We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/Script
HEADLINE: Record Settlement by Fox News in Defamation Lawsuit
TEASER: Network admits to airing false information about 2020 election rigging
PUBLISHED AT: 04/27/2023 at XX pm
BYLINE: LAUREL BOWMAN
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: newhouse, MBowman, DJ balance
VIDEO SOURCE (S):
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:))
((TV INTRO: This month a widely watched lawsuit over how U.S. cable network Fox News covered former President Donald Trump’s false allegations of election rigging in 2020 resulted in the network paying a near-record $787.5 million settlement to avoid a trial. VOA’s Laurel Bowman reports.))
((VIDEO – court drawing and fox lawyers leaving court, exteriors of Fox News building, dominion voting machines, Biden, Trump))
((NARRATOR)) $787.5 million is what Fox News agreed to pay in a settlement with Dominion Voting Systems this month. The company said the cable news network spread false information about its voting machines and suggested Dominion helped rig the 2020 election for a Joe Biden win over Donald Trump.
((VIDEO – backtime or walking shot of CEO))
((For radio only: Dominion CEO John Poulos))
((John Poulos, Dominion Voting Systems CEO))
FOX NEWS SETTLEMENT.mxf - Frame.io
:21 “Fox has admitted to telling lies about Dominion that caused enormous damage to my company, our employees and the customers we serve.”
((VIDEO – Trump 4430735 US FL Trump.mp4 - Frame.io))
((NARRATOR)) Former US President Donald Trump repeatedly said the 2020 election was stolen from him, despite the absence of any evidence to support the claim.
((VIDEO – video of Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell at podium, voting machines))
((NARRATOR)) And his attorneys said Dominion’s voting machines aided that effort, claims which Fox News allowed to be repeated many times on-air.
((For radio only: Sidney Powell is a former Trump attorney.))
((Sidney Powell, Former Trump Attorney))
4422864 US Fox Dominion Defamation AP Explains.mp4 - Frame.io
1:12 “Talking about some massive straight lines up in the vote tallies in the middle of the night after they’ve supposedly stopped counting, and that’s when the Dominion operators went in and injected votes and changed the whole system.”
((VIDEO – stills of Fox News talent --
Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity at 1:08 4420027 Archive US Fox News Dominion Voting.mp4 - Frame.io
Still of Laura Ingraham [VOA] VIDEO SHARE - Frame.io
still of carlson, Hannity and Ingraham (1) US_Media_Fox_News_Tucker_Carlson_23115544090168.jpg - Frame.io
))
((NARRATOR)) By settling, FOX avoided having its journalists testify after legal discovery revealed their text messages showed that although they privately doubted Trump’s claims, they did not publicly say so.
((GRAPHIC – Fox News statement excerpt
https://we.tl/t-sQq7ixSRW8 ))
((NARRATOR)) In a post-settlement statement, Fox News said, “we acknowledge the court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false.” And “we hope that our decision (to settle) allows the country to move forward from these issues.”
((VIDEO – exteriors of fox news ??
4420027 Archive US Fox News Dominion Voting.mp4 - Frame.io))
((NARRATOR)) Will such a large settlement in a defamation case make American news outlets more accountable for reporting the facts?
((VIDEO – backtime Roy Gutterman))
Maybe, say some experts.
((For radio only: Roy Gutterman is an associate professor of communications law and journalism and the director of the Tully Center of Free Speech at Syracuse University))
((Roy Gutterman, Tully Center of Free Speech, Syracuse University))
Skype Interview uploaded to Frames.io today
3:02 “It does send a message to other media to be responsible with the people you put on the air and to check the facts that you broadcast or publish.”
((VIDEO – stills of Tucker (Tucker_Carlson_Dominion_Lawsuit_23114754657145.jpg - Frame.io
Tucker_Carlson_Dominion_Lawsuit_23114752111307.jpg - Frame.io
))
((NARRATOR)) Others looking for signs of where American journalism is headed are watching to see what happens to one of the network’s most-watched hosts, Tucker Carlson, who parted ways with the company days after the settlement. Fox and Carlson have not said why he left, nor has Carlson indicated what he plans to do next.
((LAUREL BOWMAN, VOA NEWS, WASHINGTON))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateApril 27, 2023 20:31 EDT
Byline
LAUREL BOWMAN
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
