The key justification for the Supreme Court's "actual malice" requirement in New York Times v.Sullivan may be stated as follows:
A)Falsehoods are just as valuable as the truth and must therefore be protected.
B)Libel judgments would otherwise lead to self-censorship of the truth.
C)Public officials have essentially waived their rights to privacy.
D)Juries are inherently biased against libel defendants.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The actual malice requirement was put in place to prevent libel lawsuits from having a chilling effect on the press's ability to report on matters of public interest. If journalists were constantly at risk of being sued for making innocent errors, they would be less likely to report important news stories. The actual malice standard sets a high bar, requiring proof that the journalist knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. This helps to protect the press's important role in informing the public.

The Key Justification for the Supreme Court's "Actual Malice" Requirement