In February 2003, a 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.

Back in December of 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. In 1997 the team began work on a story about bovine
growth hormone (BGH), a controversial substance manufactured by Monsanto
Corporation. The couple produced a four-part series revealing that there
were many health risks related to BGH and that Florida supermarket
chains did little to avoid selling milk from cows treated with the
hormone, despite assuring customers otherwise.

According to Akre and Wilson, the station was initially very
excited about the series. But within a week, 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. When they refused and threatened to report Fox's
actions to the FCC, they were both fired.(Project Censored #12 1997)

Akre and Wilson sued the Fox station and on August 18, 2000, a
Florida jury unanimously decided that Akre was wrongfully fired by Fox
Television when she refused to broadcast (in the jury's words) “a false,
distorted or slanted story” about the widespread use of BGH in dairy
cows. They further maintained that she deserved protection under
Florida's whistle blower law. Akre was awarded a $425,000 settlement.
Inexplicably, however, the court decided that Steve Wilson, her partner
in the case, was ruled not wronged by the same actions taken by FOX.

FOX appealed the case, and on February 14, 2003 the Florida Second
District Court of Appeals unanimously overturned the settlement awarded
to Akre. The Court held that Akre’s threat to report the station’s
actions to the FCC did not deserve protection under Florida’s whistle
blower statute, because Florida’s whistle blower law states that an
employer must violate an adopted “law, rule, or regulation." In a
stunningly narrow interpretation of FCC rules, the Florida Appeals court
claimed that the FCC policy against falsification of the news does not
rise to the level of a "law, rule, or regulation," it was simply a
"policy." Therefore, it is up to the station whether or not it wants to
report honestly. (Anybody surprised this happened in Florida?)

*During their appeal, 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. Fox attorneys did not dispute Akre’s
claim that they pressured her to broadcast a false story, they simply
maintained that it was their right to do so.*

Fox News...the more you watch, the dumber you get.

--
There’s no point crying over spilled 4-Methylcyclohexanemethanol.

On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:15:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:



In February 2003, a 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.

Which was a damn good thing because NBC, MSNBC, CNN, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the
Washington Post, and a bunch more liberal newspapers would be in big time trouble!! Eh?

So very kind of you, Krausebag, to post on this subject.

By the way, Yale University wants to talk to you. Please call the president's office ASAP at (203) 432-4771.

All the best to you and the Dr-Dr-Dr.

George

On 2/10/14, 12:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:15:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:


In February 2003, a 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.

It is a good thing or guys like Chris Matthews would be in prison


As usual, you righties missed the point. The testimony of Fox was that
it knew it was lying in regard to news reports, and that such behavior
was ok.



--
Sarah Palin is watching the Sochi Olympic Games from the front porch of
her house.

On 2/10/2014 12:09 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 2/10/14, 12:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:15:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:


In February 2003, a 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.

It is a good thing or guys like Chris Matthews would be in prison


As usual, you righties missed the point. The testimony of Fox was that
it knew it was lying in regard to news reports, and that such behavior
was ok.



Most of the points you try to make end up exploding in your face.

On 2/10/14, 12:39 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:09:22 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/10/14, 12:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:15:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:


In February 2003, a 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.

It is a good thing or guys like Chris Matthews would be in prison


As usual, you righties missed the point. The testimony of Fox was that
it knew it was lying in regard to news reports, and that such behavior
was ok.

And you don't think Matthews knows he is playing fast and loose with
the truth?



Again, you missed the point.

--
Sarah Palin is watching the Sochi Olympic Games from the front porch of
her house.

On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:51:37 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/10/14, 12:39 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:09:22 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/10/14, 12:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:15:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:


In February 2003, a 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.

It is a good thing or guys like Chris Matthews would be in prison


As usual, you righties missed the point. The testimony of Fox was that
it knew it was lying in regard to news reports, and that such behavior
was ok.

And you don't think Matthews knows he is playing fast and loose with
the truth?



Again, you missed the point.

The point being that FOX is bad, but the liars on NBC, MSNBC, CNN , et (multiple) al, are good?

On 2/10/2014 12:51 PM, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 2/10/14, 12:39 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:09:22 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/10/14, 12:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:15:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:


In February 2003, a 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.

It is a good thing or guys like Chris Matthews would be in prison


As usual, you righties missed the point. The testimony of Fox was that
it knew it was lying in regard to news reports, and that such behavior
was ok.

And you don't think Matthews knows he is playing fast and loose with
the truth?



Again, you missed the point.

Another explosion. Sorry you can't appreciate the opportunities you
present to "others".

On 2/10/2014 12:39 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:09:22 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/10/14, 12:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:15:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:


In February 2003, a 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.

It is a good thing or guys like Chris Matthews would be in prison


As usual, you righties missed the point. The testimony of Fox was that
it knew it was lying in regard to news reports, and that such behavior
was ok.

Bull****....


And you don't think Matthews knows he is playing fast and loose with
the truth?

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:09:22 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/10/14, 12:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 05:15:46 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:


In February 2003, a 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.

It is a good thing or guys like Chris Matthews would be in prison


As usual, you righties missed the point. The testimony of Fox was that
it knew it was lying in regard to news reports, and that such behavior
was ok.

And you don't think Matthews knows he is playing fast and loose with
the truth?

Foad provided a verifiable example. You didn't. Foad wins.