Fired reporters challenge Fox TV license! Charge false & distorted news

[Liberty Belle]

This story just made my day!


Fired reporters challenge Fox TV license

Steve Wilson and Jane Akre charge Fox with false and distorted news reports.

Dateline: Sunday, January 16, 2005

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..."

Full story at:

http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewMediaFile5.cfm?REF=4
http://www.thenewamerican.com/artman/publish/article_263.shtml

INFORMATION OR A COPY OF THE PETITION, CONTACT:
Steve Wilson at his email Steve Wilson or Jane Akre at the address below.
Related addresses:
eMail 1: [e-mail]

:bounce:

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Cujones are making a comeback!!!!

[The Backlash Cometh]

cojones.

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Gracias....

[miss_kitty]

2. Fox fucked these two over big time

I hope they win this.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. I'm afraid there's a complication.

This has happened before and there is already case precedent allowing Fox to lie if they want to, under First Amendment rights.

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1176738 for the post.

[depakid]

14. Not exactly how it works

Under FCC rules, the viewers rights- not Fox's rights, are paramount.

Under the terms of its license, Fox hasn't got an unlimited right to either censorship or broadcasting deceptive information.

Under a fair system, Fox could lose this hearing. Under a corrupt system, the chances of that happening are none too good.

However, that doesn't mean that stations shouldn't be challenged when their renewal comes up. I think it serves a useful purpose to make a public record of local stations abuses. One day, that record can become part of an administrative factfinding process that will finally clamp down on the cowardly, irresponsible local media.

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. If there is an FCC rule that forbids intentionally lying to the public,

then, I don't personally see how the plaintiffs can't prevail. Not just in civil court, but the FCC should be reviewing the case and applying sanctions.

Also, take into accoumt what happened to Dan Rather, why is FoxNews being allowed to operate under a different ethical standard? Why isn't Chris Matthews and all the other so called Dem reporters all over this discrepancy?

[depakid]

17. The rules aren't that specific

When a petition to deny renewal is filed, you have to show that the station isn't meeting its public and community interest standards- and that the rest of the market isn't picking up the slack (another of Reagan's gifts to the media whores- they aren't accountible for failing to serve the public interest provided that “market-wide” standard" has been met by other stations).

It could potentially be done in this case- provided that there was a fair hearing. Unfortunately, as we all know, republicans aren't interested in upholding the law or providing fair hearings.

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. Hmm...sounds like we could use this to bring balance.

Wouldn't you agree that the scientific based reports are not getting the same air time as the right-wing "don't ask, just buy and make me rich" style of news?

[hilster]

3. the reporters

were in the movie "The Corporation" as well.

Glad they didn't give up.

[Bluzmann57]

4. Gasp! A Fox station making up news?

What is the world coming to? News organizations making stuff up. Good golly. I just can't believe it. Is it possible that this story may wake people up to the bigger picture? Doubtful, but a guy can hope.

[Sugarbleus]

5. Well that just makes me smile.. Big Time..

Woooooooooohooooooooooo I wish them the best in their efforts. Fox is soooooo deserving too, don't ya think? :evilgrin:

[beam me up scottie]

6. D'ya think faux will report on this?

nt

[TheFarseer]

7. I don't think they'll get around to it

They still have months of bitching about Dan Rather left to do.

[Liberty Belle]

8. Odd the other networks haven't gloated on their competitor's problem.

They could hardly contain themselves chortling over the O'Reilly-Falafel lawsuit. Guess this one cuts too close to home. They're probably all worried that this could happen to them, too.

I hope the fired CBS employees take heart from this and file a suit of their own, becuase they were clearly railroaded out of their jobs.

[Calvinist Basset]

11. This is all well and good.

However, it is a bit disheartening that people only get the guts to do what is right when they've been pushed into it.

[depakid]

15. Not odd at all

The other networks and their local affiliates lie and suppress stories ALL OF THE TIME.

Moreover, if the public realized how widespread the abuses were, there would be:

A. even less people watching network and local news (which has been in a ratings tailspin for years)

B. there would be increased attention put on stations and their news editors to stop lying and suppressing information that would reflect poorly on advertisers or right wing policies.

C. aggrieved people might get a clue and start challenging their licenses too. personally, I wish I had the time to challenge my sorry local affiliates' renewals- not one of them deserves their license and I'm quite sure that there are many other people or entities out there who would do a much better job serving the community.

Every so called "mainstream" media outlet in America is in the same boat on this one- every single one of them- even PBS, engages in similar behavior, though not always so overt or egregious.

Don't expect to hear anymore about this than you did about media consolidation or the demise of the Fairness Doctrine.

[HamiltonHabs32]

10. why havn't other Networks picked this story up?

These producers must have some networking skills, get this story on another network... like CBS or NBC or hell the Daily Show would pick it up im sure.

[Oversea Visitor]

12. Good question

Maybe they too busy looking at their reporters employees at the moment.