If you’re a public figure, or in the public relations business, there’ll be times when people say such outrageously wrong things – on TV, in print, on the web – that the person attacked will want to file a lawsuit.
Or your privacy will be invaded by the paparazzi or media, with your email hacked, your cell phone tapped or details from your medical records released.
Here’s a series of posts explaining the ins and outs of defamation, slander, libel and invasion of privacy from the opposite of the usual angle -- a public relations perspective rather than a media point of view.
To Sue, or Not to Sue: Defamation, Slander and Libel 101 – The Basics
Every reporter who’s gone to journalism school has taken press law, and as a professional, they don’t want lawsuits filed against them saying that (a) they carelessly and knowingly printed lies, or said lies over the air, and (b) those lies hurt somebody.
On the other hand, filing a lawsuit for defamation, slander, libel or invasion of privacy is a big step, and from a PR standpoint, it can be a big mistake.
To Sue, or Not to Sue: Defamation, Slander and Libel 201 – Defenses
If you’re a public figure who’s had something false and defamatory published about them, and your reputation or livelihood is damaged, should you file a lawsuit? This post is a look at some of the defenses you have to hurdle to win such a case, including truth, fair comment and opinion.
To Sue, or Not to Sue: Defamation, Slander and Libel 301 – PR Costs versus Benefits
Even in clear-cut cases where a public figure should win a defamation lawsuit, it's not always smart from a PR perspective to go to court. How do you weight the costs and benefits from a PR perspective?
Invasion of Privacy
Private photos, medical records and hacked emails or cell phones are not matters of opinion. They are invasions of privacy. Sometimes it makes sense from a PR point of view to protect a public figure's private life via invasion of privacy cases.