The evolution of libel laws: Complexity and inconsistency

Libel suits filed against media organizations have become an increasingly serious problem in recent years. The potential for inhibiting news coverage or even putting a news organization out of business has never been greater. This article explores the evolution of libel laws, emphasizing the consequences of their development for the First Amendment. It defines libel, examines the First Amendment theories that shaped contemporary libel standards, and explains why state-by-state development of libel laws prompted the Supreme Court to begin a twenty-year effort to develop national standards. Richard Labunski is an assistant professor in the School of Communications at the University of Washington. He is the author ofLibel and the First Amendment, from which this article has been reprinted. Copyright 1987 by Transaction Publishers. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.