libel

Examples of libel in the following topics:

• The Trial of Zenger

  • The Zenger Trial paved the way for freedom of the press in America by arguing that true statements could not be outlawed as libel.
  • During the trial, Hamilton appealed directly to the jury, claiming that the truth could not be defamatory, and therefore, Zenger could not be found guilty of libel.
  • – The exposing therefore of Publick Wickedness, as it is a Duty which every Man owes to the Truth and his Country, can never be a Libel in the Nature of Things?
  • – it has been hitherto generally understood, that there was no other Libels but those against Magistrates and those against private Men.
  • Now to me there seems to be a Third set of Libels, full as Destructive as any of the former can probably be, I mean Libels against the People. – I have indeed often wondered that the Inveighing against the Interest of the People, and calling their Liberty in Question?

• Freedom of Expression and its Limits

  • Although there remains much work to be done examining freedom of expression in the American colonies, historians generally agree that there were fewer prosecutions for seditious libel in the colonies than there were in England.
  • In 1734, Cosby issued a proclamation condemning the newspaper's "scandalous, virulent, false and seditious reflections," and in November, Zenger was arrested and charged with seditious libel.
  • In the trial, Hamilton appealed directly to the jury, claiming that the truth could not be defamatory, and therefore, Zenger could not be found guilty of libel.
  • Although the judge dismissed this claim entirely, Hamilton persuaded the jury to disregard the laws on libel in favor of this concept—an argument that convinced the jury to return a verdict of "not guilty. " Therefore, not only did the Zenger Trial result in a remarkable instance of jury nullification, but it also established a precedent for protecting the freedom of the press in the American courts.

• The Rise of Adversarial Journalism

  • Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254) ended most libel protection recourse for public figures in the United States effectively clearing the way for intrusive or adversarial reportage into the public or private affairs of public figures by news media outlets whether newspapers, TV or radio.
  • Public figures could no longer sue for libel, regardless of the bias of news media, without proof that the media had acted maliciously.

• Gatekeeping

  • Censorship occurs for a variety of reasons including national security; to control obscenity, child pornography, and hate speech; to protect children; to promote or restrict political or religious views; to prevent slander and libel; and to protect intellectual property.