The price of accuracy in food reporting is a minimum of $177 million. ABC News’ parent company Disney is cutting a check to Beef Products Inc. for at least $177 million because its reporters chose hyperbole and embellishment over accuracy in their reporting.  ABC called it an “amicable” settlement because if it had gone to the jury the network would have been on the hook for $1.9 billion.  Let’s revisit the definition of amicable.

• am·i·ca·ble: adjective (of relations between people) having a spirit of friendliness; without serious disagreement or rancor.

Sure. Almost $200 million dollars’ worth of newsroom mistakes later ABC and Beef Products Inc. are collaborating in the spirit of friendliness, without serious disagreement or rancor.

This case is a stark reminder to reporters. You can put a price on accuracy.