Fox News has been fined $1 million for “human rights violations,” specifically relating to sexual harassment and job retaliation. The New York City Commission on Human Rights has fined the news organization in an ongoing investigation.
Carmelyn Malalis, chair and commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights, released a statement following the fine announcement. “With this settlement, the Commission not only ordered the largest civil penalty in the Commission’s history but has mandated dramatic and critical policy changes at Fox News Network,” Malalis said.
Fox News also released a statement in response to the fine. “We are pleased to reach an amicable resolution of this legacy matter… FOX News Media has already been in full compliance across the board, but cooperated with the New York City Commission on Human Rights to continue enacting extensive preventive measures against all forms of discrimination and harassment.”
As part of the settlement, Fox News is required to give comprehensive sexual harassment training for all New York-based staff. The news organization will also “forgo mandatory arbitration over city human rights claims with its employees for the next four years and submit to quarterly reviews by the commission for two years.”
The investigation into Fox News began in 2017 after claims of rampant abuse by CEO Roger Ailes came to light. The Ailes case was the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Bombshell.
