Fired reporters challenge Fox TV license

[Twist_U_Up]

http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewMediaFile5.cfm?REF=4

by Steve Wilson

TAMPA (January 3, 2005) For what is believed to be the first time ever, two television journalists have challenged the broadcast license of a station on grounds it deliberately broadcast false and distorted news reports.

Veteran reporters Jane Akre and Steve Wilson filed the petition Monday against WTVT Fox-13, in Tampa, a unit of Rupert Murdoch's Fox Television empire.

The formal Petition To Deny the station's pending license renewal presents the Federal Communications Commission with 98 pages of what the journalists say is "clear and convincing support for the claim that the licensee is not operating in the public interest and lacks the good character to do so."

The challenge stems from what the reporters say was a year-long experience inside the station, where they resisted Fox managers who repeatedly ordered them to distort a series of news reports about the secret use of an artificial hormone injected in dairy cattle throughout Florida and beyond.

The claim also cites another case of alleged deliberate distortion at the Fox-owned television station in Kansas City, WDAF Fox-4.

"No broadcaster should be allowed to put its own financial interests ahead of the public interest."

[thedailyshow]

1. finally some reporters with integrity!

[GRLMGC]

2. Too bad they'll probably be crushed

Money talks. Integrity doesn't. It's sad but true.

[DemFromMem]

9. Bet the newspapers will report on it though...

Unless Murdoch owns the local papers. While the newspapers certainly have their own array of similar problems, they love to remind readers why they're still relevant.

[nashville_brook]

26. you're right, they were stupid to try

things are so bad that there really is no point. they only expose themselves to criticism by coming forward. PLUS they are putting their CAREERS on the chopping block.



:P

[Seabiscuit]

53. The FCC will just bury the complaint in the round file.

[pa28]

5. . . . and it got them fired.

It seems like the best career insurance in media is to be lazy, Conservative or scared.

[whatelseisnew]

6. finally? Isn't this an ongoing struggle from the 90's?

that is my recollection anyway.

I'll see what I can find.

[mahina]

13. This is an ongoing matter,

chapter 9,582. Your memory is fine. Good on these folks, hope they prevail...pravda/fox is ruining our informed citizenry and replacing it with a nation of dumbshits.
Unfortunately I am related to some formerly rational foxheads and I swear they are brainwashed. Something about the way they present issues, polarize and oversimplify and outright lie, just makes its viewers stupid if they weren't before. Dangerous IMO.

[AllyCat]

3. I'm glad to hear this

but I wonder what recourse they have after the Supreme Court (or was it an Appellate Court) said the news has no requirement to report the truth.

I supose if they approach it from the angle of not upholding the license given to them by the public, it might work. God, I hope it works. I'd LOVE to see Faux go down, down, down.

[bluestateguy]

4. They'll lose

The Bush FCC will not let the voice of the regime be silenced. FOX is to the current regime what Granma, Izvestia and Pravda were to those countries.

[Gman]

7. But, but, but... what about the poor shareholders?? The widows

and orphans. How can these heartless reporters do such a thing to the most destitute of destitute? :evilgrin:

[zann725]

51. And their advertisers!

They wouldn't want to lose money until Fox cleans up its lawsuits.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Isn't there a case against Fox which concluded that Fox has a

first Amendment right to lie?

[True_Blue]

20. Yes...here's the link

<snip>

FOX appealed the case, and on February 14, 2003 the Florida Second District Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the settlement awarded to Akre. The Court held that Akre’s threat to report the station’s actions to the FCC did not deserve protection under Florida’s whistle blower statute, because Florida’s whistle blower law states that an employer must violate an adopted “law, rule, or regulation." In a stunningly narrow interpretation of FCC rules, the Florida Appeals court claimed that the FCC policy against falsification of the news does not rise to the level of a "law, rule, or regulation," it was simply a "policy." Therefore, it is up to the station whether or not it wants to report honestly.

During their appeal, FOX asserted that there are no written rules against distorting news in the media. They argued that, under the First Amendment, broadcasters have the right to lie or deliberately distort news reports on public airwaves. Fox attorneys did not dispute Akre’s claim that they pressured her to broadcast a false story, they simply maintained that it was their right to do so. After the appeal verdict WTVT general manager Bob Linger commented, “It’s vindication for WTVT, and we’re very pleased… It’s the case we’ve been making for two years. She never had a legal claim.”
</snip>
http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2005/11.html

[Just Me]

22. That court may have closed the door, but didn't lock it.

I hope for the sake of the American people that, these reporters succeed to move forward on legal precedent which holds the media to minimum standards of integrity for the public good.

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. This should definitely go to a higher court.

Can you imagine the media disaster for FoxNews if it reaches national attention...and they win! People will be furious!

[Just Me]

31. Some people would be furious but I would LMAO!!!! eom

[KDLarsen]

52. Just look at the outrage over "Rather-gate"

Seriously though, I now have a bullet roof, 1st ammendment secured item to slam any rethug that gets up & start bitching about phoney documents:

"So what? Fox news does it all the time - and they have a judges word that it's okay to do it!"

[cascadiance]

49. Yup... Fox was given a "license to lie" by the courts...

Dave Boylan who took over as station manager after Fox bought the station out is quoted as saying "We paid $3 billion for these stations. We'll tell you what the news is. The news is what we say it is!" before firing them.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/rbgh/moreakrestuff.cfm

[Seabiscuit]

54. Whoever wrote that court opinion is a total moron.

- or moran -

First, a "policy" is just another word for a "rule".

Second, it is undisputed that the FCC has a policy against falsification of the news. Therefore it follows that the FCC may revoke the license of any news organization which deliberately falsifies the news. It does *not* follow that "therefore, it is up to the station whether or not it wants to report honestly."

Here's an analogy which demonstrate's the absurdity of the court's reasoning: Each state has a public policy against robbery. Therefore it is up the each citizen of each state whether he or she wants to rob.

[uppityperson]

10. Shocking, I say shocking. Shouldn't be allowed to make these claims

I mean, really. How can people be allowed to make such claims? Next thing you know, people will be allowed to keep their Iraq pictures and you know where that leads.

Good for them, takes courage to speak up this way.

[uppityperson]

11. delete, computer misfired dupe

[1monster]

12. That would probably Monsanto... and Monsanto is notorious for going

after anyone/any group who/that "maligns" them by raising questions about their products.

"where they resisted Fox managers who repeatedly ordered them to distort a series of news reports about the secret use of an artificial hormone injected in dairy cattle throughout Florida and beyond."

[d.l.Green]

15. I remember this story.

They fought to get their jobs back because they were led to believe by management at the time that this was a good story. I think after months of investigations and interviews they pulled the story just a week before it was to air at the direct consent of the hormone company in question.

Their careers were destroyed anyway if I remember correctly as a court did rule about something that Fox was not required to report the truth. Glad they still have fuel in them to try another tact.

Anyone out there know if they have a defense fund?

[Synnical]

34. Defense Fund Info

http://www.foxbghsuit.com/help.htm

The site hasn't been updated in awhile, though . . .

[aneerkoinos]

16. Yep, Monsanto

And AFAIK Americans still eat that shitty Monsanto hormone beef, which has been found out to be bad for your health.

This case is known also outside USA, I just saw a documentary about it on Finnish TV. It was hilarious. Good news they still keep up the fight, how about DUers organize to show them support, stop whining about their inability to fight against fascism and take the fight to the enemy turf, resoluted to finish of FOX and Monsanto...?

[Aviation Pro]

18. You make an excellent arguement to avoid....

...eating beef for the foreseeable future. I know I don't touch the stuff anymore.

[Liberty Belle]

48. Monsanto is into some very weird stuff.

When they invented a genetically modified potato containing a plant gene that kills bugs, they couldn't get it licensed as a food product--so they registered it as a pesticide with the EPA!

I swear I'm not making this up.

[TahitiNut]

14. This threatens the public's right to be fed partisan bullshit.

Where will all those reichbots feed?

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

17. How convenient that Powell left, and Shrub just installed a TX lacky @ FCC

Unfortunately, this suit will go nowhere...

JB

[indepat]

19. Public interest, smublic interest. Public interest was of another time.

[OldVlad]

21. Steve Wilson about Steve Wilson?

[Quakerfriend]

23. It's about time !

And, I'm sure many more will follow!:bounce:

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. I live in KC

and our Fox station really sucks. Worst news in town.

And last time I checked out their website, when I clicked on 'NEWS', expecting to actually read news articles, all I got was a link to reporters' bios.

[Scout1071]

29. I live in KC also and couldn't agree more

What's up with the dot on your map? Is that Lawrence or Topeka?

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. I don't know about that dot

I got it off of the menu here at DU. And I'm not savvy enough to change the location.

Yes, Fox 4 really sucks. I have given up on national news in the last year. I was a Today Show junkie and decided to just watch the local Fox 4 at 7 every morning instead of Katie and Matt. That lasted a week. Now I just log on to DU to get my news fix every morning and I got a satellite radio so I listen to Air America on my commute every day.

Whereabouts in KC are you? I am in NE Johnson County. I grew up in Prairie Village.

[Scout1071]

33. I'm in NE JoCo also

Merriam at the moment, but grew up in OP. I think the dot is probably Topuka because it's the capitol.

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. Hey cool we're neighbors

I live in OP but right across the street from Mission and a block from PV. Do you ever go to the meetups? I was thinkin about goin.

[Scout1071]

36. Haven't been to one yet. Do you know when the next one is?

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. There's an Impeach Bush meetup

tomorrow night.

As for the DU meetup, I think it's in a couple weeks. They email me about a week before the meetings. I can let you know if you want.

[Scout1071]

40. That would be great.

Any idea where they normally meet-up?

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. I think the DU Meetup

is at Chili's in Westport.

There's also a MO Dem group that meets at a bar at 99th and Holmes.

[Scout1071]

42. any chance you have a link with info?

Thanks for being so helpful neighbor! Did you got to SME?

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. Yeah I will look for a link and PM you

I think I still have it in my email.

No, I didn't go to SME. I went to St. Ann's though. My husband went to SME and so did my son. My other son went to Miege.

[Scout1071]

44. SMS Grad here! Thanks for the info neighbor. See you around.

[atommom]

47. I agree completely about Fox 4. It's an embarrassment.

I hope to make it to a KC DU meetup someday soon!

:hi:

[sakabatou]

25. I wonder what the conservatives have to say on this

I bet it'll be hilarious.

[jasonc32amg]

37. They'll file likewise against CBS

[leesa]

27. I like this, but hasn't this been tried before and the conclusion was they

could lie? Anyway, it brings the issue front and center.

[President Jesus]

32. this story is from early January...should not be in LBN

[w4rma]

39. If there were competition in big media, FOX's competitors would be spaming

this lawsuit all over the place. Good way to demolish their competitor's credibility and get a larger market share.

[struggle4progress]

45. kick

[98geoduck]

46. When is someone going to come forward about CNN ? MSNBC

In a sense, they have been more deceptive than FOX!

[zann725]

50. It's a start! AND it's Faux News...how significant and ironic!

Reminds me of that ol' Guthrie quote:

"First one, then two....pretty soon they'll think it's a movement!"