Libel and other defamations e-learning course

Libel and other defamations

With the growth in media comes increased risk of libel and defamation, so this up-to-the-minute course is ideal for anyone writing for print or digital media. With a step-by-step approach it covers all the essential elements of libel and defamation law as it applies in English and Welsh law, as well as any material published on the internet. With quizzes to test your knowledge as you progress, by the end of this course you’ll know how to sidestep this easily avoidable and highly expensive risk!

Introduction to libel

Libel: a balance of rights

The right to freedom of speech and the right to defend reputation

Who is involved?

- The claimant

- The defendant

Definitions of libel

What defines the meaning of a piece

Where it all started and what it now covers

Which part of the law does it form part of?

Where and who is involved

The sequence for a libel action

What the claimant has to prove

Identity, published, defamed

Who can and can’t sue

Knowing whether something is sufficiently published or not

Thinking about the right-minded reader

What a barrister could make of it

What the claimant doesn’t have to prove

What’s the difference in the USA?

How long does a claimant have?

It’s all a question of reputation

The five main defences

Justification

Watching for the three As

The three levels of justifying an accusation

Fair comment

Clearly distinguish between facts and comment

What aren’t defences

Privilege

Being accurate and in context

The Reynolds defence

Doing a good job of reporting

Reportage

Reviewing

Consent

Procedures for defence

Negotiations

Payments into court

The four levels of damages

Other defamations

How they fit into defamation

Malicious falsehood

What it is

What the claimant has to prove

Slander

What it is and what media it covers

The defences

Criminal libel

Examples and defences

Exercises and quizzes

To check your understanding of the theory, during this e-learning course you will be quizzed on libel; what the claimant has to prove; defences and other defamations.

Top tips and checklists

Handy tips and checklists provided at key stages of the course. These cover vital topics including: knowing who is litigious in the subjects you are covering; identity; juxtaposition; what would the reader think; international comparisons; taking care with headlines; what to do if you get a complaint; what to do to avoid other defamations.