Double-edged sword, no? From the Pensacola News Journal:
TALLAHASSEE — Newspapers were protected Thursday from lawsuits challenging accurate reporting that could possibly cast someone in a bad light.
The Florida Supreme Court, in a pair of rulings, said libel and defamation lawsuits offer enough protection and refused to recognize "false-light" invasion of privacy as grounds to sue.
The decisions served to uphold a lower-court ruling that tossed out an $18.3 million judgment against the Pensacola News Journal and its parent company, Gannett Co. Inc.
Kevin Doyle, president and publisher of the News Journal, said the court's ruling was important beyond the decision that benefits the paper.
"It's a big deal to everybody in the media, not only a victory for us," Doyle said. "Justice prevailed. It's pretty hard to think about the truth not being a defense."
Adria Harper, director of the Florida First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee, called the ruling "great news for the newspapers because they don't have to worry about printing accurate information that might offend somebody."
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