Libel: fear should be the spur

Abstract

Bruce Page takes issue with current arguments that libel law should be made rather more defendant-friendly. In Page’s view, fear, including fear of prosecution, is proper to modern investigative journalism, and, “especially if well controlled and well concealed, should be welcome as an aid to precision”. He also advances the argument that “journalism exists to do harm. Put another way, to do good to some people, investigative work must always damage others … Investigation and defamation are social hygiene, and must be astringent to have salutary effect”.