A newspaper makes up a quote someone said and puts the persons name....?

Question

Is this illegal? Can you sue the newspaper for this? The newspaper didn't even talk to the person who's name, age, and made-up quote was published.

I really need to know but i'm not sure if what I said above was confusing... here's what I said in a more simpler way:

- A newspaper makes up a quote by "Suzie" [Suzie never said this quote and never even spoke to the newspaper or anyone else]

- Suzie's full name and nickname, age, and then made-up quote are published on the front page of the paper.

- As a result of the made-up quote, it makes Suzie sound like a babbaling idiot.


How may I go about pressing charges on the newspaper [if possible]?

Answer 1

You can't press charges, it will be a waste of time. Plus if they print a retraction, then nothing happens. The best thing to do is to call that reporter and ask to speak to his or her editor, or if you're really angry, and want to get the reporter in trouble, call the publisher. Those contact numbers are usually listed somewhere in the newspaper. Don't talk to the reporter, my advice is to talk to someone higher up. Maybe that reporter is doing the same thing to other people.

Answer 2

Don't press charges right away, because a correction or follow-up article may resolve it. Call the reporter who wrote the story, because if not from Suzie they may have gotten their quote from a source of some kind, like something Suzie said before or something someone else said Suzie said (tounge-twister there).

Call or e-mail the reporter and say you believe there's been a mistake in a story written. If you don't hear from them, ask to speak with the editor for that department (metro, sports, lifestyle, whatever).

It's better to get the facts first before just pounce with a lawsuit, cause likely the quote wasn't made up, so much as found from somewhere, and you wouldn't want that to come back and bite you in the butt.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, the press has got the upper hand. You can sue if you want, you need to go to a lawyer and press charges against the paper for libel or defamation of character. The problem is that you need proof that you didn't say it. The papers also need proof that you did, but they get away with a lot more. It's worth a shot though.
Good Luck

Answer 4

That would be extremely rare, and someone could get fired if true.

Call the editor and find out what the story is. Ask about the chances for a correction, and see what happens.