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 July 26, 2000 |
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In what is believed to be the first time any journalist has filed a legal claim against his own news organization and offered evidence of stations manipulating the news to placate an advertiser, investigative reporters Jane Akre and Steve Wilson are finally going to trial against their former employer, Fox television, beginning Monday, July 24. Akre and Wilson, who are also married, were dismissed by WTVT Fox 13 in Miami in 1997 for refusing to suppress or distort evidence from a story they were working on that recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), manufactured by biotech giant Monsanto, alters milk in a way that could promote breast, colon and prostrate cancer. The synthetic growth hormone, which initially causes a cow to produce more milk, has been widely injected into dairy cows throughout the U.S. without consumer consent, approval or notification. The landmark whistleblower lawsuit will include legendary newsman Walter Cronkite and public interest advocate Ralph Nader as likely witnesses for the plaintiffs. Fox attorneys have fought mightily to block this testimony. Additionally, Fox attorneys have filed three motions to dismiss the case without a trial, and despite their considerable funds, Ms. Akre's legal team has been successful in seeing this trial come to fruition. Mr. Wilson is representing himself. Their adventure began when Akre and Wilson, veteran journalists hired to do hard-hitting investigations, had a series of reports critical of rBGH abruptly pulled from the schedule in early 1997. Monsanto threatened "dire consequences" if the reports were broadcast, and when the two refused to dilute their story, they were threatened with dismissal for insubordination. They were also offered a six-figure deal to soften the blow. "In the wake of two written threats from Monsanto to Fox News chief Roger Ailes, we were asked to put Fox's interest in it's own bottom line ahead of the public interest," said Mr. Wilson. "...We have also discovered, in another handwritten note of one of the broadcaster's attorneys, that if they tried to kill the story and word leaked out, it would be a major PR problem for Fox. So they decided to eliminate their risk by pressuring us to placate Monsanto and essentially lie to the public. No decent journalist can ever do that," said Akre. When they refused to accept the terms offered them, they were strung along for months re-writing the story 83 times, trying to get approval to finish the report before being suspended, locked out and fired. Akre and Wilson have sold their home and spent their life savings in battling the media monolith. They say that their likelihood of future employment within journalism is unlikely because they have been branded as media traitors. They have vowed not to personally benefit from their efforts to publicize the story that Fox tried to bury. Please visit their website to learn more about the lawsuit at www.foxBGHsuit.com |
