Tbf - they do this because of a rule that is actually very important. Basically news media can’t say that a person did a crime until they’re convicted of that crime - otherwise it’s libel (or slander, I can never remember which is which)
That’s important because otherwise the media can basically just have unilateral control over the court of public opinion. People already rarely read past headlines, imagine if news headlines could just declare someone guilty with impunity.
It always seems silly in these cases - and in similar cases where the defendant has basically already admitted to doing it - but it’s actually an important rule in my eyes
Tbf - they do this because of a rule that is actually very important. Basically news media can’t say that a person did a crime until they’re convicted of that crime - otherwise it’s libel (or slander, I can never remember which is which)
That’s important because otherwise the media can basically just have unilateral control over the court of public opinion. People already rarely read past headlines, imagine if news headlines could just declare someone guilty with impunity.
It always seems silly in these cases - and in similar cases where the defendant has basically already admitted to doing it - but it’s actually an important rule in my eyes
No, you’re right. Libel is written, slander is verbal. Thanks J Jonah Jamison.
just remember “libel” starts like “library”
How I always remember
From one J. Jonah Jameson