If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
That’s a question Fox News executives may be asking themselves after quietly switching out its marketing slogan “Fair and Balanced” with the punchier “Most Watched. Most Trusted.”
Fox News decided to change its longtime tagline in August 2016 shortly after founder Roger Ailes was ousted. Ailes, a hemophiliac, died at age 77 in May 2017 after suffering a fall at home.
A source told New York magazine the “fair and balanced” slogan was “too closely associated with Roger.” Since Ailes launched Fox News in 1996, its ratings have crushed those of its liberal cable news rivals CNN and MSNBC.
Since his death, Fox News has tried to distance itself from Roger Ailes’ scandal-plagued tenure, and the rebranding is one such move. However, execs underscored that FNC’s programming and editorial direction will not change.
Thuggish Starbucks employees bully and harass woman for wearing Trump t-shirt
A FOX News spokesperson confirmed that the network hasn’t used the slogan in external marketing or on-air promotions since August 2016, but said “the shift has nothing to do with programming or editorial decisions.”
While marketing bigwigs might debate the merits of a logo change, most viewers didn’t seem to notice—or care. In November 2016, Fox News touted the slogan change in an ad that went completely unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Fox News anchor Bret Baier reassured fans that he will continue to use his longtime tagline “Fair, balanced and unafraid” for his show, “Special Report.”
I will say the same thing. "Fair – balanced and Unafraid". Like I have every night since I took over from @brithume 8 1/2 yrs ago. https://t.co/Yvq4VCjBqw
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) June 14, 2017
It's a Promo move- "Most Watched-Most Trusted" will drive the day in ads-My show will stay "Fair-Balanced-& Unafraid" & content won't change https://t.co/726zrl8F9q
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) June 14, 2017
FNC fans had a mixed reaction to the slogan change. Some worried that Fox News will become too liberal now that Roger Ailes is gone and Rupert Murdoch’s leftist sons are running the network.
Why has the far-left Murdoch Boys deleted "Fair and Balanced" from @FoxNews logo? Viewers, expect (if you haven't seen) #FoxNews turn left.
— Dr Will P: US Expat based in Hong Kong (@drwill_SuttonPl) June 14, 2017
Fair and Balanced
Now let's be honest everyone
None of the Media is fair and balanced. pic.twitter.com/iMcsEWDsjC— TEC Officer Zachary Taylor (@sammelbis1998) June 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/875131542716030980
In response to liberals claiming Fox News was never “fair and balanced,” many pointed to the blatant left-wing bias of mainstream media.
Remember when @washingtonpost had a fundraiser for the DNC during the campaign. Yeah. They are fair and balanced. Eye roll.
— Tankable (@tankable) June 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/PoliticalShort/status/874673925308928001
https://twitter.com/AbelitoJA/status/871821426642362368
The #veryfakenews #cnnisisis has really stepped up their racism & bigotry. pic.twitter.com/ME6SSSAt7M
— ??MAGA Covfefe?? (@lauraandrhino) June 5, 2017
#CNNisISIS Create #FakeNews 4 R #Facist #Followers pic.twitter.com/AVpf6cJwrb
— MSNBC Promotes Hate (@mememayo96) June 5, 2017
Dude, your network can’t even break the top 20. @potus knows you’re Fake News, we know you’re Fake News, the World knows your Fake News pic.twitter.com/KWjbf6FBbG
— RockPrincess (@Rockprincess818) June 13, 2017
Unfortunately for propaganda pushers, sometimes karma kicks in.
Karma: 2,500 Liberal Media Layoffs: Huffington Post, The Failing New York Times, NBC, Vocativ, Newsweek and Time Inc
— Trump Florida (@trumpflorida1) June 15, 2017
Anti-Trumper Alyssa Milano is broke as a joke, didn’t pay taxes and stiffed her employees
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Samantha Chang is a senior staff writer for BizPac Review. She is a financial editor and lawyer based in New York City.
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