Fox News continues to be the top cable news channel because they are "fair and balanced." And once in a while exposes liberalism for what it is....a pack of lies!!!!!!!
Posted by: joe | July 1, 2008 3:00 PM
All media and cable organizations need factual writers and fact checkers. These organizations seem to be to bias in their reporting and never actually check the facts. If the media and cable people has done their proper vetting of Obama, he would not have been the nominee. How can Obama , who rapped Clinton on records, says he has none from his Illinois state senate days? Chicago/Illinois media and cable organization should be able to do some investigating reporting !
Posted by: jp,michigan | July 1, 2008 3:19 PM
Shouldn't they be looking for a creative fiction writer?
Posted by: Tim | July 1, 2008 3:26 PM
Facts can be manipulated to fit anyone's program, so possibly they just need an astute person to find the "right" facts to fit into their programs and agenda.
Posted by: the truth | July 1, 2008 4:00 PM
Very telling that the Swamp writers can't understand why a news organization would want to report facts. Too confusing.
Posted by: VivianC | July 1, 2008 4:55 PM
"Be detail oriented and pay close attention to spelling, grammar, syntax"
* * * * *
Hah! Didn't they meant "spelling, grammar and syntax"? English syntax rules specify that one must separate the last item in a list of three or more items by a conjunction (e.g. "and" "or" and so on.) with or without the final comma (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_comma .) One would also think that Fox would use better syntax to attract those who use good syntax.
Posted by: John W. | July 1, 2008 5:52 PM
J.K Rowling is available these days.
Posted by: johnf | July 1, 2008 5:59 PM
One would also think that Fox would use better syntax to attract those who use good syntax.
Posted by: John W. | July 1, 2008 5:52 PM
Not to defend Fox News (or journalistic charlatans anywhere else) but the standard rules of grammar generally don't apply to help wanted ads, any other ad copy, headlines, fiction, blogs.
Posted by: MJ | July 1, 2008 6:30 PM
Since Fox has a job description for this, they are farther ahead than MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, NYTimes, Washington ComPost, LA Times, and last but not least - the SWAMP writers.
Posted by: Terry | July 1, 2008 8:48 PM
*Must be able to pull statistics out of your ear.
*Women may not wear pants.
*Must have a 24/7 working relationship with Cheney.
*Must be willing to pander.
Posted by: Vivian | July 1, 2008 10:12 PM
Unlike the Tribune, which only has Rumor Writers and journalists that make up "anonymous" sources.
Posted by: Dan C | July 2, 2008 9:54 AM
Unfortunately, I believe, that while news organizations will look for "facts", they all throw out the ones that don't fit there agenda. That goes for left or right. O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Hannity, Olberman, Dobbs, etc.
They will all just cherry pick whichever facts are closest to what they wish to portray.
Posted by: David J | July 2, 2008 12:39 PM