Worried About Libel Laws

[sallyann16]

I'm writing a factual book, and due to its very nature refers heavily to newspaper articles of the '70s and '80s. It centres primarily on celebrity scandals, and I want to know how that leaves me legally.

If I name my source, i.e. "According to a report in the Daily Mirror in April 1985....", am I able to repeat the stories about these people, as long as they were found to be true and unchallenged?

If anyone can help before I press ahead and publish, I would be most grateful.

[decmangan]

Publish and be damned!

[boxtops]

I don't know for sure, but if you use words like "it was reported that", or "it was alleged that" - that's not saying ths people actually did it.

[hc4361]

If the reports are true there is no libel.
If the person is dead there is no libel.

[sallyann16]

Thanks very much - really grateful for your input. It seems such a grey area and one must keep EXACTLY to the facts and not insinuate or suggest anything whatsoever that can be misconstrued as libel.

[woofgang]

there can be libel if the report is true hc, but is couched in such a manner that it is intended to imply something damaging.
http://tompride.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/warning-sharing-this-blogpost-in-the-uk-might-be-libellous/

[sallyann16]

Thanks Woofgang - that looks a really helpful piece.