Comments on: A Selective Review of Defamation Cases in 2009 Involving Professional Reputation http://blog.oup.com/2010/01/defamation-reputation/ Academic insights for the thinking world. Thu, 23 May 2013 12:47:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Defamation and Oral History « Wordsworth Typing and Transcription http://blog.oup.com/2010/01/defamation-reputation/#comment-156901 Defamation and Oral History « Wordsworth Typing and Transcription Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:29:11 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=7286#comment-156901 [...] is an interesting article at the Oxford University Press blog about the intersection of oral history and defamation claims. It points out the need for oral [...] [...] is an interesting article at the Oxford University Press blog about the intersection of oral history and defamation claims. It points out the need for oral [...]

]]> By: Monday’s Link Roundup. « Dan Curtis ~ Professional Personal Historian http://blog.oup.com/2010/01/defamation-reputation/#comment-156520 Monday’s Link Roundup. « Dan Curtis ~ Professional Personal Historian Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:14:16 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=7286#comment-156520 [...] A Guide to Oral History and the Law by John A. Neuenschwander. “Since oral historians on all levels regularly undertake interviews with business leaders, professionals, and workers; it is important that these interviews be carefully audited for potentially defamatory statements. In other words, just because an interviewee is not accusing someone of criminal activity or immoral conduct, statements that undermine a person’s reputation in the workplace can be just as harmful.” [Thanks to Jennifer Campbell of Heritage Memoirs for alerting me to this article.] [...] [...] A Guide to Oral History and the Law by John A. Neuenschwander. “Since oral historians on all levels regularly undertake interviews with business leaders, professionals, and workers; it is important that these interviews be carefully audited for potentially defamatory statements. In other words, just because an interviewee is not accusing someone of criminal activity or immoral conduct, statements that undermine a person’s reputation in the workplace can be just as harmful.” [Thanks to Jennifer Campbell of Heritage Memoirs for alerting me to this article.] [...]

]]> By: Mark Higbee http://blog.oup.com/2010/01/defamation-reputation/#comment-156425 Mark Higbee Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:19:18 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=7286#comment-156425 The connection between these 3 cases and actual oral history work is slim. Yes, one can imagine that an interviewee may state something that someone else will be offended by, and even bring claims of defamation to a court. So what? What is the oral historian to do? Censor their subjects' statements? Omit controversy from our subjects of research? This post strikes me as an example of hypothetical worries being inflated to such a degree that it suggests conclusions that would be very harmful indeed to the craft and value of oral history. Oral history is valuable in part because interviewees state their honest opinions. We should not censor our subjects' statements, nor should we avoid controversial topics for fear of legal trouble. Least of all, we should not fear such legal trouble when none is visible on the horizon. The connection between these 3 cases and actual oral history work is slim. Yes, one can imagine that an interviewee may state something that someone else will be offended by, and even bring claims of defamation to a court. So what? What is the oral historian to do? Censor their subjects’ statements? Omit controversy from our subjects of research?

This post strikes me as an example of hypothetical worries being inflated to such a degree that it suggests conclusions that would be very harmful indeed to the craft and value of oral history. Oral history is valuable in part because interviewees state their honest opinions. We should not censor our subjects’ statements, nor should we avoid controversial topics for fear of legal trouble. Least of all, we should not fear such legal trouble when none is visible on the horizon.

]]> By: Tweets that mention A Selective Review of Defamation Cases in 2009 Involving Professional Reputation : OUPblog -- Topsy.com http://blog.oup.com/2010/01/defamation-reputation/#comment-156416 Tweets that mention A Selective Review of Defamation Cases in 2009 Involving Professional Reputation : OUPblog -- Topsy.com Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:28:00 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=7286#comment-156416 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rebecca and BelgradeSummerSchool, Lesley W. Brunet. Lesley W. Brunet said: A Selective Review of Defamation Cases in 2009 Involving Professional Reputation - http://shar.es/aSThj [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rebecca and BelgradeSummerSchool, Lesley W. Brunet. Lesley W. Brunet said: A Selective Review of Defamation Cases in 2009 Involving Professional Reputation – http://shar.es/aSThj [...]

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