The person in private life deserves privacy, period. Because the star has sold his image package to the public to make a dollar, and the public, who pays the star s extravagant salary, is entitled to see if he measures up to his own invention. She had a lot of interesting things to say about her Frank Sinatra book that might be of help. Verify and keep tapes, notes and records of verification. One of the best sources for concise information about such legal action is the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual .
Journalists are on safest ground when reporting about public officials.
AP uses Johnny Carson as an example. AP warns that changing the subject's name may not provide protection against libel action if the description of the subject identifies him or her. AP estimates that 95 percent of libel cases emanate from publication of charges of crime, immorality, incompetence or other personal attack. Among the pivotal judicial decisions concerning libel was the U.S. Supreme Court's1974 ruling in Getz vs. Robert Welch Inc. In that case, a John Birch Society publication had labeled a prominent Chicago lawyer a Communist.