Basic Elements of Defamation Law

What is ‘defamation’?

Defamation, sometimes called "defamation of character", is spoken or written words that falsely and negatively reflect on a living person's reputation. If a person or the news media says or writes something about you that is understood to lower your reputation, or that keeps people from associating with you, defamation has occurred. Slander and libel are two forms of defamation.

What is ‘slander’?

Slander is a spoken defamation.

What is ‘libel’?

Libel is a written defamation. Generally, radio and television broadcasts that are defamatory are considered to be libel, rather than slander.