Defamation in the Media

The Mass Media Effect

The most common source of actions for defamation is publications in the mass media.  The mass media includes:

• Television;
• Newspapers;
• Radio Stations; and
• Online (e.g. websites under the control of media companies)

Almost every media company publishes its content in a newspaper; on television; or on the radio, but also on a complimentary website. The material on that website may be in identical or a differing form.  So, for example a newspaper might publish a hard copy story and also publish a soft copy on its website. A statement that may be thought to be defamatory is probably published in two places. The same considerations apply to both publications in the mass media, a company’s primary publication and on its website.