ntempt is libelous,
because such expressions are calculated to injure the persons of whom
they are spoken. And if an article contains several expressions, each of
which is libelous, each may be a separate cause for legal action. Nor is
it a defense to prove that such rumors were current, that such
statements were previously published, or even that the writer did not
intend the remarks to do injury. If it can be proved that the article
has done injury, the writer and his paper are guilty of libel and must
pay damages in accordance with the enormity of the offense.

=124. Avoidance of Libel.=--When it becomes necessary to make a
statement about a person that may be unpleasing to him, the writer
should give the name of the one making the charge or assertion, or else
avoid making a specific charge by inserting _it is alleged_, _it is
rumored_, _it is charged,_ or some such limiting phrase. Note the
following story of the arrest of two shop-girls and how skilfully the
reporter avoids charging them with theft:

| =CHARGE TWO WITH SHOPLIFTING= |
| |
|Edna K. Whitter and Minnie Jensen, saleswomen in a |
|New Haven store, are under arrest charged with |
|shoplifting. |
| |
|The former is said to have confessed after goods |
|valued at more than $1,000 were found in her room. |
|She is said to have implicated Miss Jensen, who |
|denies the charge. |
| |
|Desire to dress elaborately is alleged to have |
|caused the young women to steal. Miss Jensen is the |
|daughter of a farmer. Investigations by detectives, |
|it is said, may result in more arrests.... |

Whenever possible, it is well to avoid _it is said_, _it is rumored_. A
story reads more convincingly when the reporter's authority is given.
And the statement of the authority places the responsibility where it
belongs.

=125. Exaggeration.=--One word further about the _Eastland_ disaster and
loss of public confidence resulting from exaggerated stories. Upon the
news article itself there is a very definite effect of such
exaggeration,--that mere extravagance of statement often defeats its own
end. It is of first importance in writing that one'