You can find the original of this post over at Media Matters.

The Fox Cycle is the process by which Fox News pushes right-wing fringe stories into the mainstream news. Fox distorts facts, spreads myths as truths and devotes heavy, one-sided coverage to make viewers believe in baseless, manufactured stories — and, worse, to convince mainstream media outlets to cover these lies.

The Fox Cycle occurs in six steps:

1. Right-wing bloggers, talk radio hosts, and other conservative media outlets start promoting a fringe or false story.
2. Fox News picks up the story and gives it heavy, one-sided coverage.
3. Fox News and conservative media attack the “liberal media” for ignoring it.
4. Mainstream media outlets eventually cover the story, echoing the right-wing distortions.
5. Fox News receives credit for promoting the story.
6. The story is later proved to be false or wildly misleading, long after damage is done.

Continue reading “Fox Cycle Explained” →