Eric E. Burns is an American political communications professional, and the former president of media watchdog group Media Matters for America. Before that, he was the communications director for the House Rules Committee and ranking member Louise M. Slaughter. Burns is a former investment banker. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin. Burns has been particularly critical of Fox News. In The Huffington Post he wrote: "Fox News is not a news organization. It is the de facto leader of the GOP, and it is long past time that it was treated as such by our nation?s media." Speaking to The New York Times about Jon Stewart, the host of The Daily Show, he stated: "Stewart does a great job of using comedy to expose the tragedy that is Fox News, and he also underscores the seriousness of it." According to Media Matters for America, Burns is often confused with his namesake, the media critic, journalist and former Fox News host Eric Burns, who has also been quite critical of his former employer.