Times Vs. Sullivan

This case was the one that established the standards befor press reports could be considered defamation and libel. This case also allowed free reporting of the civil rights campaign in the south.

Before this case was solved, there were millions of libel actions against a number of different news organizations. After the New York Times prevailed in this case, news organizations were free to report mant civil rights infringements.

In the old rule, the constitution extended no protection to false statements. Te New rule states that actual malice must be present. Actual Malice is having knowledge that the information that you (the reporter)are releasing is false. or to publish with reckless disregard of whether the information that is being reported is false or not. The Reporter must entertain actual doublt as to the statements truth!