Week 8: Libel Law

Introduction

• Focus on libel law and its significance.
• Libel suits as serious subsequent punishment.
• Relevant to all majors, especially journalism and Stratcom majors.

Trade Libel

• Important for Strategic Communication (Stratcom) majors.
• Saying negative, untrue things about a company's product/service can lead to a trade libel suit.

Historical Context

• Many relevant cases stem from the civil rights era.
• Changes in constitutional law influenced by the civil rights struggle.

Important Eras and Cases

Civil Rights Era 1 (1954-1964)

• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Desegregated schools.
• Key period for Martin Luther King Jr.: Used the First Amendment for social change.

Legal and Social Changes

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibited discrimination in public accommodations.
  • Related to Civil Rights Act of 1875 (struck down in 1883).
• 24th Amendment: Banned poll taxes.
• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Eliminated Jim Crow laws.

Gerrymandering

• Reynolds v. Sims: Banned racial gerrymandering.
• Current issues with gerrymandering based on political affiliation.

Incorporation Doctrine

• Malloy v. Hogan: Applied Fifth Amendment protections to state/local level.

New York Times v. Sullivan

• Revolutionized American libel law.
• Made it difficult for public officials to win libel suits against the press.
• Detailed discussion in an upcoming video.