Fox and Dominion settle for $788 million

[Ag3ma]

Fox and Dominion settle for $787.5m in defamation lawsuit over US election lies

Agreement reached after the jury was sworn in on Tuesday morning following lengthy delay to start of opening statements

www.theguardian.com

That's jolly expensive. And yet richly deserved.

There is a sad part to it though, which is that Fox's internal communications don't get to be dragged through a protracted court case for public amusement.

In a statement, Fox said the settlement reflects its “continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards”.

“We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues,” the statement said.

I cannot help but feel that people committed to the highest journalistic standards wouldn't get have to pay out $800 million to settle. I also cannot help but feel this is a lot more about Fox News moving forwards rather than the country as a whole, because we all know Fox is going to go straight back to flinging shit as hard, fast, and societally divisively as it can.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

In a statement, Fox said the settlement reflects its “continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards”.

Let us remember that Fox News has had to admit in a previous court case that they are not a news network, but rather "entertainment".

 

[SilentPony]

Let us remember that Fox News has had to admit in a previous court case that they are not a news network, but rather "entertainment".

I think it was Tucker Carlson who had to admit under oath that anyone who watches him and thinks he's telling the truth is an idiot.

Still, there must have been something really bad in the discovery. Like evidence Fox news helped organize Jan 6th, or Rupert Murdoch would absolutely crumble under cross.

 

[Trunkage]

This has got to be the most suprising result all year

Anyway, congrats Fox. I'm sure we will here about how this is a liberal witch hunt

 

[Trunkage]

Fox bots attack now!

 

[CM156]

Let us remember that Fox News has had to admit in a previous court case that they are not a news network, but rather "entertainment".

Which case are you talking about? The one where a judge ruled that based on the context of his show, Tucker Carlson's statements couldn't be taken as literal statements of fact in some instances?

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

Which case are you talking about? The one where a judge ruled that based on the context of his show, Tucker Carlson's statements couldn't be taken as literal statements of fact in some instances?

I'm certain it was something different, but hell if I can find any reference now what with the Dominion judgement being pretty much every result that comes up on any search I can think of.

 

[meiam]

I wish they were forced to apologies in the same "space" where they said the lie themselves. As is, I guess most people who need to know will never hear of it, or at most hear that dominion was the one who begged to settled because they knew they'd lose in court or some such.

 

[CM156]

I'm certain it was something different, but hell if I can find any reference now what with the Dominion judgement being pretty much every result that comes up on any search I can think of.

There are a series of persistent internet myths that all have a common element that Fox news "admitted" something devastating in court. Like that they aren't real news. Or that somehow, the FCC has "reclassified" them as entertainment or something similar. And every source I can find comes from the lay press misinterpreting court rulings or outright fabrications. The closest I can find to this is a court essentially saying that rhetorical hyperbole cannot be taken as a statement of literal fact. Which isn't shocking, other news agencies have used the same defense in the past, successfully.
There isn't a hard distinction between news and entertainment. One can be either, both, or neither.
There's a long list of these sorts of myths when it comes to Fox. Like that the Fairness Doctrine ending somehow caused Fox to be able to operate, even though the doctrine only applied to broadcast news, not cable. And it's deeply ironic that a news company hated for perpetuating falsehoods has falsehoods perpetuated about it.

 

[BrawlMan]

And it's deeply ironic that a news company hated for perpetuating falsehoods has falsehoods perpetuated about it.

They can still fuck off and die. Nor it doesn't excuse (I know you are not) the shit they've been pulling for all these years, a wannabe God or a "messiah" for trying to overthrow the country.

 

[Chimpzy]

Oof, that's the kind of settlement you pay when if it had actually gotten to court you very likely would've gotten destroyed.

 

[Thaluikhain]

And it's deeply ironic that a news company hated for perpetuating falsehoods has falsehoods perpetuated about it.

Play stupid games, you die by the sword.

 

[SilentPony]

The sad part is Fox has learned nothing, none of the talking heads will face any consequences, and this money is peanuts for the Fox co. I mean for fucks sake Fox was lying about the settlement and Dominion just last night! They know they won because Hannity and Murdoch didn't have to testify.
Something was found in discovery that would have been the end of the Fox brand if it got out.

 

[meiam]

The sad part is Fox has learned nothing, none of the talking heads will face any consequences, and this money is peanuts for the Fox co. I mean for fucks sake Fox was lying about the settlement and Dominion just last night! They know they won because Hannity and Murdoch didn't have to testify.
Something was found in discovery that would have been the end of the Fox brand if it got out.

Read it was around half of the profit they made last year, so won't kill them, but might make them think twice about doing something like that again. Or actually, they'll probably just tell their people to delete older text all the time.

 

[Trunkage]

Read it was around half of the profit they made last year, so won't kill them, but might make them think twice about doing something like that again. Or actually, they'll probably just tell their people to delete older text all the time.

Fox paying a settlement will just be canon fodder for 'Biden is a totalitarian' train going on

It won't change anything, except make Fox double down. I mean, this is a story about knowing something is false but telling everyone its true anyway

 

[bluegate]

The sad part is Fox has learned nothing, none of the talking heads will face any consequences, and this money is peanuts for the Fox co. I mean for fucks sake Fox was lying about the settlement and Dominion just last night! They know they won because Hannity and Murdoch didn't have to testify.
Something was found in discovery that would have been the end of the Fox brand if it got out.

One can only hope that this will embolden other entities to go after Fox [News] in similar situations.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

One can only hope that this will embolden other entities to go after Fox [News] in similar situations.

Smartmatic already has a suit against them, for $2.7 billion. I'd say Dominion has already done a lot of road-paving for them.

 

[Phoenixmgs]

I cannot help but feel that people committed to the highest journalistic standards wouldn't get have to pay out $800 million to settle. I also cannot help but feel this is a lot more about Fox News moving forwards rather than the country as a whole, because we all know Fox is going to go straight back to flinging shit as hard, fast, and societally divisively as it can.

The other networks do the same stuff...

 

[Ag3ma]

The other networks do the same stuff...

Well then, I guess they've all been sued for $800 billion for defamation.

Oh, wait.

 

[tstorm823]

Well then, I guess they've all been sued for $800 billion for defamation.

Oh, wait.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/07/media/cnn-settles-lawsuit-viral-video/index.html

Trump ally Devin Nunes can sue NBCUniversal for defamation - judge

A U.S. judge on Monday said Devin Nunes, the former California congressman and an ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, can sue NBCUniversal for defamation over a comment by Rachel Maddow concerning his relationship with a suspected Russian agent.

www.reuters.com