Libel Archives - Poynter

Powerful forces want to dismantle libel protections. History warns us why.

David Enrich’s new book, ‘Murder the Truth,’ and two classics reveal how efforts to undo Times v. Sullivan endanger journalism’s future

March 11, 2025

Dan Kennedy

Opinion | The media trial of the century is over in a day: A breakdown of the Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems settlement

Those who were rooting hard against Fox News were likely disappointed with Tuesday’s settlement.

April 19, 2023

Tom Jones

Opinion | Fox News settles its case with Dominion: What does it all mean?

Fox News will pay what is believed to be one of the largest settlements in a defamation case in US history. And its legal troubles are far from over.

April 18, 2023

Tom Jones

Opinion | Fox News and Dominion settle their case

Fox News will pay Dominion $787.5 million. Other terms of the settlement weren’t immediately known, but it might include apologies.

April 18, 2023

Tom Jones

A Detroit news outlet got hit with a ‘frivolous’ lawsuit and won. Now it’s on the hook for $10,000.

In the suit, a local parent alleged the outlet had defamed him by reporting that he had been fired for doing a Nazi salute at a school board meeting

July 13, 2022

Angela Fu

A Colorado newspaper settled a libel lawsuit. Now it’s facing accusations of self-censorship.

Ogden’s decision not to cover a billionaire’s lawsuit against The Aspen Times has sent the paper — and the town — spiraling

June 30, 2022

Angela Fu

What does the Depp v. Heard verdict mean for the media? It’s hard to say.

By choosing to sue Heard for defamation and not The Washington Post, Depp bolstered his chances of winning — and emboldened media critics.

June 13, 2022

Angela Fu

A look back at a landmark study on libel lawsuits

Political polarization and a push for weaponized libel laws may be ushering in a golden age of defamation. What can news orgs learn from the past?

February 11, 2022

Paul Glader

Navigating Legal Challenges in Journalism

[vc_column_inner width="1/6"][vc_column_inner width="2/3"][vc_column_inner width="1/6"]Learn strategies to help your news organization handle tricky legal situations, including…

November 23, 2020

Christa Scharfenberg

For the last time, President Trump can’t change U.S. libel law

President Trump has repeatedly threatened to change U.S. libel law to crack down on news…

March 31, 2017

Benjamin Mullin

Boston Herald loses libel case, says it will ‘ultimately prevail’

Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly | Media Nation A jury in Massachusetts awarded Joanna Marinova $563,000 for…

March 19, 2014

Andrew Beaujon

National Enquirer funds playwriting foundation after false Philip Seymour Hoffman report

The New York Times The National Enquirer and its publisher, American Media Incorporated, will fund…

February 25, 2014

Andrew Beaujon

Jury finds Courtney Love did not defame in first American Twibel trial

SPIN After a seven-day trial and a few hours of deliberation, the jury ruled in…

January 24, 2014

Ellyn Angelotti

How Courtney Love and U.S.’s first Twitter libel trial could impact journalists

How does defamation law apply in the context of Twitter? We may find out very…

January 14, 2014

Ellyn Angelotti

UNC journalism students get libel insurance

The Daily Tar Heel University of North Carolina journalism students now enjoy some financial protection…

October 30, 2013

Kristen Hare

Opinion | The media trial of the century is over in a day: A breakdown of the Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems settlement

Opinion | Fox News settles its case with Dominion: What does it all mean?

Opinion | Fox News and Dominion settle their case

Start your day informed and inspired.

Media Jobs