Last Updated on July 23, 2025 by ThePublic
Fox News has long been a prominent name in American media, but its credibility as a news outlet has been called into question, notably by its own legal defenses. In court, Fox News has argued that it is not a news organization but rather an entertainment channel, a stance that undermines its reliability as a source of factual reporting. This admission and other evidence suggests viewers should approach Fox News with skepticism as you’ll soon discover
Fox News’ Own Admission: Entertainment, Not News
In a 2020 defamation lawsuit filed by Karen McDougal against Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Fox News’ legal team argued that Carlson’s statements were not to be taken as factual assertions. The court documents stated that “no reasonable viewer” would consider Carlson’s program as presenting facts, emphasizing that his show was part of Fox’s entertainment programming rather than journalism. U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil agreed, ruling that Carlson’s statements were rhetorical hyperbole, not statements of fact, and dismissed the case. This legal strategy revealed Fox News’ own characterization of its content as entertainment rather than news.
Similarly, in other legal battles, Fox News has leaned on this distinction. For instance, in a 2020 case involving a defamation suit against host Laura Ingraham, Fox’s lawyers reiterated that their programming is not held to the same standards of factual accuracy as traditional news outlets, reinforcing the network’s entertainment identity.
The Dominion Voting Systems Settlement
One of the most significant blows to Fox News’ credibility came in 2023 with its $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. Dominion sued Fox News for defamation after the network repeatedly aired false claims that Dominion’s voting machines rigged the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Court documents revealed that Fox News hosts and executives were aware the claims were baseless but continued to broadcast them to maintain viewership and ratings. The settlement, one of the largest defamation payouts in media history, underscored Fox News’ willingness to prioritize audience engagement over factual reporting.
Internal communications disclosed during the Dominion case further damaged Fox News’ reputation. Emails and messages showed that some hosts and producers privately doubted the election fraud narrative while publicly promoting it. This contradiction highlights a deliberate choice to mislead viewers, casting doubt on the network’s commitment to truth.
A Pattern of Misinformation
Fox News’ track record includes other instances of spreading misleading or false information. In 2021, the network faced criticism for downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting unproven treatments like hydroxychloroquine. Public health experts and fact-checkers repeatedly debunked these claims, yet Fox News continued to amplify them, potentially influencing viewers’ health decisions.
Additionally, Fox News has been criticized for its selective reporting and framing of stories to align with a particular political agenda. Fact-checking organizations, such as PolitiFact and Snopes, have consistently rated Fox News’ claims as misleading or false at higher rates than other major networks. This pattern suggests a focus on narrative over accuracy, further eroding trust in its reporting.
Regulatory Context: Not Registered as a News Outlet
FCC Oversight: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates communications in the United States, including broadcast television and radio stations, which require licenses to operate. However, cable networks like Fox News Channel, CNN, and MSNBC are not subject to the same licensing requirements because they are distributed via cable and satellite providers, not over-the-air broadcast frequencies. Therefore, Fox News Channel, as a cable network, is not “registered” with the FCC as either a news outlet or an entertainment channel.
The FCC does not have a formal designation for cable networks as “news” or “entertainment.” These labels are more about branding and marketing than regulatory categories. Cable networks are generally classified as “non-broadcast” entities, and their content is not regulated in the same way as broadcast stations.
Why Viewers Should Be Skeptical
The evidence is clear, Fox News has, by its own admission, positioned itself as an entertainment outlet rather than a news organization. Its legal defenses, combined with the Dominion settlement and a history of misleading claims, demonstrate a pattern of prioritizing viewership and ideological alignment over factual accuracy. For viewers seeking reliable information, this track record suggests that Fox News should not be trusted as a primary source of news.
To make informed decisions, viewers should cross-reference Fox News’ reports with primary sources, such as government data, court records, or reputable fact-checking organizations. Relying solely on Fox News risks exposure to biased or inaccurate information, as the network’s own statements and actions confirm.
Sources used in this article:
- Fox Wins McDougal Case, Argues No One Takes Tucker Carlson Seriously
https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-karen-mcdougal-case-tucker-carlson-2020-9 - ‘You Literally Can’t Believe the Facts Tucker Carlson Tells You’: Fox’s Legal Defense
https://www.npr.org/2020/09/29/917747123/you-literally-cant-believe-the-facts-tucker-carlson-tells-you-so-say-fox-s-lawye - Fox, Dominion Reach $787 Million Settlement Over Election Claims
https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe - Fox News Reaches $787.5 Million Settlement in Dominion’s Defamation Lawsuit
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/04/18/fox-news-reaches-settlement-with-dominion-in-defamation-lawsuit-00092621 - Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network (Wikipedia summary of internal communications and settlement)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_Voting_Systems_v._Fox_News_Network - ‘Surprise! Fox News Mostly Avoids Airing How It Paid Out $787 Million For Spreading Election Lies’
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/04/fox-coverage-dominion-settlement - Fox News faces new defamation suit from Smartmatic as ‘failing business’
https://nypost.com/2025/04/30/media/fox-news-says-smartmatic-looking-for-litigation-lottery-ticket/ - The Dominion Settlement Is Just the Beginning of Fox and Rupert Murdoch’s Nightmare
https://time.com/6272910/dominion-settlement-fox-news-nightmare/