ABC inks new deal with George Stephanopoulos as anchor cost network millions in Trump defamation suit

Fox News - Dec 18th, 2024
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ABC News has signed a new contract with anchor George Stephanopoulos shortly after settling a $15 million defamation lawsuit with President-elect Donald Trump. The lawsuit originated from Stephanopoulos's incorrect remarks on his show, claiming Trump was found 'liable for rape' instead of 'sexual abuse,' as determined by a jury. The settlement involves ABC making a charitable contribution and covering Trump's legal fees. Despite initial reports of behind-the-scenes drama and speculation about Stephanopoulos's future at ABC, the network extended his contract. The timing of the settlement and contract extension is said to be coincidental. ABC News faced criticism from several liberal media outlets for the settlement.

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RATING

5.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents a detailed account of a legal and professional situation involving ABC News and George Stephanopoulos. While it is informative, it shows signs of bias, lacks comprehensive source citations, and could benefit from clearer context and structure.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article appears to be mostly accurate in reporting the key events and outcomes related to the lawsuit and contract extension. However, it lacks direct citations or links to the original lawsuit documents or official statements from ABC News, which would enhance its factual accuracy and verifiability.

5
Balance

The article leans towards a critical perspective of ABC News and George Stephanopoulos, as evidenced by the choice of quotes and the framing of events. It does not thoroughly explore multiple viewpoints or provide responses from all parties involved, which impacts its balance.

6
Clarity

The article is generally clear but could be better structured. It jumps between different aspects of the story without smooth transitions, which can confuse readers. Additionally, emotive language and terms like 'liberal anchor' and 'bending the knee' affect the neutrality of the tone.

5
Source quality

The article references reports from Variety and The Los Angeles Times but does not provide direct quotes or detailed citations. The primary sources of information are not fully disclosed, and the article relies heavily on unnamed 'network insiders,' which affects its credibility.

4
Transparency

The article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or affiliations. It lacks transparency regarding the sources of information, and there is no mention of attempts to reach out to key figures for comments, except for a general statement about ABC News not responding.