Fairly unbalanced.

This is a trip. Fox (the TV network) fired a pair of reporters because the reporters were unwilling to include demonstrably false information in a story. The reporters sued for wrongful termination. Fox’s defense? They have a First Amendment right to lie — in order to ensure “fairness and balance.”

Now, Fox is right — they do have a right to lie (as suggested by Kasky v. Nike), and I’m not arguing with that. But Fox’s defense is, of course, terribly, terribly telling. Now I know what they mean by “Fair and Balanced”.

(From Project Censored.)

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »