Lecture notes W riters for the mass media in America work without a great number of legal restraints. Yet the legal restraints that do exist are important, and understanding them is a necessary part of the writer's job.
Writers are much more likely to encounter ethical guidelines and restraints.
Here, again, knowing the general basis of ethical behavior is an important part of the writer's work. The answer, of course, is no. Legally, we do not have the right to libel someone. But libel is a tricky concept. In a practical sense, it does not mean that we cannot say something that will damage someone's reputation.