Fox News wins in court [the right to distort the news]

[Mark]

Wouldn't you know it...

"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."

"December 1996, Jane Akre and her husband, Steve Wilson, were hired by FOX as a part of the Fox “Investigators” team at WTVT in Tampa Bay, Florida.to investigat bovine growth hormone (BGH), a controversial substance manufactured by Monsanto Corporation."

"Fox executives and their attorneys wanted the reporters to use statements from Monsanto representatives that the reporters knew were false and to make other revisions to the story that were in direct conflict with the facts. Fox editors then tried to force Akre and Wilson to continue to produce the distorted story."

Source of quotes:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/30/201231/262



Mark

[quasimodo]

oops!
CUT, take two.

[quasimodo]

I remember a long tome ago (I think it was in the early 60s) there was a game show that featured a contestant who put on a good show trying to answer a question which later it was found he was acting. The viewers felt deceived which resulted in a law suit. The court found that the media (TV) is meant for entertainment purposes, and has NO obligation to be honest. This included the 'news'. It is entertainment. "Programming".