LIBEL, PRIOR RESTRAINT, AND OBJECTIVITY

A S T O R Y B A S E D O N T R U E E V E N T S

By the Awesome Crew

AKA

Brooke, Kenley, Noemi, and Derrick

OBJECTIVITY

objectivity - the detached and unprejudiced gathering and dissemination of

news and information.

Objectivity means that when covering hard news, reporters don’t convey their

own feelings, biases or prejudices in their stories. They accomplish this by

writing stories using a language that is neutral and avoids characterizing

people or institutions in ways good or bad.

The intrepid protesters demonstrated against the unjust government policies.

Just by using the words “intrepid” and “unjust” the writer has quickly

conveyed his feelings on the story – the protesters are brave and just in their

cause, the government policies are wrong. For this reason, hard-news reporters

usually avoid using adjectives in their stories.

PRIOR RESTRAINT

Definition- Judicial suppression of material that would be

published or broadcast, on the grounds that it is libelous or

harmful.

Prior restraint is related to journalism in that the news media is

allowed to publish information free of government censorship.

Example: A judge can issue a gag order on a trial which

prohibits the people involved in the trial from speaking about it

publicly in order to protect the defendant’s right to an unbiased

trial.

LIBEL

Definition- Defamation through writing and print.

Libel is relevant because it is against the law for

journalists to do.

Example: Justin Timberlake was asked by a girl to

dance with her during an interview. Justin politely

declined but the news media reported the

occurrence as if Justin had rudely said no and acted

as if he were a bad person.

FIN