Fox News and One America News Network (OANN) are embroiled in legal battles with Dominion Voting Systems and Smartmatic, as the networks face defamation lawsuits over their coverage of the 2020 presidential election. Fox News has agreed to pay $787.5 million in a settlement with Dominion, while OANN is being sued for allegedly helping "create and cultivate an alternate reality where...Dominion engaged in a colossal fraud."
With a market capitalization of approximately $17.3 billion, Fox News is no stranger to high-stakes litigation. CEO Lachlan Murdoch reportedly holds $4.1 billion in cash on hand. The network has also agreed to pay $1.6 billion in another defamation lawsuit against its news arm.
In addition to these lawsuits, a rape and defamation trial involving former Fox employee Jean Carroll will commence next week in New York City.
The BradCast podcast recently discussed these settlements with attorney John Smithson*, who was responsible for negotiating the terms of the case between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems.
Smithson stated that although it may seem like a large sum, he believes that "Dominion had no choice but to take the offer," given the potential damage inflicted on their reputation by misleading news reports during the 2020 election cycle.
Adding fuel to this ongoing controversy is yet another major lawsuit filed by election vendor Smartmatic against several right-wing networks—including Fox—which seeks damages totaling $2.7 billion over similar claims of defamatory coverage surrounding voting machines during last year's elections.
In reflecting on these cases' implications for journalistic integrity moving forward, Smithson emphasized how crucial it is that media outlets be held accountable when they spread misinformation:
"The sheer scale of these settlements should serve as a clear warning sign that purposely deceptive reporting can have serious consequences—not only financially but also legally."
It remains unclear whether or not these settlements will signal a shift in how Fox News and other networks report on political matters. However, as the legal landscape becomes more contentious for media organizations, accountability is likely to be at the forefront of public discourse.
*Name has been changed to protect attorney anonymity.