Did Fox News quietly abandon it's "Zero tolerance policy"?

In my first Original column for 2012 I look into Fox News 2009 "Zero tolerance policy" after it's most recent on air mistakes in terms of Graphics. Before FNC apologists fans come claiming that everyone does it, I say to that: your justifying bad behavior stupidity with other bad behavior stupidity (A anonymous commenter did have a valid point on my wording selection) and Fox News is the only one that has a "zero tolerance policy" regarding on air mistakes. The point is that Fox News is not living up to THEIR OWN POLICY. Which to me looks like they have abandoned.

This policy started in 2009 after Fox News showed old Palin footage while discussing her Bus tour at the time. Back then management "had enough" with all the mistakes being committed and decided to issues a zero tolerance policy and issued this memo:

We had a mistake on Newsroom today when a wrong book cover went on screen during a guest segment, the kind of thing that can fall through the cracks on any day with any story given the large amount of elements and editorial we run through our broadcasts. Unfortunately, it is the latest in a series of mistakes on FNC in recent months. We have to all improve our performance in terms of ensuring error-free broadcasts. To that end, there was a meeting this afternoon between senior managers and the folks who run the daytime shows in which expectations were reviewed, and the following results were announced:? Effective immediately, there is zero tolerance for on-screen errors. Mistakes by any member of the show team that end up on air may result in immediate disciplinary action against those who played significant roles in the “mistake chain,” and those who supervise them. That may include warning letters to personnel files, suspensions, and other possible actions up to and including termination, and this will all obviously play a role in performance reviews. So we now face a great opportunity to review and improve on our workflow and quality control efforts. To make the most of that opportunity, effective immediately, Newsroom is going to “zero base” our newscast production. That means we will start by going to air with only the most essential, basic, and manageable elements. To share a key quote from today’s meeting: “It is more important to get it right, than it is to get it on.” We may then build up again slowly as deadlines and workloads allow so that we can be sure we can quality check everything before it makes air, and we never having to explain, retract, qualify or apologize again. Please know that jobs are on the line here. I can not stress that enough. I will review again during our Monday editorial meeting, and in the days and weeks ahead. This experience should make us stronger editorially, and I encourage everyone to invest themselves one hundred and ten percent in this effort.

It lasted about 6 weeks. But a mistake was bound to happen/be missed. However ending 2011 and now in the year 2012 FNC is making mistake after mistake after mistake after mistake right after another. It seems FNC policy of "It is more important to get it right, than it is to get it on.”and "Newsroom is going to “zero base” our newscast production. That means we will start by going to air with only the most essential, basic, and manageable elements" went down the memory hole. Will FNC now start enforcing it's policy?

My question is if these graphics are prepared ahead of time, why would these mistakes appear on the air? If they were properly proof-read ahead of time it would be fixed and not appear. The only thing I can think of is that no one proof reads these graphics ahead of time or they are in such a rush that they don't care. Fox News confused Vermont and New Hampshire, not once but twice with the immediate one being today on a taped program!!! There is no excuse for that.

Fox News also doesn't confuse states but people:



Fox did correct that but it flew in the face of: "We may then build up again slowly as deadlines and workloads allow so that we can be sure we can quality check everything before it makes air, and we never having to explain, retract, qualify or apologize again"

I do understand time constraints but aren't graphics prepared ahead of time to air and when they are are not going to air, there is time to proof read and make sure everything is right? There is NO EXCUSE for all these mistakes to happen and it's time for Fox News to forcefully enforce it's policy. In the mean time they are enforcing their critics view of that when the policy was announced it was a "joke" and FNC would not follow through and it appears to me they haven't.

One more point: Fox News is the number one Cable News Network in America and as such-they will be scrutinized even more, every mistake highlighted. It comes with being Number one. Fox is also not shy to jump all over it's competitors when they make mistakes and they have this superior attitude of "we're better than everyone else and everyone else is a liar" attitude.  I don't feel bad for FNC at all. If they can dish it out, they will have to take it also.

Fox viewers attitude of "others do it too" is a very poor "defense".  To me it's justifying bad behavior with other bad behavior" reminds of  "two wrongs make a right" which is false.

The other "defense" which is spin is that they appeared for a few seconds, that's not the point-it still appeared on air, no matter how much time elapsed. Viewers still saw it!!

The above is Just My Opinion and if you disagree tell me why in a civil manner.