(US) Reporter Wins Milk Lawsuit Against Fox TV

[Guest guest]

REPORTER WINS JURY AWARD IN LANDMARK

GE MILK CASE ON GMO COW HORMONE

 

> Greenpeace USA, August 22,2000

 

http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/features/trial.htm

 

On Friday, a jury found that Fox TVs Tampa station illegally

fired reporter Jane Akre for refusing to run a false report about

genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (BGH), a

controversial drug used to increase milk production. The 6-member

jury awarded Akre $425,000, including $88,725 for lost wages,

$120,750 for lost earning capacity, and $215,525 for other

damages.

 

The landmark decision was the first time Florida's whistleblower

law has been successfully used to protect a journalist who is

fired for refusing to slant the news. In the original version of

their report, Akre and her husband and co- reporter Steve Wilson

revealed the risks of BGH, including potential links to breast

cancer and other human and animal health effects.

 

Testimony during the trail showed how Monsanto, the biotech

company that developed BGH, warned Fox of " dire consequences " if

the station went ahead and aired the critical report. In finding

for Akre, the jury ruled that she was fired for refusing to

participate in " the broadcast of a false, distorted, or slanted

news report " which violated journalistic ethics that prohibit

distorting the news.

 

Commenting on the verdict, she said, " (A)fter the FOX-owned

station in Tampa was threatened by Monsanto, the direction of my

story about bovine growth hormone changed dramatically. There has

never been any doubts in our minds that with virtually every cut,

trim, and edit to this four-part series, the public interest

suffered at the hands of the station's lawyers. For me, it's past

time now to get back to our daughter Alyx Anne. She was the

reason we stood up for the story in the first place. We believe

parents have the right to know how the milk they feed to their

children has been adulterated with a chemical we don't need and

many don't want. "

 

Find out more about the trial and Ralph Nader¹s testimony. Fact

sheet on rBGH: What is rBGH? Is it hazardous to your health? How

you can avoid it. Fact sheet on the myths and realities of

genetically modified foods: Food Fight: