Question

Which of the following is an example of libel?

a) a rumor claiming you cheated on a test
b) a billboard advertisement claiming one product to be superior to another
c) a newspaper story falsely accusing you of murder
d) a speech by a political candidate accusing another candidate of stealing

Answer 1

A newspaper story falsely accusing someone of murder is an example of libel because it is a published false statement that harms a person's reputation and is presented as fact. So, the correct answer is option c.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the provided options, an example of libel would be a newspaper story falsely accusing you of murder. Libel involves the making of defamatory statements in a fixed medium, such as writing or printed words, about a person, that can damage that person's reputation.

The key factors that constitute libel include the publication of a false statement that is harmful to someone's reputation and is presented as a fact, not as an opinion, and in the case of public figures, it must be proven that the statement was made with malicious intent or a reckless disregard for the truth, as established by the precedent in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964). So, the correct answer is option c.