In 2003 Fox News argued before Florida courts that a news organization has no legal obligation to tell the truth in their newscasts... and WON.
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.
First of all, be sure to read in full the article behind this. Also, know that several other large media "players" supported Fox in its fight, filing briefs of their own in the case, so it wasn't just big bad Fox News.
Second of all, the article is slanted to be anti-corporate, making it sound like giant media corporations can say and report whatever they want. The outcome of this case reinforced that they, in fact, could. What isn't mentioned by the article because of anti-Fox and anti-corporate bias (which, by the way, I strongly share) is that this case reinforced everyone's right to say and report whatever they want.
All news is biased. All of it. Including this article. Including EVERY article. The very fact that an article exists reveals bias—why is the article talking about THIS and not THAT? What if THAT is more important than THIS? Who decides? That's right, the person writing the article who is biased toward THIS and not THAT.
Speech should never be limited. Never.
The opposing side fought this as a whistleblower case and Fox fought it, rightly I believe, as a free speech case, and won, also rightly.
If all reporting must pass some external "truth police", it would be very dangerous indeed for all forms of speech. If you encounter some reporting you believe is horseshit, counter it, prove them wrong, call them out, fight against it.
But, sorry, you DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SHUT THEM UP.
