Rescue the FCC policy against news falsification

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Thursday November 09, 2006 · 10:08 PM PST

2006/11/09 · 22:08

IMHO, the Fairness Doctrine can wait. First, rescue the FCC policy that says news providers should not purposely lie. Yes, the policy already exists, but Fox, and the Florida Court of Appeals effectively smothered it in 2003.

How it happened: In 1997, two Fox reporters uncovered unsavory facts about a BHG/Monsanto/dairy scandal in Florida, but were ordered by Fox to falsify their news reports. The reporters used that FCC policy to sue Fox. And in 2003, they lost. The "Florida Court of Appeals unanimously agreed with an assertion by FOX News that there is no rule against distorting or falsifying the news in the United States". Their logic: A "policy" is not a rule. So it's okay to lie and call it news.

So Congress should rescue the policy. Make it a rule, or whatever.

If flashing a nipple or dropping the F word can earn a network a humongous fine, why can't we fine them for falsifying news? Personally, I am less concerned about female nipples than I am about news being concealed about BHG causing illegal levels of pus in our milk (and other health problems, bovine and human).

BTW, if there is ANY question in your mind that Fox lies, check out this diary about former Fox reporter David Shuster exposing that his fellow Fox reporters just made things up.

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