Several CNN staffers testify against network's on-air apology ordered by legal department during defamation trial.

Several CNN staffers who testified in the network's high-profile defamation trial against plaintiff Zachary Young criticized the on-air apology the outlet offered to him.

A U.S. Navy veteran, who is young, claims that CNN defamed him in a November 2021 report on "The Lead with Jake Tapper," accusing him of profiting off people trying to escape Afghanistan after the Biden administration's withdrawal, suggesting he was involved in "black market" activities, and damaging his professional reputation.

In March 2022, CNN issued an apology following a legal threat from Young, who later claimed he was unaware that an apology had been given.

In November, we published an article about Afghans struggling to escape the country and facing exorbitant fees. The article contained a lead-in and banner that mentioned a "black market." However, the use of the term "black market" in the article was incorrect. The article also featured reporting on Zachary Young.

"We did not mean to imply that Mr. Young was involved in the black market. We are sorry for the mistake and offer our sincere apologies to him."

On Friday, Fuzz Hogan, a longtime CNN journalist and senior editor, stated that he disagreed with the network's decision to apologize for a report, which he consistently referred to as a "correction."

"Hogan initially believed that the correction was not required, but later stated that he supports the on-air report and considers CNN's online version to be satisfactory."

On Monday, Alex Marquardt, a CNN correspondent who led the report against Young, stated that while he didn't believe an apology was necessary, he was content with CNN's decision to do so.

He agreed with the accuracy of the term in describing the chaotic scene in Afghanistan, as Hogan had also expressed in his testimony.

On Tuesday, three other CNN staffers expressed their opposition to the on-air apology in recorded video depositions that were presented to the jury.

CNN producer Michael Conte replied "not necessarily" when asked about agreeing with the apology.

"Conte initially stated that he was unsure if the use of the term 'black market' was an error, but later clarified that he did not believe it was an error."

CNN's executive vice president of editorial, Virginia Moseley, stated that she did not participate in the on-air apology and when asked if she agreed with it, she responded, "In general, I don't."

"I don't agree with the correction because I don't have a negative connotation of 'black market,' as we discussed earlier. I'm not sure if I would agree with it because I don't consider 'black market' to have a negative connotation. Therefore, I wouldn't agree with the correction," Moseley said.

Michael Callahan, CNN's supervising producer, explained to Young's legal team that he views the "black market" as an "unregulated market" and how this definition applies to the situation being reported in Afghanistan.

CNN's senior vice president of Washington newsgathering, Adam Levine, was the only staffer to offer a defense of the on-air apology, largely mirroring the stance of the network's legal department.

According to Levine, the error occurred because Mr. Young and his attorney, Vel Freedman, believed that Mr. Young felt that the situation was received that way, and they disagreed with that interpretation. To resolve the legal discussion, the legal department felt that a correction was necessary, or at least that's what they believed.

Levine admitted that the apology was given to avoid a lawsuit from Young, but evaded answering whether CNN believed Young's concern was valid enough to warrant an apology.

"Levine stated that the decision made was for legal reasons and was issued under the direction of the legal department. CNN believes that the legal department's decision was the right one for the company."

The trial resumes on Wednesday and will stream live on Planet Chronicle Digital.