The controversy surrounding Rupert Murdoch and Fox News cannot be ignored. The network’s promotion of propaganda and misinformation was widely criticized. While Tucker Carlson has taken most of the heat, it is crucial to recognize that Murdoch is equally responsible. He was aware of the propaganda being perpetuated through his media outlets. He allowed his top hosts to spread lies without consequence, putting profit and greed over the country’s well-being.
Murdoch has a history of sensationalist journalism and has been criticized for not caring about the truth or the power of words for decades. This is reflected in the actions of Fox News hosts. Carlson has been accused of promoting white supremacist ideas and spreading misinformation. In addition, his comments on the Black Lives Matter movement have been highly criticized.
Fox repeatedly echoed Trump’s claims of potential vote fixing and election fraud in the months leading up to the 2020 United States Presidential Election. Several Fox hosts and commentators promoted Trump’s claims and various conspiracy theories without providing supporting evidence. Other mainstream news outlets and fact-checkers widely criticized Fox reports and statements for spreading misinformation and promoting baseless claims of voter fraud.
During the 2020 Presidential election, Carlson faced backlash for suggesting that voting machines were rigged and hyping conspiracy theories about election fraud. Nevertheless, Carlson continued to spread controversial statements and misinformation, building a national divide and purposely feeding his viewers misinformation instead of presenting the facts. Carlson’s actions were apparent long before the Dominion Voting scandal.
While many states and election officials pushed back against Trump’s claims, Carlson and other Fox hosts continued to echo his claims. Trump’s allegations of widespread voter fraud and refusal to accept the election results led to many challenges and disputes over the results. Drawing some states and officials into legal battles. Leading multiple courts and state officials to reject Trump’s claims of voter fraud.
Despite this, Murdoch allowed the conspiracy theories, misinformation, and lies to continue, putting profits over the truth and the country’s well-being. This highlights the importance of holding those in power accountable for their actions and demanding higher standards of journalism. It doesn’t matter who they are, how powerful they are or how much money they have – they must be held responsible – no one is above the law.
Murdoch allowed it to continue for the sake of greed, which now has consequences for Fox. Carlson’s departure from the network is a significant loss, as he was among its highest-rated hosts with three million plus viewers. His actions tarnished the network’s image and raised questions about the standards of journalism at Fox. Not to mention, that Fox settled out of court with Dominion for more than $787 million to avert a defamation trial.
In light of the controversy surrounding Fox and Rupert Murdoch, we must be more diligent in truth-telling and following the facts. We must hold those in power accountable for their actions and demand higher standards of journalism. We can all promote responsible and diligent truth-telling by fact-checking information, verifying sources, and not sharing or promoting controversial statements, conspiracy theories, or misinformation.
If we’re not willing to do this for ourselves, let’s be willing to create a world for our youth, the coming generation where the truth is valued, and misinformation is not tolerated.
