Media Law Synthesis and Reflection

What is libel? I knew the basics of what libel was before we discussed it, but I didn't realize how complex it could be. I thought, 'yeah, libel. Just don't lie and it won't be a problem.' I learned in class that it was much more complicated than that.

Libel is a written or broadcasted publication of a false statement that damages someone's reputation. It can be a lie from the reporter, or it can be a lie from someone else published by a reporter. However, to prove libel, one must prove that they are identifiable and their reputation was hurt. The statement must be public, and the reporter has to have known the statement was false or not investigated a suspicious claim well enough.
With this new knowledge, I will know how to avoid libel when I may have unintentionally published it before. I will make sure to check any negative statements made about someone and avoid negative claims that I am unsure of.

Before we discussed it in class, I had never heard of the shield law before. The shield law is a law that allows reporters to protect the anonymity of their sources, even if a court subpoenas the information. The shield law's allowances extend to bloggers as well as journalists. In some cases, a reporter may not be allowed to use the shield law. One example of this would be if a reporter witnessed a crime. The courts could make the reporter give details about the criminal, even if the criminal wishes to remain anonymous.
As a reporter, the shield law means I don't have to tell someone who my source was in a scenario where they wish to remain anonymous. This gives me more flexibility as to who I can interview since more people may be willing to share something personal or important as anonymous sources than named sources. However, this does not mean all my sources can be anonymous because that would reflect poorly on my credibility, and that would not be good.