Quote:
Originally posted by collme83
You can only sue for Libel if something was untrue. It may have been wrong for the paper to include the name ethically but i'm pretty sure you can't sue unless it was false information. Technically, papers can include something such as a rape victim's name in an article as well because it's public information, however decide that morally it's not right. savvy?
pi phi love,
...colleen*
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ok, we just covered this in my news reporting class, and the official standing on libel is that when you interview someone, and they ask for something, such as a name, to not be printed, that is a verbal contract that is binding, and if that information is printed, even though her name is factual, it is still considered libel.
Again, there are not legal issues with publishing a rape victim's name unless a court has so ordered. Most newspapers and broadcast organizations will not, generally, identify a rape victim because they feel it's unethical -- but it is not a legal issue. Under some very special circumstances, news organizations do name victims as well as suspects.
actually, a rape victims name is sensitive information, especially in a case such as this, and if there is any chance of releasing their name having an effect such as in this case, then the paper is not supposed to.
they never have to identify someone like that.