National Inquirer

The National Enquirer Case

Ana Bayona

University of Phoenix

Business Law

BUS/415

Mark Volansky

June 15, 2010

The National Enquirer Case

The National Enquirer The newspaper is known for its articles about celebrities’ related news and gossip. Most of the time the news are altered, exaggerated or fabricated, and the newspaper is more concerned about being profitable by reporting scandalous news then reporting the truth. It's no secret that it paid money to obtain information, a practice officially frowned upon by the mainstream press. According to Burkeman (2010) “The Enquirer also shamelessly pays sources for tips – "GOT NEWS? We'll pay big bucks,"

In 1984 The National Enquirer publishes an article that claim that Shirley Jones a resident of California drank so heavily that hinder her from doing her job (A Thomson Reuters business, 2010). Shirley Jones sued the reporter, and the editor, researcher of the National Enquirer for defamation, violation of privacy, and inflicting emotional harm.

Jones was required to prove that the article about her was false and also that the publisher was aware that the information provided in the article was also false. She felt that the publication in National Enquirer significantly damaged her reputation and because of that potentially harmed her career in the Entertainment Industry.

Deferent states have different rules and regulations regarding certain crimes and offences. The, State of California has stricter laws regarding libel and defamation allegations, which were influenced by Hollywood. Defamation is a grievances or harmful statement in a spoken form and libel is a harmful statement in that is put in writing but also a picture, sign, or electron emission, each of which gives a right of action. defamation is an action of false statements that causes a person to suffer harm with in their life style. “Libel involves the making...