Those who flocked to Fox after 9/11 were looking for more than just the facts, Collins writes. "If terrorism had made Americans feel wounded, frightened, and confused, Fox helped wash those feelings away, becoming a beacon of moral certainty and defiance ... If viewers during Desert Storm wanted just the facts, viewers post-Sept. 11 wanted a rallying point. To paraphrase NBC's Bob Wright, Roger Ailes had converted viewers to his church." And there's no shortage of preaching on Fox.

Indeed, editorializing is now a hallmark of all news on cable, where a steady flow of bickering pundits fills the hours. The "Crossfire" culture has seeped into the general media, making the 24-hour opinion churn a driving force behind even print coverage. Fox's influence should not be overblown -- network news still commands many more viewers than cable. Still, many Americans do seem to be looking for more than just the facts. They also want the spin.

But Fox's success, like Rush Limbaugh's on talk radio, may indicate that in echo chambers like Fox, many Americans are looking less for real political debate than validation for their strongly held beliefs. And this isn't just true for conservatives. Liberal publications -- including Salon -- serve as havens for those feeling alienated and angered by the president's policies. A recent study by the Austin-American Statesman newspaper showed America is a nation of politically segregated neighborhoods, that we actually live near people who think like we do. But do we also want our media in red and blue? So far on cable, Fox has the red all taken care of. There is no such blue-state equivalent, yet -- something Al Gore would like to change.

Being the objective reporter, Collins withholds his judgment from Fox, showing how Murdoch succeeded, not pronouncing whether his success was ultimately bad for the news business. As a reader appalled by many of Fox's pseudo-journalistic tactics, I wanted a bit more criticism from Collins. But the facts do speak for themselves. Fox's success should scare anyone concerned about the future of news.

In a way, I understand why Fox gets such relatively high ratings, and why some Americans find comfort in its patriotic and populist overtones. Those alienated by mainstream media may wonder why more journalists don't outwardly express their sympathies with victims of crime -- or why they aren't allowed to wear flag pins on their lapels or ally themselves with U.S. troops in combat. Fox may soothe a certain segment of American cable consumers in uncertain, frightening times, but where will its viewers go when they need more? Or will they not know the difference? Near the end of Collins' book, he shares this quote by Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, responding to critics who said Fox shouldn't say things like "our troops" when referring to U.S. soldiers. "Fuck them. Once we're in this war, it's us against them. And we're going to win." As Collins says, Smith may as well have been articulating the Fox News creed. Collins' book makes clear that there are no winners here, especially in the viewing audience.

Recent Stories