ABSTRACT
One of the challenges for beginning news reporters is to avoid libel and defamation when writing news stories. This chapter provides an overview of legal pitfalls facing journalists, broadcasters, and public relations practitioners and explains the media regulatory environment for each. Topics include: reporters’ right of access in newsgathering; definitions of libel and defamation, with examples; qualified and absolute privilege; definitions of public and private figures; privacy; the free press-fair trial debate; using the Freedom of Information Act; and broadcast regulation. The chapter ends with a listing of notable free speech and press decisions by the Supreme Court and concludes that, while speech and publication is at times hateful or obnoxious, it is the price we pay for liberty.
