Lie is a tough word to use in law and journalism. To accuse someone of lying you have to prove intent to tell the lie vs being truly mistaken.
For example, if I say the Earth is flat am I lying or mistaken? If I truly believe that, then it’s not a lie, even though facts clearly say otherwise. I’m just not aware or choose to disagree with those facts.
It’s maddening. I’m with you and wish journalists would use harsher language in obvious cases, but I understand why they tend not to as a standard to ensure they’re not opening themselves up to claims of liable and defamation.
I’m sorry but no, they are not open up to liable or defamation lawsuits by calling a public figure running for office a liar. For pete sake, Tucker regularly called pretty much every popular democrat a liar over the course of his show. Pretty much every right wing mud slinger does.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but we may need another example since Fox successfully got a case dismissed under the specific premise that “no ‘reasonable viewer’ takes the primetime host Tucker Carlson seriously”
Regardless of whether or not that’s true, Trump has literally been found to be a liar in a court of law so there’s really no excuse with him in particular.
Lie is a tough word to use in law and journalism. To accuse someone of lying you have to prove intent to tell the lie vs being truly mistaken.
For example, if I say the Earth is flat am I lying or mistaken? If I truly believe that, then it’s not a lie, even though facts clearly say otherwise. I’m just not aware or choose to disagree with those facts.
It’s maddening. I’m with you and wish journalists would use harsher language in obvious cases, but I understand why they tend not to as a standard to ensure they’re not opening themselves up to claims of liable and defamation.
I’m sorry but no, they are not open up to liable or defamation lawsuits by calling a public figure running for office a liar. For pete sake, Tucker regularly called pretty much every popular democrat a liar over the course of his show. Pretty much every right wing mud slinger does.
Here’s an example of CNN saying trump lied
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/16/politics/fact-check-dale-top-15-donald-trump-lies/index.html
NY Times V Sullivan and the fact that this is political speech grants a WIDE amount of latitude for the accusations you can place against politicians.
I’m not saying you’re wrong, but we may need another example since Fox successfully got a case dismissed under the specific premise that “no ‘reasonable viewer’ takes the primetime host Tucker Carlson seriously”
Which is specifically why I linked to CNN calling trump a liar with no ensuing lawsuit. That’s your other example.
You can google and find a bunch of other examples of media outlets freely calling politicians liars.
I think “lie” should not only refer to “bold-faced lies”, but all lies. I also think it’s important to distinguish between differnt types of lies.
that’s an honest lie
you can even say the truth while lying. e.g. lying by omission, or using Weasel word. Wikipedia has a list (because of course they do)
They didn’t have any problem calling him a liar when he said the election was stolen.
Regardless of whether or not that’s true, Trump has literally been found to be a liar in a court of law so there’s really no excuse with him in particular.
Also they shouldn’t do it unless they’re going to apply it to all politicians, like when Biden lied about seeing photos of beheaded babies in Israel.