Dear Mr. Rupert Murdoch,
You’ve built a reputation from humble beginnings as a modest, small newspaper publisher in Australia to a world-renowned newspaper baron. But settling the $10-billion lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against your flagship newspaper, The Wall Street Journal, could irreparably damage your legacy.
As you know, Trump, emboldened by the recent settlement by CBS and ABC, sued the Journal for publishing a story of his message on Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday greetings in 2003. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, reportedly died by suicide in a Manhattan jail on Aug.10, 2019.
The Journal’s global standing as a paradigm of journalistic excellence that has earned many Pulitzers will take a hit if you prioritize profit over the ideal of free speech.
The Journal, as outlined in its mission statement, emphasizes that, “Our reputation is our most cherished possession. We strive to be a model for ethical, fact-based, ambitious news reporting.”
Ask any journalism student: The Journal is among the top publications for which they aspire to work.
Besides, many small publications look to major media conglomerates such as yours to fight intimidation and shakedowns by people in power. The present generation of journalists benefits from the struggles of their earlier generation to uphold their rights.
For instance, The New York Times’ win in 1961 over the libel suit by L.B. Sullivan, then police commissioner of Montgomery, Alabama, allowed journalists to hold public officials and figures accountable without fear of retribution. In that case, the court ruled in favor of the Gray Lady, stating that “debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust and open.”
Critics and commentators can pen their reviews without any concern, thanks to the Des Moines Leader, which, in 1901, successfully fought a lawsuit from the Cherry Sisters. The newspaper’s criticism angered the vaudeville trio’s performance. Siding with the newspaper, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that “any performance to which the public is invited may be freely criticized.”
There are several such instances where publishing houses have stood up against bullying and lawsuits. They didn’t cave in, as Paramount Global did. Trump filed a $20-billion defamation case against CBS’s flagship “60 Minutes” broadcast of an edited interview of his opponent, Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, in 2024. Reports suggest that Paramount may try to appease Trump with a $16 million gift to his presidential library, potentially in exchange for the Federal Trade Commission not blocking the media conglomerate’s $5 billion merger with Skydance Media. Trump is said to be seeking an additional $20 million from Skydance.
Editing of content for clarity and brevity has been the normal process in the newsroom for ages.
Please remember, the real estate tycoon is well-known for suing all and sundry for big bucks, then, in a grand gesture of goodwill, baiting with a small amount to settle, and boasting a victory.
The little guys — family-owned mid-size and small news outlets — rely on the big guys, such as the Journal, to be the guardians of the free press.
