JOUA06H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Libel Tourism, Punitive Damages, Usenet Newsgroup
Document Summary
Chapter 4 defamation: how to beat libel chill. It can be an attack on personal ethics, motives, competence, trustworthiness or morality, or a statement that a person is solvent or financially irresponsible: but an insult or abusive comment isn"t necessarily defamatory. If gone to trial, a judge or jury decides the outcome. It"s not a defence for a writer or media outlet to claim they don"t have an intention to defame (same goes with the plaintiff) It"s also important to ensure information that challenges or refutes a defamatory allegation is given prominence: quotations that offset the defamatory sting should be given prominence in a journalists work (will help offset) Libel and slander: slander (came first) and deals with verbal comments or attacks on the character of another person. If the target of a criminal allegation sues, the media outlet must produce the evidence needed to substantiate the allegation.
