By Lorna Grisby
Rupert Murdoch, 92, one of the world’s most influential modern media figures, announced on Sept. 21, 2023, that he is stepping down as chair of Fox Corp. and executive chairman of News Corp. By mid-November, he will no longer be at the helm of the multibillion-dollar media empire that has stirred so much controversy over decades.
Through Fox News, Murdoch is leaving a lasting impression on American journalism and politics. It just may not be what most people think.
Here are three essential reads from The Conversation about Murdoch and Fox News and how they have shaped the American media and political landscapes.
1. So-called journalists can lie with near total impunity
Following the 2020 presidential election, Fox journalists repeatedly – and falsely – accused Dominion Voting Systems, a voting technology company, of rigging the contest to ensure then-President Donald Trump lost his bid for reelection. Dominion challenged those lies in a US$1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News in March 2021.
The lawsuit was settled in April 2023 for $787.5 million. During pretrial testimony, Murdoch admitted that key Fox journalists knowingly lied about election fraud in the 2020 presidential election on their shows.
Before the settlement was reached, John C. Watson, an associate professor of journalism at American University, wrote that the case revealed a powerful truth about American journalism: In the news business, corporations can hire anyone they want and call them journalists because the profession doesn’t have standardized requirements.
“Anyone can claim to be a journalist, irrespective of their actual function. Any business can claim to be a news organization. Functioning irresponsibly in either role is largely protected by the First Amendment and is therefore optional,” Watson wrote.
“Neither journalists nor the news organizations they personify have to be truthful unless they want to. Lying in the press is unethical but does not necessarily strip liars of the protections provided by the First Amendment.”
2. Fox News’ settlement with Dominion Voting Systems was a win for all media
After Fox and Dominion settled the lawsuit, each side claimed victory. Dominion, declaring that “truth matters,” said its reputation had been vindicated.
And Fox conceded that it had to acknowledge “the Court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false.” But the news giant also maintained that the settlement was a victory for Fox, because it reflected the organization’s commitment to the highest journalistic standards.
Post-settlement posturing aside, Jane E. Kirtley, a professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota, wrote that the settlement helped protect all media outlets over the long run in legal fights over their coverage.
“I hold no brief for Fox. But had the Dominion case gone to the jury, the inevitable appeal by whomever lost would give the Supreme Court the chance to reconsider and possibly eliminate the New York Times v. Sullivan standard that protects all news media of all political stripes,” she wrote. “At least two justices, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, have indicated they are eager to do just that, even though it has been the constitutional standard for nearly 60 years.”
3. Fox News’ political power is marginal
Michael J. Socolow, a professor of communication and journalism at the University of Maine, wrote that any evidence offered that Fox News and Rupert Murdoch created and sustain the U.S. political climate is more circumstantial than anything else.
Trump’s 2016 presidential election victory is a prime example, according to Socolow. Neither Murdoch nor the late Roger Ailes, Fox News’ founder, supported Trump’s candidacy.
“Ailes and Murdoch were unable to stop Republicans from voting for him. But this failure to persuade Republicans in 2016 isn’t really a surprise,” Socolow writes. “Fox News couldn’t prevent (former President Barack) Obama’s election, reelection or the 2018 blue wave.”
Fox’s real power, Socolow suggests, is the media’s characterization of the outlet as a hugely influential political force, when its actual political power is marginal.
Editor’s note: This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives.
Lorna Grisby is the Politics & Society Editor of The Conversation.
Marty Sorrentino says
If lying were to result in major lawsuits, the American public is owed billions from KJP with her daily press conferences. One of these days, one of those reporters will call her a LIAR.
Judith Michaud says
Time for Faux News to retire too !
Sally says
He is still allowing his reporters to speak propaganda. Sure they will be sued even more then they already have. It’s a trash station they encouraged the attack on our capital.
Marty says
Agree….as long as they take the other fake news stations with them.
Marty says
Thank God there’s someone who is not blaming Trump for the “attack”.
Bill C says
Just like Fox News you love to hate.
Sherry says
@ms. . . Don’t believe everything you read on the internet or wath on FOX. For example, the ALTERED “stuff” passed around social media examined by this Fact Check from Reuters:
Video of an exchange between White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Fox News journalist Peter Doocy has been digitally altered. Social media users online are taking the edited version, where Jean-Pierre appears to ignore a question by Doocy on oil companies, to be authentic.
Comments on the posts read: “This stuff just makes me laugh. How the hell do I get a job like that. Where you don’t have to answer the question,” “I’m now going to end every unpleasant situation in my life with ‘Thanks, Everybody’ and just walk away” and “Did she actually just not answer? Or is it edited to look like she didn’t answer?”
The clip being shared came from a White House Daily Briefing on Oct. 19, 2022 visible on C-SPAN.
At the 30:57 mark, Doocy says: “Thank you, Karine. So, you’re asking oil companies to further lower gas prices. What makes you think that they are going to listen to an administration that is ultimately trying to put them out of business?”
Jean-Pierre asks: “How is the administration trying to put them out of business?”
Doocy responds: “Well, they produce fossil fuels, and this President says he wants to end fossil fuel.”
In the clip being shared online, the video cuts out at this point and makes it appear that Jean-Pierre did not respond to Doocy’s question, but rather thanked the room, and packed up to leave the briefing.
However, in the original video, Jean-Pierre does respond to Doocy. At the 31:17 mark, she answers: “So look, you kind of asked me this question yesterday. And here’s – here’s where – what we would say. U.S. oil production is up and on track to reach a record high next year. We’ve seen that from their, from when we see their profit margins. They are, you know, it’s record high. And so, in fact, the United States has produced more oil in President Biden’s first year than under Trump’s administration’s first year. But at the same time, oil companies are raking in record profits while more than 9,000 approved drilling permits remain untapped by the oil industry. There is no shortage of opportunity or incentive for oil companies to ramp up production. This is something they can actually do.”
The briefing continues for about 10 more minutes before Jean-Pierre says, “thanks everybody” and leaves the room.
Sherry says
Although maybe Rupert and Roger did not personally support trump. . . FOX management certainly hired people who lie incessantly in support of trump while throwing red meat to his extreme right wing supporters. So much so that millions of our citizens have been brainwashed and passionately believe an alternative reality, often based on conspiracy theories with no basis of actual fact. Our fellow citizens are “victims” addicted to the FOX propaganda, mind altering drug that all too often even rips families apart. . . and, puts our entire democratic governing processes in great peril!!
Tired of it says
Poor attempt at deflection. There isn’t enough room here to list all the lies from trump’s press secretaries. And…https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/media/dominion-newsmax-defamation-lawsuit/index.html
Sherry says
@marty. . . It is obvious to most “still independently thinking” people that the FOX extreme right wing propaganda machine for 20 years indoctrinated millions into their fear and hate filled “cult”. Those millions were then ripe and ready for a charismatic leader with zero scruples. Along came trump as the perfect person to continue duping the FOX cult members with his massive lies and corruption. trump ginning up more of that fear and hate against “the other” . . . people of color, homeosexuals, the educated “elite” with their scientific facts, and now judges and juries doing their best to hold trump accountable for his many crimes of treason.
Certainly trump is largely responsible for the horrific insurrection on Jan. 6th. . . BUT, Rupert Murdoch, and the FOX fascist indoctrination machine, primed the pump! Together trump and FOX are “criminal partners” in doing their best to destroy our democracy!
endless dark money says
ahh the legal kind of mob boss….this guy is worse than dog $h^t on your shoe.