Jurors Rule NYT Defamed Alabama Athlete
A jury ruled that The New York Times defamed an Alabama college football player in a defamation lawsuit, delivering a verdict against the newspaper regarding statements about the player.
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Media Law
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ABC Sues FCC Over Early License Renewals, Alleges Retaliation Against Free Speech
ABC has filed a First Amendment lawsuit in federal court accusing the FCC and the Trump-era administration of a retaliatory campaign to curb ABC’s free speech. The lawsuit seeks to halt an FCC proceeding to renew eight ABC stations’ licenses early and argues the agency could use hearings to deny or revoke licenses. It names FCC Chair Brendan Carr and two commissioners, cites attacks on ABC by Trump, and notes the case aims for swift injunctions to protect editorial discretion. Lead counsel is Beth Wilkinson.
Musk Wins First Round as ZDF Drops Belfast-Unrest Link
After Elon Musk threatened legal action, Germany’s ZDF dropped a passage tying him to unrest in Belfast and added a transparency notice, marking an initial win for Musk; he signals potential further actions (including in the U.S.), though experts say damages are unlikely to be substantial.
Powerful figures file pre-publication lawsuits to chill investigative reporting
Powerful figures are increasingly suing media outlets before stories publish, a tactic described as lawfare that editors say threatens investigative reporting. WSJ editor Emma Tucker cites Trump-related reporting as an example of pre-publication pressure, highlighting a broader decline in global press freedom and raising concerns about truth, accountability, and the role of AI in journalism.
FBI Director Patel Files $250 Million Defamation Suit Against The Atlantic
FBI Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit in D.C. federal court against The Atlantic and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, alleging the article The Atlantic published about his alleged excessive drinking and unexplained absences contains false, fabricated claims that threaten his reputation and position. The Atlantic defends the reporting, saying it stands by its story, while Patel argues the piece relied on anonymous sources and failed to give him adequate time to respond. The suit cites the public-figure standard of actual malice and places Patel’s dispute within a broader pattern of Trump-era media litigation.
Hungary's Magyar vows media reboot after election victory
Election winner Peter Magyar said he will suspend state media broadcasts and push a new media law and authority to restore the public-service character of Hungary's state media after the TISZA party's landslide victory, signaling an end to what critics say became a government mouthpiece under Viktor Orbán and a return to press freedoms.
White House Threatens CBS Over Unedited Trump Interview
Karoline Leavitt warned CBS News to air Donald Trump’s interview unedited or face legal action, a threat captured in audio after CBS’s Tony Dokoupil interview; CBS aired the full unedited segment later that day. The piece sits amid broader tensions over CBS’s editing practices and independence under Bari Weiss, including Paramount Skydance’s $16 million settlement with Trump over editing of a Harris interview for 60 Minutes.
BBC seeks dismissal of Trump defamation suit over 2021 Panorama edit
The BBC moves to have Donald Trump’s $5+ billion defamation suit thrown out in a Florida federal court, arguing the court lacks personal jurisdiction and that Trump fails to show actual malice from a 2021 Panorama edit; the program was not produced or broadcast in Florida and the BBC defends its coverage as balanced.
BBC to Fight $10 Billion Trump Lawsuit Over Panorama Documentary
The BBC plans to fight Donald Trump's $5 billion defamation lawsuit over a Panorama documentary, citing legal grounds and the importance of defending its journalism, despite high costs and potential distractions. The case hinges on jurisdiction and malice claims, with the BBC asserting it did not broadcast in the US and that the edit was unintentional. The outcome could impact the BBC's reputation, legal strategy, and US audience engagement, amid broader concerns about media freedom and legal battles involving US outlets.
Trump's Legal Battle with the BBC Sparks Political and Media Tensions
President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for up to $1 billion over a documentary that he claims made false and defamatory statements about him, specifically regarding edited speech clips related to the Capitol riot. Legal experts suggest that Trump's case faces significant hurdles due to US free speech laws, the need to prove actual malice, and jurisdiction issues, especially since the documentary aired in the UK and may not have been shown in the US. While Trump has a history of suing media outlets, winning such a large damages award appears unlikely given the legal standards and the nature of the alleged misconduct.
Experts Say Trump’s $15 Billion Lawsuit Against The New York Times Lacks Merit
Legal experts agree that President Trump's defamation lawsuit against The New York Times is meritless and likely a political move rather than a legal one, with many emphasizing the strong First Amendment protections for press freedom and the high legal standards Trump would need to meet to succeed.
Trump sues NYT for defamation over critical articles
Donald Trump filed a $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times and others, alleging decades of false reporting, amid ongoing political and legal battles, including investigations into the Charlie Kirk case and upcoming Senate hearings on FBI chief Kash Patel and the Fed. The lawsuit highlights Trump's ongoing efforts to challenge media narratives and his administration's stance on free speech and political violence.
"Slovak Politics in Turmoil After Assassination Attempt on PM Fico"
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico remains hospitalized in serious condition after an assassination attempt, as political tensions in the country continue to escalate. Despite calls for unity, divisions persist, particularly over a controversial media law proposed by the government.
Tim Burke Indicted for Conspiracy Involving Tucker Carlson Fox News Video Clips
Freelance journalist Tim Burke has been indicted on 14 counts, including conspiracy and wiretapping, for accessing internal video footage from media companies, including Fox News. Prosecutors allege that he used compromised credentials to access the footage, which was later published by Vice and Media Matters. Burke's attorneys argue that his actions were legal and akin to using publicly available login credentials, while some media law observers believe he may be the victim of an overzealous application of computer laws.
Teaching Freedom of Speech in the Wake of Roberts-Smith's Defamation Verdict
The recent defamation case brought by Ben Roberts-Smith highlights the enduring significance of truth for public interest journalism and the centrality of truth as a defamation defence. The case also reveals the failure of Australian media law to protect media freedom and the reliance placed upon exemplary public interest journalism to ensure that our democracy functions and that our institutions and the powerful are held to account. The outcome of this case illustrates why media freedom requires greater recognition within Australian media law.