A CNN employee said the network may be losing a high-profile defamation case this week, but that’s not stopping it from leaving its mark.

“Being found responsible for defamation and dishonesty is a bad thing,” the employee said bluntly in a message to Fox News Digital.

Navy veteran Zachary Young successfully sued CNN for defaming him by suggesting he profited illegally while helping people flee Afghanistan on the “black market” during the war. Biden administration’s Withdraw troops from the country in 2021. Yang believes CNN has “ruined his reputation and business” by labeling him an illegal profiteer exploiting “desperate Afghans” in a Nov. 11, 2021, report that first appeared on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” Broadcast in “.

After more than two weeks of a chaotic trial in Florida, a jury awarded Yang $4 million in lost earnings and $1 million in personal damages, and found that CNN was entitled to punitive damages. CNN and Yang reached a settlement before a jury could rule on the latter amount.

Zachary Young spoke to Fox News Digital after winning his lawsuit against CNN. (Joseph A. Wolfson/Fox News Digital; Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Jury finds CNN defamed Navy veteran, settles for punitive damages

Later, Young said he felt “vindicated.”

“It’s been a long three years and to be able to get the outcome we wanted, which was a public defence, is an incredible feeling and I’m glad it’s over and we don’t have to spend any more time and money To argue. “About the meaning of a word,” Yang told. fox news numbers on Friday.

Although media coverage was minimal at first, as the trial concluded, the case attracted more mainstream media attention, and Friday’s verdict was widely reported.

Yang’s legal team obtained internal CNN information by uncovering multiple instances of staffers expressing hostility toward the Navy veteran.

Among those put before the jury, one called him a “jerk” and a “jerk” and another said he had a “punchable face.” also revealed Alex MarquardtThe CNN reporter who anchored the story told a colleague, “We’re going to nail this Zachary Young MF—uh,” a line that was quoted multiple times during the case, and said the story would be “yours.” Funeral “Bucko,” mentioned Young in an exchange with a colleague.

A CNN spokesperson said the network would learn “useful lessons” from the case.

CNN reporter Katie Bo Lillis was grilled on the witness stand over messages she sent to U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young, the plaintiff in the case. Yang this week won a defamation lawsuit against the network. (Fox News Digital/Law & Crime; Jessica Costescu)

CNN Plaintiff in defamation trial celebrates ‘defense’ after court drama: ‘I’m glad it’s over’

CNN said in a statement after the settlement: “We remain proud of our journalists and are 100 percent committed to strong, fearless and fair reporting at CNN, although we will certainly learn useful lessons from this case. “

CNN employees told Fox News Digital that they believe the problems in CNN News coverage do not reflect cultural issues within the company.

“The messages are terrible … but I don’t think it’s an internet-wide culture issue,” they said. “In my opinion, this was an overzealous journalist – just someone who believed something was true and framed the information in that context… found information that supported that and was not critical Review your own conclusions carefully.”

They added that it comes at a time of low morale for the network, which is grappling with low ratings and Reports say layoffs to be madeand there doesn’t seem to be any internal “unity” behind the flag.

A spokesperson responded to reports about CNN’s financial health, calling it “very healthy,” noting Report Parent company Warner Bros. Discovery is investing more than $70 million in its digital transformation.

Another CNN insider told Fox Digital News Those private messages All that was found was “the damned stuff.”

Plaintiff Zachary Young has accused CNN of defaming him by suggesting he illegally profited from a “black market” by helping people flee Afghanistan during the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. Young won the lawsuit. (CNN/Screenshot)

CNN libel trial: Editor says story ‘full of holes like Swiss cheese’ grilled on witness stand

At another point in the trial, CNN senior national security editor Thomas Lumley was grilled as internal sources revealed he was highly skeptical of the “rather flawed” report. Lumley was called as a witness after internal sources revealed he believed the report was “full of holes like Swiss cheese.”

Another reporter involved in the story, Katie Bo Lillis, admitted that she did not consider how much the clip would affect Yang; the accuser said it damaged his reputation and his personal had a huge impact on life, Make him feel depressed and emasculated.

Several people at CNN also testified that they disagreed with the network’s decision to apologize in 2022 for suggesting that Yang was operating in the “black market.”

“A CNN reporter’s poor performance on the witness stand…exacerbated the impact of Young v. CNN,” The Washington Post’s Eric Wemple wrote. “They stuttered during questioning; they failed to defend their choice of keywords; and in some cases, as in Lilith’s case, they seemed ignorant of the impact of their vast networks, which cover reaching more than 70 million households in the United States.”

One former CNN staffer who still works in the industry told reporters: “CNN should be deeply embarrassed that despite layers of editorial staff, they are unable to perform basic journalistic functions and overcome the role of overpaid, arrogant TV stars. Clear dysfunction between reporters and cowardly editors.” Fox News Digital.

U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young wept on the witness stand during his libel trial against CNN. (Jessica Costescu)

CNN’s media arm gave little coverage of the case. Media reporter Hadas King Published a short article Chief media analyst Brian Stelter briefly mentioned the verdict in Friday’s Reliable Sources newsletter, in addition to the Jan. 6 start of the trial. This result. CNN has not yet reported the results, according to Grabien’s search. Proceedings or jury verdicts are being broadcast.

After the case, Yang told Fox News Digital that he had no animosity toward the network but did hope CNN and other media organizations could learn from the experience.

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“I hope they take this as an opportunity to look in the mirror and realize that there’s room for change and improvement, and if this is the outcome for CNN, then maybe other outlets can see that as a positive thing,” he said.