NewsMax Wires
Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004

Murdoch, whose media holdings include the top-rated Fox News Channel and dozens of other media outlets around the globe, noted: "The traditional media in this country is in tune with the elite, not the people. That is why we're not liked by the traditional media. That's not us."

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Murdoch's remarks came Tuesday night at a New York Four Seasons party celebrating Parade magazine's new partnership with Murdoch's New York Post.

Dan Rather apparently has little love for Murdoch's Fox News Channel, which has given the CBS document story top coverage.

Last weekend, a Fox reporter ambushed Rather – "60 Minutes-style" – at the Dallas airport and asked questions that angered the liberal newsman.

According to the Web site Ratherbiased.com, when a reporter from the local Fox affiliate asked Rather, "Do you feel like you've been duped?" the irritated anchor shot back: "Do you feel like you were duped – working for Fox like you do?"

Despite Murdoch's comments, many in the establishment media are more sympathetic to Rather.

Many who attended the high-profile New York Post gathering were focused on Rather's recent controversial use of forged documents to support his claims on President Bush's Guard service.

"He got himself into a real mess," author Ken Auletta opined.

Parade columnist James Brady offered, "It was a sloppy bit of journalism and they should all be ashamed."

But there were other opinions in the room, according to E & P.

Writer Dominick Dunne countered: "I love Dan Rather. I'm so sad for him. I feel sorry for him. I think someone set him up. There is going to be much more checking."

Fox's Geraldo Rivera: "We all make mistakes and he didn't do anything intentional," Rivera told E&P while chatting with others near the bar. "He is one of the best."

The Rather dialogue overshadowed the theme of the gathering, which was ostensibly about the addition of Parade.

A centerpiece of the night's remarks was the claim that the Post had seen a 30 percent advertising increase in the last quarter – following Parade's introduction in July.

Parade Chairman Walter Anderson declared, "People were so excited about the party tonight, they stopped traffic" – a reference to the concurrent visit of President Bush and the resulting midtown gridlock.

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