Historically, Libel Was Seen as More Deliberate and More Permanent

question 138

Essay

Historically, libel was seen as more deliberate and more permanent than slander, and therefore more harmful. Today, means of mass communication give slander a potentially huge audience, so the rationale for distinguishing between them is breaking down. Explain how the law is changing in light of this.

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Definitions:

High Performance Capability

The ability of an individual or organization to perform at an exceptionally high level, often exceeding standard expectations.

Intellectual

Relating to the ability to think and understand ideas and information at a complex level.

Creative

The quality or ability to create or invent something original and valuable.

Cross-sectional Studies

Research that analyzes data from a population, or a representative subset, at a specific point in time to examine relationships between variables.