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Brands Take Note: Bloggers are Journalists in the Eyes of the Law

blogger law

By Kerry Gorgone, {grow} Contributing Columnist

The best blogging makes a statement, but if that statement is negative in nature, the blogger might get sued for defamation (making an untrue statement—written or verbal—that tends to damage someone’s reputation).

Large companies in particular tend to have deep pockets, and will vigorously defend their brand against any online attack.

Historically, brands have argued that bloggers should not receive the same First Amendment protections as members of the institutional press, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that they should in the case of Obsidian Finance Group vs. Cox.

The court acknowledged that the question raised “involves the intersection between Sullivan and Gertz, an area not yet fully explored by this Circuit, in the context of a medium of publication—the Internet—entirely unknown at the time of those decisions.”

In order to win a suit for defamation, a public figure must prove “actual malice.” Even in a private defamation case, if the matter is one of “public concern,” the plaintiff must prove that the defendant acted negligently. In either instance, if bloggers were held to these same standards, they’d be protected if they were reasonable in believing their damaging statements to be true.

Courts have been saying since blogging started to become popular that deciding who does and does not qualify as a journalist is complicated and impractical. The court in Cox went even further, stating that “a First Amendment distinction between the institutional press and other speakers is unworkable.” As blogging becomes easier and more people (and brands) begin using the medium, drawing a distinction is likely to become even less “workable.” After all, as Michael Brito has said, all companies are now media companies.

3 Tips for Defamation-Free Blogging

If you’re tempted to make a negative statement—especially about a company—think carefully.

 

Kerry O’Shea Gorgone is a writer, lawyer, speaker and educator. She’s also Instructional Design Manager, Enterprise Training, at MarketingProfs. Kerry hosts the weekly Marketing Smarts podcast. Find Kerry on Google+ and Twitter.

 

 

Top Photo Credit: Rogers Cadenhead via Flickr cc

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