Two former newsroom executives of a Nexstar Media Group-owned television station in Michigan were awarded nearly $2 million each after they sued the broadcaster for defamation and invasion of privacy in connection with their firings three years ago.
The executives, former WOOD-TV (Channel 8, NBC) News Director Stanton Tang and his Assistant News Director Amy Fox, claimed Nexstar and some of its executives violated their privacy rights under state law when they broadcaster confirmed details of their firings to reporters at other news outlets, including CNN journalist Liam Reilly. The jury also awarded exemplary damages to both former employees.
Fox is walking away with the largest amount of money, with the jury awarding her $2.393 million in her case. Tang was awarded a smaller sum of $1.683 million, according to court records.
Both cases were heard simultaneously in court. The jury rejected allegations of defamation against Nexstar made by both executives.
The litigation originated from a June 2023 memo that Fox wrote at Tang’s direction, raising concerns about WOOD-TV’s coverage of Pride Month events in the Grand Rapids area.
The memo urged journalists to consider whether individual Pride Month celebrations warranted news coverage and encouraged reporters to seek opposing viewpoints when covering LGBTQ-related issues.
Tang was concerned that extensive coverage could alienate conservative viewers, including some members of his church, according to court records.
Journalists at WOOD-TV strongly objected to the guidance, interpreting it as an effort to restrict coverage of LGBTQ events. Some employees refused to follow the directive. The memo was initially obtained by the website FTV Live. The Desk subsequently published the full document, bringing wider attention to the controversy.
Nexstar launched an internal investigation and fired Tang, Fox and two other employees several weeks later.
In lawsuits filed the following year, Tang and Fox alleged that Nexstar unfairly portrayed them as anti-LGBTQ and improperly disclosed information about their employment discipline.
Their attorney, Nancy Temple, argued that the memo did not prohibit coverage of Pride Month events but instead called for more thoughtful editorial decisions. The former executives also maintained that station management initially considered the memo consistent with corporate policy before changing its position following public criticism.
Nexstar disputed those allegations and maintained that the memo violated its editorial standards. The broadcaster publicly apologized to the LGBTQ community and its viewers following the controversy, saying the memo was inconsistent with the company’s values and approach to journalism.
Nexstar also argued that Tang and Fox had lost the confidence of their newsroom and allowed personal viewpoints to influence editorial decisions. The case proceeded to trial after earlier settlement discussions failed to produce an agreement.
In a statement sent by e-mail to The Desk, a spokesperson for Nexstar said it was considering an appeal.
“We thank the Court and the members of the jury for their time and attention to this case,” the spokesperson said. “We are pleased that the jury found in Nexstar’s favor on the central defamation claim. However, we strongly disagree with other aspects of the verdict, which we believe are inconsistent with the facts and the governing law. We will pursue all legal options, including an appeal.”
Tang now works for a Christian-format radio station in Michigan. In court records filed earlier this year, Fox said she has accepted mostly low-paying positions, including a $23,400 job working for a local non-profit.
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