This is an untraditional book about libel. It is not primarily about libel law, nor about all the defenses that body of law provides. Rather, it is about how to spot and remove libelous statements before they are published – in print or on the Internet – or broadcast, or even Tweeted or posted on Facebook. It is intended primarily for journalists and journalism students, not for the lawyers who defend libel suits nor for law students. It focuses primarily on the craft of reporting, writing and editing and how practitioners of that craft can avoid making libelous statements. It deals only secondarily with the defenses that are available to journalists and their employers who inadvertently publish or broadcast false information.
