The pending defamation lawsuit between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News has brought to light some troubling revelations about the network’s journalistic integrity. As part of the lawsuit, Fox News on-air talent and top executives have been forced to testify under oath. And in their sworn testimony, they have admitted that they knew the information they were sharing with their audience was false and defamatory against Dominion.
But perhaps even more troubling than the admission of guilt is the reason behind it. According to the testimony, Fox News knowingly spread false information about Dominion because they were concerned about losing viewers to more radical and right-wing competitors like Newsmax and OAN. In other words, they put ratings and profits ahead of journalistic integrity and the truth.
Fox News: A Propaganda Outlet?
This discovery phase of the lawsuit has confirmed what many of us have suspected for years – that Fox is not a news network at all, but rather a propaganda outlet that serves as the mouthpiece of the Republican Party. Rupert Murdoch himself admitted under oath that it was Fox’s role to get Republican senators elected in the runoff election in Georgia.
This reality is deeply concerning, as no reputable news outlet should ever align itself exclusively to one political party. A free and democratic society relies on a free and independent press that is willing to hold all politicians and parties accountable, regardless of their affiliations.
Ostracizing Fox is Necessary
Fox, on the other hand, has spent decades ginning up their audience so that they don’t believe any news that doesn’t come from Fox, and that everything Democrats or the mainstream media says are lies. This kind of propaganda is not only dangerous but undermines the very foundations of democracy.
As a society, we must stop treating Fox News as a legitimate news outlet. Ostracize Fox and make it a pariah by other media outlets and the White House. Never ask Fox reporters questions in the White House press room or in a gaggle. Do not grant Fox reporters equal stature when their motives are so obviously one-sided.
Holding Fox Accountable
Hold Fox journalists accountable and subject the network to the same standards of journalistic integrity as other news outlets. We must demand that the media we consume is truthful, independent, and free from clear partisan bias.
This lawsuit confirmed what many of us have suspected all along. Fox is not a news network but rather a propaganda outlet. We must not let them continue to undermine our democracy and the values that we hold dear. We must fight back with everything we have while we still can. The future of our democracy depends on it.