Journalism & Media vocabulary · Media Ethics and Law
Defamation
Meaning in journalism & media, with examples
/ˌdefəˈmeɪʃn/nounCommon term
In journalism & media, defamation means: The legal wrong of publishing or saying false statements about someone that damage their reputation.
In Turkish: hakaret, karalama, itibar zedeleme
How it is used
A key term in media law courses and newsroom legal checks. People sue for defamation, and outlets face defamation claims or cases. Defamation covers libel, which is in permanent form, and slander, which is spoken.
Example sentences
The businessman sued the magazine for defamation over the article.
Our lawyer read the piece twice to make sure it contained no defamation risk.
Common collocations
sue for defamation
defamation case
defamation law
defamation claim
Related terms
libelDefamation in a permanent form, such as print, broadcast or an online post, that falsely damages a person's or company's reputation.
right of replyThe chance, or in some countries the legal right, for a person or organisation criticised in the media to answer the claims made about them.
public interestThe benefit of society as a whole, used to judge whether publishing information, especially private or secret information, is justified.
accuracyThe quality of being correct in every fact, name, number and quote, which is the first duty of a journalist in most codes of practice.
