Media Laws and Ethics (Part 3)

Summary

This video script delves into media ethics, highlighting the prevalence of envelope journalism and its impact on journalistic integrity. It discusses the National Press Club's code of ethics for Filipino journalists and the importance of being a fair and objective watchdog in society. The script also outlines the limitations to press freedom, including libel, anti-obscenity laws, invasion of privacy, national security, contempt of court, and copyright law, emphasizing the balance between freedom of the press and the protection of individual rights.

Takeaways

• 💼 Envelop journalism is a common unethical practice where money is given to journalists to sway or silence their reporting.
• 📰 The National Press Club in the Philippines has a code of ethics that journalists are expected to follow to maintain integrity.
• 📜 The code of ethics for Filipino journalists includes responsibilities such as fair reporting, respecting confidentiality, and not letting personal interests influence their work.
• 🚫 Press freedom is not absolute and is limited by laws such as libel, anti-obscenity, invasion of privacy, national security, contempt of court, and copyright.
• ✍️ Libel is defined as a public and malicious imputation that can harm the reputation of an individual or entity.
• 📈 The discussion highlights that online libel is a growing concern and is treated similarly to traditional libel under the law.
• 🏛️ Regional trial courts have jurisdiction over libel cases, not municipal trial courts.
• 📅 The statute of limitations for filing a libel case is one year from the date of publication of the allegedly libelous material.
• 🔑 The essential elements of libel include a defamatory imputation, public publication, malicious intent, and identifiability of the person defamed.
• 🛡️ Defenses to libel include fair comment, apology or retraction, truth with good motives and justifiable ends, and self-defense against a prior libel.

Q & A

What is the definition of 'envelop journalism' mentioned in the script?

Envelope journalism refers to the practice where a sum of money, usually placed in an envelope, is given by officials to journalists to either slant a story in their favor or to silence the reporter from writing about certain issues.

What was the outcome of the investigation conducted by the National Press Club after Beth Pango's expose?

The investigation conducted by the National Press Club did not yield any results as some witnesses refused to cooperate, leading to the probe being called off.

What is the primary duty of journalists as stated in the NPC code of ethics?

The primary duty of journalists, as stated in the NPC code of ethics, is to scrupulously report and interpret the news without suppressing essential facts or distorting the truth.

What are the six major limitations to press freedom mentioned in the script?

The six major limitations to press freedom mentioned are libel, anti-obscenity law, invasion of privacy, law on national security, contempt of court, and copyright law.

What is libel and how does it relate to media ethics?

Libel is defined as a public and malicious imputation of a crime, vice, defect, or any act tending to cause disorder, discredit, or contempt towards a person or entity. It relates to media ethics as journalists must avoid making false and damaging statements about individuals or organizations to maintain their integrity and adhere to ethical standards.

According to the script, what is considered as an invasion of privacy in media?

Invasion of privacy in media includes unauthorized access to or disclosure of personal information that an individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as unauthorized access to communications or revealing private details about an individual without their consent.

What is the role of journalists as described in the script in relation to the government?

Journalists serve as the fourth estate, acting as a watchdog of society and fiscalizer alongside the other three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. They must be fair, objective, and not corrupted.

What is the legal time limit for filing a libel case as per the script?

The legal time limit for filing a libel case is one year from the date the alleged libelous article was published.

What are the four essential elements of libel as discussed in the script?

The four essential elements of libel are: the imputation must be defamatory, the imputation must be made public, the imputation must be malicious, and the person defamed must be identifiable.

What are some defenses against a libel charge as mentioned in the script?

Defenses against a libel charge include fair comment on qualifications of candidates for public office, apology or retraction, rectification or clarification, truth with good motives and justifiable ends, and self-defense.

Outlines

00:00

📰 Media Ethics and Envelop Journalism

This paragraph discusses the concept of media ethics, particularly focusing on the issue of 'envelop journalism,' which refers to the practice of giving money to journalists for biased reporting or to silence them. It mentions a specific case where Beth Pango, a congressional reporter, exposed the alleged bribery of journalists during a hearing involving a former trade and industry secretary. The expose led to an investigation by the National Press Club, which was eventually halted due to uncooperative witnesses. The paragraph also outlines the Code of Ethics for Filipino Journalists, emphasizing the importance of truthful reporting, respecting confidentiality, and maintaining professional integrity.

05:01

🏛️ Limits to Press Freedom

The second paragraph delves into the limitations of press freedom in a democratic society like the Philippines. It highlights that freedom of the press is not absolute and is subject to restrictions to protect individual privacy and public safety. The paragraph lists six major limitations: libel, anti-obscenity law, invasion of privacy, national security, contempt of court, and copyright law. Each limitation is briefly explained, providing examples of how press freedom can be curtailed under these circumstances.

10:03

📖 Defamation and Press Freedom

Paragraph three continues the discussion on press freedom by focusing on defamation, specifically libel. It defines libel and explains how it can be committed through various means, including online platforms. The paragraph also touches on the concept of slander, which is oral defamation. The discussion serves to illustrate how defamation laws can limit press freedom by holding publishers and journalists accountable for false and damaging statements.

15:05

🏢 Libel: Punishments and Regional Trial Courts

This paragraph addresses the legal aspects of libel, including the designated courts (regional trial courts) that handle libel cases. It outlines the rules for determining the venue for such cases, which can be based on the location of the publication or the residence of the offended party. The paragraph also discusses the statute of limitations for libel, which is one year from the date of publication, after which no legal action can be taken. Additionally, it lists the essential elements of libel, such as defamation, public imputation, malicious intent, and identifiability of the person defamed.

20:06

🚨 Elements and Examples of Libel

Paragraph five provides a deeper dive into the elements that constitute libel, offering examples for each. It explains that an imputation must be defamatory, meaning it must harm the reputation of an individual or entity. The paragraph gives instances of imputation of crimes, vices, defects, acts, missions, conditions, status, or circumstances that could be considered defamatory. It also emphasizes that for libel to occur, the imputation must be made public, even if it's just to a third party, not widely circulated.

25:08

🛡️ Defenses to Libel

The final paragraph discusses potential defenses against libel charges. It mentions fair comment on qualifications of public office candidates, apology or retraction, rectification or clarification, truth with good motives and justifiable ends, and self-defense. The paragraph clarifies that while truth is a defense, it must be accompanied by good intentions and proper purpose. It also notes that self-defense must be relevant and not exceed the bounds of what is legally permissible in response to a libelous imputation. The paragraph concludes with a general invitation for questions or comments, indicating the end of the discussion on media laws and ethics.

Keywords

💡Ethics

Ethics refers to the moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity. In the context of the video, ethics is a central theme, particularly in discussing how journalists should act responsibly and with integrity. The video mentions the Code of Ethics for Filipino Journalists, emphasizing the need for journalists to report truthfully and without bias.

💡Envelope Journalism

Envelope Journalism is a term used to describe the unethical practice where journalists accept bribes, often in the form of an envelope containing money, to slant news coverage in favor of the payer or to suppress certain stories. The video script mentions this practice as an example of unethical behavior within the media industry.

💡Constitutional Provisions

Constitutional Provisions refer to the rights and protections granted by a country's constitution. The video discusses how these provisions affect the media, particularly in terms of freedom of the press. An example from the script is the discussion on how the constitution provides for freedom of the press but also places limits on this freedom.

💡Libel

Libel is a legal term referring to a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation. The video script delves into the definition of libel, its consequences, and how it is treated under the law. It is presented as one of the major limitations to press freedom.

💡Anti-Obscenity Law

Anti-Obscenity Law pertains to legislation that prohibits the dissemination of obscene materials. In the video, this law is mentioned as a limitation to press freedom, where the script gives an example of a publication that could be considered obscene and thus受限 under this law.

💡Invasion of Privacy

Invasion of Privacy refers to the unethical or illegal intrusion into someone's private life without permission. The video discusses this as a limitation to press freedom, emphasizing that journalists must respect the privacy of individuals even while exercising their right to free speech.

💡National Security

National Security is the state of being protected from threats to a country's safety. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a reason that could limit press freedom. The script explains that publications that incite sedition or rebellion can be penalized under national security laws.

💡Contempt of Court

Contempt of Court refers to any behavior that interferes with the judicial process. The video script mentions this as a limitation to press freedom, where publications that impede the administration of justice can be considered in contempt.

💡Copyright Law

Copyright Law is the body of law that protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. The video script discusses how this law can limit press freedom by protecting intellectual property and preventing unauthorized use of copyrighted material.

💡Code of Ethics for Filipino Journalists

The Code of Ethics for Filipino Journalists is a set of guidelines that journalists in the Philippines are expected to follow to ensure responsible and ethical reporting. The video script quotes this code, emphasizing the duties of journalists to report accurately, respect confidentiality, and avoid conflicts of interest.

💡Freedom of the Press

Freedom of the Press is the right to communicate and publish opinions, ideas, and information without censorship or restraint by the government. The video script discusses this concept, highlighting that while the press has constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression, this freedom is not absolute and is subject to certain limitations.

Highlights

Introduction to the topic of media ethics, focusing on the excesses of media and constitutional provisions affecting it.

Definition and discussion of envelope journalism, a practice where money is given to journalists for favorable coverage or silencing.

Real-life example of envelope journalism involving Beth Pango and the exposure of bribery during a congressional hearing.

The National Press Club's investigation into the bribery allegations and the subsequent lack of cooperation from witnesses.

Violation of the NPC's Code of Ethics for Filipino Journalists by journalists accepting bribes.

Full text of the Code of Ethics for Filipino Journalists, emphasizing truthful reporting, fair methods, and maintaining dignity.

The role of journalists as watchdogs of society and the importance of being fair, objective, and not corrupted.

Limitations to press freedom, including libel, anti-obscenity law, invasion of privacy, national security, contempt of court, and copyright law.

Explanation of libel, its definition, and how it can be committed through various means including online.

The penalties for libel and the role of the Regional Trial Court in trying libel cases.

Venue rules for filing libel cases and the one-year prescription period for the crime of libel.

Essential elements of libel, including the need for a defamatory imputation, public publication, malicious intent, and identifiability of the person defamed.

Examples of defamatory imputations, such as crimes, vices, defects, acts, missions, conditions, or circumstances that discredit a person.

The importance of public publication in libel cases and how it extends beyond wide circulation to any third-party communication.

Defenses to libel, including fair comment, apology, retraction, truth with good motives, self-defense, and the limitations of self-defense in libel cases.

Conclusion of the discussion on media laws and ethics, encouraging further questions and engagement.

Transcripts

[Music]

good day everyone and welcome to media

laws

and ethics last time we talked about the

excesses of media

the constitutional provisions affecting

the media

and now we will talk about ethics the

question of ethics

okay envelopmental journalism is now

common to those within the profession

and outside

this refers to a sum of money usually

placed in an envelope given by someone

scrupulous officials to some equally

unscrupulous newspaper men

the purpose of this gift is either to

have a story with a slant in his favor

to be written and published or

to silence the reporter or keep him from

writing about certain things that he

knew some years back

beth pango a congressional reporter for

the inquirer

wrote an expose about a paiola pango

said that during the hearing of a house

committee looking into alleged

participation of former trade and

industry secretary jose concepcion

in the luzon petrochemical deal some of

his aides

allegedly passed one thousand pesos in

crisp

100 peso bill to newsmen covering the

hearing

the expose created steer in media circle

and prompted the national press club to

conduct an investigation

after a series of closed door hearings

nothing came out of the case

npc officials explained that some of the

witnesses

refused to cooperate so that the probe

had to be called off

if the same is true those news men who

took the money have violated the npc

promulgated code of ethics for filipino

journalists

the following ladies and gentlemen is

the full text of

the code i shall scrupulously report and

interpret the news taking care not to

suppress

essential facts nor to distort the truth

by

emission or improper emphasis i

recognize the duty to air

the other side and the duty to correct

substantive errors promptly

i shall not violate confidential

information

and material given me in the exercise of

my calling

i shall resort only to fair and honest

methods in my effort to obtain news

photographs and documents

and shall properly identify myself as a

representative

of the press when obtaining any personal

interview

intended for publication i shall refrain

from writing reports which shall

adversely affect

a private reputation unless the public

interest

justifies it at the same time i shall

fight

vigorously for public access to

information

as provided for in the constitution i

shall not let personal motives or

interest

influence me in the performance of my

duties

nor shall i accept any offer any present

gift or other consideration of the

nature which may

cast doubt in my professional integrity

i shall not commit any act of plagiarism

i shall not in any manner ridicule

cast aspersions on or degrade

any person by reason of sex creed

religious belief political conviction

cultural

and ethnic origin i shall presume

persons accused of crime of being

innocent until proven otherwise

i shall exercise caution in publishing

names of minors and women involved in

criminal cases

so that they may not adjust they lose

their standing

in society i shall not take unfair

advantage

of a fellow journalist i shall accept

only some tasks

as are compatible with the integrity and

dignity

of my profession invoking the conscience

clause

when duties imposed on me conflict with

the voice of my conscience

i shall comport myself in public or

while performing my duties as

journalists

in such manner as to maintain the

dignity of my profession

when in doubt decency should be my

watchword

when you are in your practice ladies and

gentlemen we should be guided

by those principles

enunciated in the code of ethics for

filipino

journalists we should not lose sight of

the primary goal of journalists

and that is to be watchdog of

the society we are considered to be the

fourth

estate wherein we serve as the

fiscalizer

with the other three branches of the

government the executive

the legislative and the judiciary

so we have to be fair we have to be

objective we should not be

corrupted all right now in spite of the

constitutional guarantees freedom of the

press in a democratic society like what

we have in the philippines

has its own limits there's no absolute

freedom

in fact the same bill of rights which

guarantees our freedom of the press

provides that

the privacy of communication and

correspondence shall be invaluable

except upon lawful order of the court or

when public safety or order requires

otherwise as prescribed by law

this provision presupposes that even if

you enjoy

your freedom of the press you cannot pry

into the private communications of

another the state

has to protect other people's rights

okay

in the same way even if you have freedom

of speech you cannot just

freely say fire or there's a bomb here

in a crowd or in a movie house

or in a in an airport because the state

protects

other people's well-being your shout

could result in a panic

inside that movie house or inside

that airport as the case may be

now there are at least six major

limitations

to press freedom namely libel

anti-obscenity law invasion of privacy

law on national security contempt of

court

and the copyright law let's start off

with libel

libel is defined as a public and

malicious

imputation of a crime of a vice or

defect

real or imaginary or any act

a mission condition status or

circumstance

tending to cause disorder discredit or

contempt to a natural

or juridical person or to block in the

memory of one

who is dead the basis

of this is the revised penal code

and if you remember in the past we have

discussed that there is

also what we call online libel we will

extensively

discuss libel later on in our discussion

okay

we shall proceed now to the second

limitation

which is the anti-obscenity law these

are offenses against decency and good

costumes

and they are also penalized in the

revised penal code

this would include immoral doctrines

obscene publications or exhibitions and

indecent shows

publications or materials prohibited

under

under this law are those that tend to

glorify

criminals or condone them those that

serve no other purpose but satisfy the

market for violence

lust or pornography those that offend a

race or religion

abet trafficking and use or prohibited

drugs encourage

acts contrary to law public order morals

good customs established policies lawful

orders decrees

and ethics remember and cunning

anti-obscenity laws

ladies and gentlemen is something

offensive to chastity

decency and delicacy one example any

wherein a publication serve no other

purpose but to satisfy the market for

lust or pornography is say when

there's a picture of a man and a woman

having a corneal knowledge when you say

have your corneal knowledge having sex

okay and it will be published in a

newspaper and

there will be a caption and there will

be a story

out of that particular picture that is

a limitation to our press freedom

because

this serves no other purpose but for

lust no to satisfy the market for lust

and

that is not allowed

under the revised penal code okay

now on to the right of privacy we also

extensively discussed the right to

privacy so i will just

leave it at that and now on to the

law on national security under the

revised penal code any person who is

found to incite

people to sedition or rebellion or

commits acts that will endanger security

and safety of the state shall be

penalized when you say sedition

these are acts that are political in

social media

crime of the masses it happens when the

masses form into a vast

movement for the purpose of withdrawing

from the obedience of the government

laws territory deprivation of

the government the executive the

legislative to exercise their

prerogative

or function and this is basically a

political act okay some publications

that are considered seditious in the

past or the following

tend to incite others to sedition

constitutes corilous libels against the

government or against any of the

constituted authorities

then to disturb or obstruct any lawful

officer

executing the function of this office

then to instigate others to cable and

meet together for unlawful purposes

suggest or incite rebellious

conspiracies or

riots if you remember during the height

of the ecq a lot of cebuano individuals

were actually

arrested under the premise that they

were actually

inciting to sedition for posting

articles

or writing columns that would tend to

incite others to disobey

the lawful authority or to disobey the

orders of

the government next is contempt of court

judicial contempt may arise whether a

case is spending in court or not

when a case is spending the orderly

administration of justice is to be

protected

any improper conduct that tends to

directly or indirectly impede

obstruct or degrade the administration

of justice is

contempt of court a publication is

liable for contempt if it clearly shows

tendency to impede the administration of

justice

if it is directed toward the court and

is not a report of fair comment

upon an action before the court if it

takes place while the case is spending

or has not been decided yet

and lastly is the copyright law the

copyright law is designed to protect

intellectual property

applications for copyright can be filed

with the national

library and intellectual works that may

be copyrighted

include books periodicals lectures

dramatic

compositions maps etc etc

if a work is in

violation of the copyright law or if a

work is being infringed

the author of a particular work

or the original author of the work may

file

for an infringement proceedings and in

return

claim for damages

intellectual property okay

we now go to libel libel as earlier

discussed is a public and malicious

imputation of a crime or a vice or

defect

real or imaginary or any act

a mission condition status or

circumstance

tending to cause the disorder discredit

or contempt of a natural

or juridical person or to block in the

memory of

one who is dead now when you say public

kailangan okay

when you say imputation of a crime

result is to dishonor discredit

or contempt of a natural or juridical

person

when you say natural individuals we

persons here on earth able to walk able

to

see the light or stack

living living persons okay

when you say juridical persons these are

persons which are considered persons by

operation of law cunning corporations

partnerships okay they're considered to

be juridical persons

by fiction of law by operation of law

gita and personality okay

so if ever on university of the visayas

you will defame the university of the

visayas

you can be prosecuted for libel for

defaming

that judicial person and that is the

university of the visayas

also to bra to blacken the memory of one

who is dead

you can still be prosecuted for libel

okay

now what are the means by which libel is

committed

libel ladies and gentlemen may be

committed by means of writing

printing lithography engraving

radio pornograph painting

theatrical exhibition cinematographic

exhibition or any similar means

and remember the reigning suits any

similar means an

online libel can unlibel committed in

the internet

all right now when you say oral

defamation this is also a form of libel

though orally done and we call this as

slander okay slander ladies and

gentlemen

now you might ask my punishment

[Music]

the enjoyment ladies and gentlemen of a

private reputation

is as much a constitutional right as the

possession of life

liberty or property it is one of those

rights necessary

to human society that underlie the whole

scheme of civilization

the law recognizes the value of such

reputation and imposes upon him who

attacks it

by slanderous words or libelous

publication

the liability to make full compensation

for the damages

done all right now the question is asa

manify

unliable ladies and gentlemen the

regional trial court

has been specifically designated

to try a libel case it is not the

municipal trial court

but it is the regional trial court

now unto my venue a s

trial court a general rule anna ladies

and gentlemen is the action may be filed

in the rtc

of the province or city where the

libelous article is printed

and first published or were any of the

offended parties

actually reside at the time of the

commission

of the offence

if the offended party is a public

officer with office in manila at the

time the offense was committed

the venue is manila or the city or

province where the libelous article is

printed

and first published where an offended

party is a public official

with office outside of manila the venue

is the province

or the city where he held office at the

time of the commission of the offense

or where the libelous article is printed

and

published and lastly if definite party

is a private person

the venue is his place of residence at

the time of the commission of the

offense

or where the libelous is printed and

first

published the common feature of the

foregoing rules

is that whether the offended party is a

public officer a private person

he always has the option to file the

action

in the regional trial court of the

province or city

where the libelous article is printed or

first

published okay now you have to remember

that the crime of libel

prescribes in one year from the date the

alleged libelous article

was published example the alleged

libelous article was published today

october 15

2020 it prescribes in october 15

2021 so beyond october 15 2021

the offended party can no longer

institute a crime

for libel against you who allegedly

commits

that crime of libel okay so it

prescribes

in one year from the date the alleged

libelous article was published

all right now we move on to the

essential elements of light builder four

essential elements of libel namely

the imputation must be deathmatory the

imputation must be made public

the invitation must be malicious and the

person defamed must be

identifiable when can we say that the

imputation is defamatory it is

defamatory ladies and gentlemen when the

crime allegedly is committed by the

offended party

the vice or defect the real or imaginary

of the offended party is being imputed

upon in the libelous article

any act or mission condition status of

or circumstance

relating to the offended party which

tend to cause the disorder discredit or

contempt of a natural or juridical

person

or to broken the memory of one who is

dead those are the instances where in

an imputation may be considered as

defamatory

now what is an example of an imputation

of a crime example aniha

if there's an article that is published

and it portrays therein that the

offended party

was a swindler let's say

mayor juan de la cruz

and then he used that particular money

to construct a house

to the prejudice of all these

individuals

committed a crime of staff all right so

that particular instance is an

imputation of a crime ladies and

gentlemen

simply stated no comment imputation of a

crime

or crime okay that's an imputation of a

crime another example here is branding

somebody as having murdered his

brother-in-law

in reaching himself at the expense of

others who trusted him

calling one a bigamist and becoming rich

overnight

through questionable transactions and

influence peddling

winning in an election through

imputation of criminal acts tending to

cause dishonor discredit contempt

of the complainant these are just among

the examples

of an imputation of a crime

dominic

that is an imputation of a crime of

concubinage

so in this case c dominic can always

file for

libel on the basis nah there was a

defamatory

imputation over his person all right

now on to imputation of a vice or defect

whether it be real or imaginary

calling a barangay captain an ignoramus

is an imputation of a defect okay also

calling someone as one who grabs

another's husband

a flirt a temptress or one who indulges

in enticing others

husband that is also an imputation of a

defect because according to the supreme

court it does not necessarily mean

when you entice someone's husband you

become an

adult or adulteress as the case may be

okay so

in england supreme court in this case

that is just an imputation of a defect

or a vice whether it be real or

imaginary

now on to imputation of an act on a

mission or some example any

an article signed by the accused and

published in a newspaper

saying that the offended party used to

borrow money without intention of paying

that he had ordered the fixing of his

teeth without paying the fees for the

services rendered by the dentist

it contains an imputation of an act on a

mission which is defamatory ladies and

gentlemen

now imputation of condition status or

circumstance example is calling a person

a bastard or a leper

within the hearing of other persons is

defamatory

also writing and publishing an article

containing the words coward

vile soul dirty sucker savage hugg

who always looked toward the ground the

word fool or crazy becomes deformatory

if it is used to connote mental

aberration okay

the word also mankukulam is undoubtedly

an epithet of a

brion to say that complainant is a witch

in sorceress is to impute to her advice

a condition or a status that is

dishonorable and

contemptible this is the case of people

versus carmen

sario okay now you also have to remember

that one of the elements of libel is

that the imputation must be made public

okay

publication is the communication of the

defamatory matter to some third person

or persons

remember guys that libel is present not

only when it is widely circulated

but also when it is made known or

brought to the attention or notice of

another person

other than its author and the offended

party remembering abhisan pakusara

other than you and the offended party

that is already

libel there is already a publication of

that alleged libelous

publication okay so you have to remember

antibiotics

apart from the offended party and the

alleged person who committed libel

it's a certain libelous article that

already constitutes

publication ladies and gentlemen okay

now you have also to remember

that the person defamed must be

identifiable

in order to maintain a libel suit it is

essential that the victim be

identifiable da patna ilhan although it

is not necessary that he be

named guys

identifying

so as long as the third person can

identify

that the subject of that alleged

libelous publication

is that particular person that already

is considered to be

or that person is already concerned

considered to be

identifiable it is enough if by

intrinsic reference the allusion is

apparent

or if the publication contains matters

of description a reference to facts and

circumstance from which others reading

the article

may know that the plaintiff was intended

or if he is pointed out by extraneous

circumstances

so that persons knowing him could and

did understand

that he was the person referred to okay

so the good important thing up as long

as my identify

by some other people ladies and

gentlemen

last element is that the imputation must

be

malicious there must be an indication

ladies and gentlemen that the offender

is prompted by personal ill will or

spite

and speaks not in response to duty but

merely to endure the reputation

of the person defamed

there was malice in the publication

there are

however guys defenses to libel

usa is scanning fair comment on

qualifications of candidates of public

office

the mental the moral and the physical

fitness of candidates for public office

may be the object of comment and

criticism

the very fact of candidacy putting these

matters is issue

and the public having a right to be

informed as to the qualification of

those who seek

election and perhaps appointment to

public office

cunning apology or retraction and

retraction published to correct the

mistake

does not really wipe out the

responsibility arising from the

publication

of the libelous article or photograph as

the case may be

but it may mitigate the criminal

responsibility

also cannon rectification or

clarification this will also

not wipe out the responsibility arising

from the publication but

it will mitigate the criminal

responsibility

also we say that the truth is a defense

for libel but remember that the proof of

truth is not enough

it is always it is always required

that the matter charge as libelous was

published

not only on the basis of truth but with

good motives

and for justifiable ends okay

self-defense

is also a defense to justify once

hitting back with another libel

there must be a showing that he was

libel

okay i should not be prosecuted for

libel because it was only a self defense

amputation

imputation in order to properly post

this or interpose this as a defense

that was indeed first a libelous

imputation

against him or her okay

remember also that there's a limitation

to self-defense in libel

while a person may be legally justified

in defending himself

or his new relatives against libelous

articles nevertheless he may not use

offensive language against the libeler

and though a person may defend himself

from charges made against him he could

not make

against his library a counter-attack

which contains libelous statements not

pertinent to the matters charged and the

attack

if he does then he has exceeded his

privilege and the law shall give him no

protection so that ladies and gentlemen

concludes our discussion in media laws

and ethics i hope you learned something

from this

if you have questions feel free to

contact me

send a private message to my messenger

or comment down below

thank you very much