Fair Comment and Admission of Truth Modupe Alabi 9/23/08 Ms. Moore Digital Journalism/3 rd

Objectives To explain the topics of fair comment and admission of truth

To explain the topics of fair comment and admission of truth

Fair Comment Fair comment is defined by dictionary.com as “a common-law privilege to criticize and comment on matters of public interest without being liable for defamation provided that the comment is an honest expression of opinion and free of malice”. This basically means that anyone (particularly a journalist) is free to give their opinion of anyone and anything in the public eye as long as it is true and free of hate. “ Has the gatekeeper turned card dealer? is fair comment in my view.”- the caption for this photo

Fair comment is defined by dictionary.com as “a common-law privilege to criticize and comment on matters of public interest without being liable for defamation provided that the comment is an honest expression of opinion and free of malice”.

This basically means that anyone (particularly a journalist) is free to give their opinion of anyone and anything in the public eye as long as it is true and free of hate.

“ Has the gatekeeper turned card dealer? is fair comment in my view.”- the caption for this photo

Fair Comment An example of this is from syracuse.com’s article on how a man was arrested at a state fair after refusing to go to an area designated for protest although state officials can't find a law he broke. An excerpt below: “ For about 30 minutes on Labor Day, Syracuse peace activist Edward F. Kinane walked around the New York State Fair in an orange jumpsuit with a hood over his head, legs shackled, wrists cuffed and a sign that said, "CLOSE GUANTANAMO." He never spoke…When Kinane took up a position near an Army recruiting table, somebody called the state police. Soon, troopers and state fair officials gave Kinane an option: Take off the suit or leave.” The article goes on to say “Ever since, he's been asking: What state law forbids political protests at the fair? The answer: Apparently, none.”

An example of this is from syracuse.com’s article on how a man was arrested at a state fair after refusing to go to an area designated for protest although state officials can't find a law he broke.

An excerpt below:

“ For about 30 minutes on Labor Day, Syracuse peace activist Edward F. Kinane walked around the New York State Fair in an orange jumpsuit with a hood over his head, legs shackled, wrists cuffed and a sign that said, "CLOSE GUANTANAMO." He never spoke…When Kinane took up a position near an Army recruiting table, somebody called the state police. Soon, troopers and state fair officials gave Kinane an option: Take off the suit or leave.”

The article goes on to say “Ever since, he's been asking: What state law forbids political protests at the fair? The answer: Apparently, none.”

Admission of Truth Admission of truth is basically when something untrue is published, then the people at the publication go back and fix the mistake, making note of it. An example of this is Fashionista.com, a blog-site for fashion-lovers, is known for giving the most exclusive and latest and news in fashion. On one post, they announced : “Emma Watson, is the new face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle . The 18-year old, who's signed with Storm modeling agency, has worn Chanel in public for as long as we can remember but this is the first official partnership between the two. . .she'll be paid a sweet $6 million. The contract will reportedly be announced next month, right before Keira Knightley's contract runs out, which will make Emma, the youngest girl to grace the cover of Teen Vogue, the youngest face of Chanel.” Later the site announced: “ Update: Oh no! Chanel says that Emma for Coco Mademoiselle is "100% not true." So sad, we thought she'd be cute.” Had they not cleared this up, the site could’ve lost credibility if this record-keeping function hadn’t been cleared up.

Admission of truth is basically when something untrue is published, then the people at the publication go back and fix the mistake, making note of it.

An example of this is Fashionista.com, a blog-site for fashion-lovers, is known for giving the most exclusive and latest and news in fashion. On one post, they announced : “Emma Watson, is the new face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle . The 18-year old, who's signed with Storm modeling agency, has worn Chanel in public for as long as we can remember but this is the first official partnership between the two. . .she'll be paid a sweet $6 million. The contract will reportedly be announced next month, right before Keira Knightley's contract runs out, which will make Emma, the youngest girl to grace the cover of Teen Vogue, the youngest face of Chanel.”

Later the site announced:

“ Update: Oh no! Chanel says that Emma for Coco Mademoiselle is "100% not true." So sad, we thought she'd be cute.”

Had they not cleared this up, the site could’ve lost credibility if this record-keeping function hadn’t been cleared up.

References Fair Comment Hart, S (2008, September 12). Demonstrator's fair comment lands him in jail for seven days. CENTRAL NEW YORK NEWS , Retrieved September 23, 2008, from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1221209825287170.xml&coll=1 Admission of Truth Aboutaleb, B (2008, June 16). Chanel's Spells. Fashionista.com , Retrieved 2008, September 23, from http://fashionista.com/2008/06/under_chanels_spell.php

Fair Comment

Hart, S (2008, September 12). Demonstrator's fair comment lands him in jail for seven days. CENTRAL NEW YORK NEWS , Retrieved September 23, 2008, from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1221209825287170.xml&coll=1

Admission of Truth

Aboutaleb, B (2008, June 16). Chanel's Spells. Fashionista.com , Retrieved 2008, September 23, from http://fashionista.com/2008/06/under_chanels_spell.php