Jane Martison commented Fox News settlement with Dominion
A defamation settlement over electoral fraud ‘stories’ means nothing if FOX NEWS goes on spreading lies
Fox News and Rupert Murdoch have been humiliated, but they won’t change their ways
(Jane Martinson, The Guardian)
Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News has recently settled a $787.5m defamation lawsuit brought against them by Dominion, a voting machine manufacturer. Dominion claimed that Fox News repeatedly aired lies that Dominion had helped rig the 2020 election against Donald Trump, linking the company to Venezuela and bribing government officials to use its machines to do so. Dominion sent no fewer than 3,682 emails denying these lies, which contributed in part to the violent attack on the US Capitol on 6 January.
The settlement has allowed Murdoch to avoid taking the stand and defending the lies told on his channel. Pre-trial hearings and disclosure revealed that presenters and the owner of a broadcast “news” channel knowingly spread lies. The settlement has avoided Fox presenters having to apologize to viewers on air for helping to spread lies.
However, the settlement is not the end of the story. Fox News’s response will be an important marker of how much the Dominion win will matter to the rest of us. Fox had claimed that a triumph for Dominion “would have grave consequences for the entire journalism profession”. In announcing the settlement, the broadcaster said that it had a “continued commitment to the highest journalistic standards”. If the journalism profession lets a broadcaster cite the integrity of all journalists when it knew that its presenters were allowing guests to lie, then journalism standards that promote “newsworthy” lies over dull truth lead to a situation where anyone can say anything they like in the media.
The Dominion win raises questions about how presenters and the owner of a broadcast “news” channel could knowingly spread lies, and how much a former reality TV star-turned-US president had changed democracy and the journalism meant to hold the powerful to account by calling out “fake news”. As the Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson said in announcing the settlement: “The truth matters. Lies have consequences.”
In conclusion, while the settlement of the defamation lawsuit brought against Fox News by Dominion may have allowed Murdoch to avoid having to take the stand and defend lies told on his television channel about the last US election, the settlement means nothing if the channel goes on spreading lies. The Dominion win is an important marker for the journalism profession and democracy. Journalism standards must promote the truth over lies, and hold the powerful to account.
Source: The Guardian
Who is Jane Martison?
Jane Martison is a well-known British journalist who has made significant contributions to the field of media and journalism throughout her career. Born in 1960, Martison studied at the University of Oxford, where she earned a degree in English literature. After completing her studies, she began working as a journalist, starting out as a reporter for The Guardian newspaper.
Over the years, Martison has held various positions within the media industry, including serving as the arts editor and women’s editor at The Guardian. She has also written for several other publications, including The Observer, The Times, and The Independent. Her work has covered a wide range of topics, including arts and culture, feminism, and social justice issues.
Martison has been recognized for her work with several awards and honors. In 2002, she was awarded the Orwell Prize for Journalism for her coverage of the Watergate scandal. The Orwell Prize is an annual award for political writing in the UK, named after George Orwell, the famous writer and social critic. The following year, Martison was awarded the Laurence Stern Fellowship, a prestigious award that allows journalists to spend a year studying at Yale University in the United States.
Throughout her career, Martison has been a strong advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. In 2013, she co-founded The Women’s Room, a blog that features articles and commentary on a range of feminist issues. The blog has become an important platform for women’s voices in the UK and has been widely praised for its insightful and thought-provoking content.
Martison’s work has also focused on issues related to media and journalism, particularly the need for greater diversity and representation within the industry. In 2015, she co-wrote a report for the Media Standards Trust titled “A More Representative Press?”, which analyzed the ethnic and social class diversity of newsrooms in the UK. The report highlighted the need for greater diversity within the media industry and called for action to be taken to address the issue.
In addition to her work as a journalist, Martison has also been involved in teaching and mentoring young journalists. She has served as a visiting professor at City University in London and has been a mentor for the Guardian Foundation’s Scott Trust Bursary Scheme, which supports young journalists from diverse backgrounds.
Jane Martison is a respected and influential figure within the UK media industry. Her work as a journalist and advocate for social justice has made a significant impact, and her contributions to the field of journalism continue to inspire and inform others.
