Panama City, Florida – Longtime CNN journalist Fuzz Hogan has remained challenging the controversial report in the midst of a A high-stakes defamation trial It was examined by plaintiff's attorney Zachary Young.
Young, a US Navy veteran, claims CNN defamed him in a November 2021 report that first aired on “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” suggesting he illegally took advantage of desperate people trying to escape. From Afghanistan in the aftermath of the war. Biden administration Military withdrawal, meaning he would become involved in “black market” dealings and have his professional reputation destroyed as a result.
Hogan, who at the time of the report was a senior editor at CNN, testified that the story he approved did not include any mention of the term “black market.” But he later said he believed the description was “accurate” in the context of the chaos that erupted in Afghanistan and denied there was a “negative connotation” to the term.
CNN journalist Voz Hogan denied there was a “negative connotation” to the term “black market” to describe the financial dealings of US Navy veteran Zachary Young, in a report aired on “The Lead with Jake Tapper.” (CNN/screenshot)
He claimed he was unaware of the apology made on air in March 2022, months after the report aired, by CNN anchor Pamela Brown, who replaced “The Lead” host Jake Tapper.
“In November, we published a story about Afghans desperate to flee the country and facing exorbitant payments beyond the means of ordinary Afghans. The story included a preface and a banner throughout the story referring to the ‘black market.’” “The use of the term was The “black market” in the story is wrong. The story included a report on Zachary Young.”
“We did not mean to suggest that Mr. Young participated in the black market,” she continued. “We regret this error and apologize to Mr. Young.”
Longtime CNN journalist Fuzz Hogan said he was not aware the network had apologized for its reporting on Zachary Young but insisted an apology was not necessary. (Fox News Digital/Law & Crime)
After watching the clip in court, Hogan said he disagreed that CNN should have apologized, which he repeatedly referred to as a “correction.”
“I don't think a correction is necessary,” Hogan said, later adding that he stood by the on-air report and calling CNN's online report “very good.”
Young lawyer Joe Delish pulled down Hogan's internal CNN communications with digital editor Tom Lumley, who criticized reporter Alex Marquardt's reporting on the story as “not poetry in any way.”
“I just want to post something to defuse some of the drama. I also think it's half a good story,” Lumley wrote. “We should have moved on and talked about it more. Or he should have.”
“Right,” Hogan responded to Lumley. “It sounds like a good character but we're only half way there.”
When asked if he would agree to publish a story that he felt was “only three-quarters”, Hogan replied: “Every story could be longer.”
He went on to say that he was not concerned that “The Lead” report aired too early or was incomplete.
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Hogan said he disagreed with CNN's decision to air the apology, which was delivered by anchor Pamela Brown. (Screenshot/CNN)
Delish also pulled communications showing Hogan calling Young a “sh–“, something Hogan has on the witness stand. Delic later emphasized the context of the exchange during his questioning of a CNN journalist, which Hogan asserted was in response to comments Young made to potential agents in which he accused him of overpromising protection to those stranded in Afghanistan. Hogan denied CNN reports that were intended to harm Young.
Later, when asked directly whether he would change anything regarding CNN's reporting on Young, Hogan replied: “No.”
After CNN aired the controversial report, Hogan was promoted as one of the network's heads of standards and practices. According to his LinkedIn page, Hogan says he is “responsible for ensuring that CNN's reporting on television and online meets the network's standards for accuracy, fairness and balance.”
Hogan called US Navy veteran Zachary Young a “st” in internal CNN communications leading up to the controversial on-air report. (Jessica Costescu)
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Hogan was the first CNN employee to testify. Marquardt, the reporter who led the CNN segment at the heart of the libel case, is expected to testify on Monday.
The trial is broadcast live Fox News Digital.
