“Can I watch the trial version for free?” It was one of the top searches on Google at the height of the controversy.”Fox vs Dominionbetween a well-known conservative television station and Dominion, an electronic voting machine company led by Greek-American John Poulos.

Indeed, this “opposition” had all the characteristics that, had the aspiring creator decided to bring it to the big screen or into a miniseries in the form of a political thriller, would have made it a big success at the box office: a media mogul, glamorous and popular presenters and journalists. , former president’s “conspiracy theories” USA and for a historical background, one of the most unpredictable and marginal election contests in American political history.

But within hours of the $787 million payment, on American Network claims that the 2020 US Election was riggedthe big question that remains open concerns the remnants of divisions in the US democratic institutions, as well as in the media landscape, as the country gradually enters, as all indicate, a tense pre-election period.

Chronicles

However, the Fox v. Dominion controversy was not only about the reproduction of false news, but also the possibility that these “lies” were reproduced and spread by the network’s anchors and journalists, knowing about the so-called falsehood. According to the Associated Press, one of the reasons the case moved so quickly was due to evidence that Fox executives, as well as prominent figures on the network, dismissed Trump’s claims in private conversations while reproducing his theories. in the air”.

CNN in its analysis again raises, referring to the position of a Dominion lawyer, the scale of the problem. “Even such a big settlement cannot make up for the damage done by the lies heard about the 2020 elections.”

After all, one of the “cloudy” and controversial points of the settlement is connected with the fact that TV network won’t be asked to apologize on-air for things they’ve supported in the past. Somehow, at least for now, Donald Trump-friendly hosts are not expected to apologize for their “contribution” to spreading fake news.

According to Politico, Dominion’s lawyers have gathered communications between Fox executives, including Rupert Murdoch himself and hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingram, meaning a potential lawsuit will further damage the network’s reputation.

The next day

However, after the settlement, the political and media landscape in the US until the next election remains controversial. Some voices express their optimism. They believe that gravity, like the size of the settlement, is a decisive factor. Norm Eisen, a former White House official, said the decision “sends a clear message,” referring to the amount Fox is being asked to pay.

On the other hand, “closing” the case without bringing Murdoch and his accomplices to trial is regarded by Fox’s “warriors” as a defeat. Complaints from the conservative network that the decision against Fox would be a “blow to press freedom” could also suggest that the tactics, for which Fox is now ordered to pay Dominion about $800 million, could continue next year. settlement day.

The Guardian article, in fact, does not overlook the possibility that Fox News’s eventual turn to “reject” what it has supported in the past could turn Trump’s followers towards an even more conservative media. As noted, the settlement agreement does not remove the former president’s public attachment to the ideas and theories that he promoted. So, especially in the midst of the election season – when Trump’s criminal prosecution is expected – fake news, for which Fox is currently paying $780 million, remains popular on the social network.

Politico, for its part, believes that the settlement in question is not so much related to other media, but to “particularly egregious facts and circumstances related to the behavior of Fox, its leaders and employees towards Dominion.”

It was a unique case of malpractice, and now Fox is paying the price, the report says.

According to The Guardian, CNN, Politico and Associated Press.

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