Libel and ethical

 

Libel laws and ethics always seem to be met with a sigh. But really they are key to success in both reporting and journalism, but also filmmaking and people wanting to get into TV. Why do I say this? Well let’s break down the two and talk it through.

First up are Libel laws. So what is Libel law? “Libel is a method of defamation expressed by print, writing, pictures, signs, effigies, or any communication embodied in physical form that is injurious to a person's reputation, exposes a person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, or injures a person in his/her business or profession.” Basically Libel is in relation to what is said. An example of his is me going out and plastering all over social media that Simon Cowell has generated his vast wealth through fraud. Going to the papers and selling my story. I have no evidence of this and it is an accusation, which would damage his reputation. 

This also applies to reputation in film. An example of his would be doing a film where the main enemy of the movie is Tesco. The brand is portrayed as an evil monster. This is considered as Libel as showing it as an evil brand is damaging the reputation of the store. They could sue the production company for millions in damages.

Next up is ethics. For me this is the most important of all. The defination of ethics is “Ethics or moral philosophy is the branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct”. Without ethics the world would be an even more terrible place to live. Ethics dictates are actions and what we make. The very fabric of right and wrong.

Learning the meaning of those two phrases is key to being a successful filmmaker. Why? It keeps you out of trouble which could destroy your career, creditability, working relationships and much much more.