Spreading Disinformation Through Defamation Litigation

From election deniers to anti-vaxxers, plaintiffs are filing libel lawsuits to defend their false narratives and punish journalists for countering their disinformation. Our panel of experienced defamation defense lawyers and distinguished journalists on the ASU Cronkite School faculty will discuss this phenomenon, how it’s affecting the practice of journalism and the law, and what can be done about it. Moderator: Matthew Kelley, of Counsel, Ballard Spahr LLP. Panelists: Leonard Downie, Jr., former Washington Post executive editor and professor of practice at the Cronkite School; Katie Townsend, deputy executive director and legal director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press; and Chad Bowman, Partner, Ballard Spahr LLP.