[Imc-dc-editorial] "public figure" definition, please

[John Windmueller]

I've been doing some research about libel and just to complicate
matters...
1. Defamations laws covering slander and libel (we're mainly worried
about libel of course) vary from state to state.  
2. What constitutes a "public figure" is far from clear or absolute
3. Just because someone is a public figure, doesn't preclude them
bringing a libel case (it's just harder to get through).  

Here's some documents I found handy...
First Amendment Handbook:
http://www.rcfp.org/handbook/viewpage.cgi

Section on "how to avoid libel suits":
http://www.rcfp.org/handbook/viewpage.cgi?0109

Libel Defense Resource Center:
http://www.ldrc.com/LDRC_Info/libelfaqs.html

I'm curious to hear what other folks think after reading these.  

John

> -----Original Message-----
> From: imc-dc-editorial-admin@lists.indymedia.org
[mailto:imc-dc-editorial-
> admin@lists.indymedia.org] On Behalf Of D. N. Russo
> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 10:46 AM
> To: imc-dc-editorial@indymedia.org
> Subject: [Imc-dc-editorial] "public figure" definition, please
> 
> At 03:05 PM 3/10/2003 -0800, you wrote:
> >Rupert:
> >
> >The goal of changing the policy to "attack ideas, not people" is to
avoid
> >the "private person vs.
> >public person" problem.
> >
> >zoe
> 
> So does that mean we can never write about the idiocy and inhumane,
> racist,
> psychologically sick, in-need-of-psychiatric-help actions of Bush,
> Ashcroft, Wolfowitz, etc. naming them directly?? That's the point of
the
> "public figure" definition. It's quite useful. I want this editorial
body
> to clearly state what definition of "public figure" it's using and
what
> criteria is in use.
> 
> "Attacking" anything I think is a poor use of writing. Reasoned
argument
> deserves better language than the war-like language of "attack." Why
bring
> war to the newswire in terms of writing style?
> 
> Yes, it's a good value to maintain talking about ideas and not about
> people/egos. The same goes for meetings, btw. But there is a boundary
> defined by "public figure" and this is the primary topic.
> 
> Can we focus on this?
> 
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