"Both sides do it!" is a really unconvincing argument.
Watch an hour of prime-time CNN and prime-time Fox News, and it's obvious that Fox is more willing to stretch the truth, mislead watchers, and spread FUD.
I would be more willing to single out Hannity than Fox News as a whole. Some of the prime time shows on Fox are opinion/entertainment rather than actual news.
Regarding standards, which you are in agreement with me on in terms of identifying them:
Clarity in the majors is pretty low right now.
Transparency in bias.
Bias is not really getting an honest discussion on the major networks right now. It should. And the moment it does, there are issues to work through. Some of those may be costly to the majors too.
On some topics, and I have a random list here, bias gets in the way, and the only real discussion is side discussion like ours happening right now:
War (framing in terms of it being generally good, necessary)
Economics (No labor point of view)
Media / Internet (Neutrality, impact of massive consolidation, access journalism...)
In any case, just know I was not intending to make any negative statements your way. Just asked the question to provoke some discussion, nothing more.
Watch an hour of prime-time CNN and prime-time Fox News, and it's obvious that Fox is more willing to stretch the truth, mislead watchers, and spread FUD.