- Summary
- Contents
The SAGE Key Concepts series provides students with accessible and authoritative knowledge of the essential topics in a variety of disciplines. Cross-referenced throughout, the format encourages critical evaluation through understanding. Written by experienced and respected academics, the books are indispensable study aids and guides to comprehension.
Key Concepts in Public Relations:
- Provides a comprehensive, easy-to-use overview to the field
- Covers over 150 central concepts in PR
- Paves the way for students to tackle primary texts
- Grounds students in both practice and theory
- Takes it further with recommended reading
Introduction
Defamation
Defamation in English law consists of two types: slander and libel. Slander is usually spoken while libel is printed or broadcast. Both slander and libel are torts, so (with very few exceptions) the aggrieved party must initiate a lawsuit.
A tort cannot be prosecuted as a crime would be. It is the responsibility of the complainant to show that the defamation took place – that is, that the words were spoken or that the material was published. The complainant must also show that the material is defamatory – that is, that it lowers the complainant's reputation in the eyes of a reasonable person. It is not enough to show that some people will think less of the complainant. For example, it has been suggested that calling ...
