Journalism: What I've Learnt and Things To Consider.

Last week, all Level H English students of Bournemouth University were required to attend a lecture on the legalities to consider when publishing a piece. Overall, what I learnt was this - in journalism, whatever your speciality, it’s easy to land yourself in hot water. That’s why knowing your content, sources and choice of language is essential. I learnt the very basics in how to ensure my work is appropriate for my audience, whilst avoiding any slip ups in who and what I talk about - and how no short cuts are allowed to cover your back (so, don’t bank on adding that sly ‘allegedly’ at the end of your sentences to get you out of trouble!)

I’d heard words like ‘defamation’ ‘slander’ and ‘libel’ before, but didn’t realise how much they applied to the kinds of topics I’d been discussing. All of a sudden, I began back tracking my own work, thinking “what would I have done if I’d known more about this?” Defamation, in it’s simplest terms, is publishing any content that would make an audience think negatively of someone or making them the object of ridicule. Whilst some journalism is done in jest, or lightheartedness, what happens when professionals take it a step too far and ultimately damage either an individual’s or company’s reputation? 

That’s where libel comes in; a false, yet permanent statement. Ranging across all forms of journalism, be it printed, online or broadcast, libel is damaging whatever the platform. But, in order to prove libel, the claimant has to provide evidence of the defamation, identification and the publication in question. Slander, however, is something slightly different. Whilst a spoken and transient statement, it can be considered a serious offence all the same, especially if they’re a person of particular influence. Victoria Beckham, who was sued for slander when complaining of a supposedly fake signature on a sports wear brand’s clothing, would know this all too well.

It goes without saying that, in the past, libel has been used by a variety of different personalities in different occupations. The most common, however, is that of the celebrity personality and their privacy. Take, for example, Naomi Campbell. Notorious for her insistence of a drug free lifestyle, she was photographed in 2001 vacating a rehabilitation clinic. She sued for libel, claiming it be to damaging to her modelling career and public image. Whilst undeniably so, the libel was rejected on grounds of it’s defence; the news published was true and thus, in fact, acceptable for publication. However, the news outlet was not let off lightly, as invading an individuals privacy by photographing them in secret is considered an unsavoury act of unjust violation. 

Other suitable means of defence for libel include that of the ‘honest opinion,’ a common retaliation for reviews and opinion pieces whose content is based purely on fact. So, what can I do to ensure my work doesn’t end up costing me more than just a career in journalism? In short, I’ve learnt that the simplest way to do so is this; check everything. Common mistakes include headlines next to photographs from a different article that imply those featured are guilty of an accusing statement, use of false information that isn’t properly supported or researched, and use of inappropriate innuendo. I figure that if I’m not 100% sure of the content I’m publishing, then my gut instinct is probably right. If you’re going to be a journalist, make sure it’s for the right reasons and you’re dedicated to doing it the best and most ethical way you can.