{alltv} Fox News to air ad criticizing parent News Corp

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Fox News will air a commercial Tuesday night that is critical of its own parent company.

The ad is from the liberal activist group Media Matters, and it criticizes -- in an ever so gently manner -- the $1 million donation that News Corp. gave to the Republican Governors Assn.

The donation made headlines last month, and detractors of Fox News seized on it as evidence that the No. 1 cable news outlet isn't as fair and balanced as it ought to be. Fox News didn't cover the controversy nearly as much as its competitors did.

The 30-second spot, airing during "The O'Reilly Factor," cost Media Matters $35,000. The nonprofit organization tried to raise it by appealing to supporters via an email, but donations fell short so it dipped into a general fund to make up the difference, a spokeswoman said.

The ad begins, "And now, a special message about a story that's not yet been covered on Fox News primetime..." Then, over the image of an American flag is a quote from News Corp. vp Jack Horner explaining that the company "believes in the power of free markets" and that "the RGA's pro-business agenda supports our priorities." It ends with: "And that's why News Corp. has donated $1 million to oppose Democratic candidates this November."

At the behest of Fox News, Media Matters changed the beginning of its ad a few times. The first ad claimed to be "a special message from Fox News." The second ad claimed to be a "message that Fox News' primetime hosts refuse to tell you."

News Corp., of course, isn't the only media company to donate to a political outfit. In fact, the majority of money from media companies and personnel goes to Democrats, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. During the present election cycle, 65% of $470,000 donated by journalists went to Democrats.

But that doesn't stop journalists -- even pretend ones -- from attacking News Corp. Jon Stewart, for example, gave a memorable performance attacking the donation while simultaneously belittling Fox News star Glenn Beck.

Republicans have countered that Stewart is being a bit hypocritical, since a recent letter suggests he is schilling for the other side. A fundraising letter on Monday from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee promised would-be donors a chance to win tickets to "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."