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Utah Code
2025 Utah Code
Title 45 - Publication and Broadcasting
Chapter 2 - Libel
Section 11 - Fair reporting privilege of newspaper or broadcasting station personnel as to public official proceedings -- Privilege as to defamatory matter not subject to censorship.
Universal Citation:
UT Code § 45-2-11 (2025)
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Effective 5/7/2025
45-2-11. Fair reporting privilege of newspaper or broadcasting station personnel as to public official proceedings -- Privilege as to defamatory matter not subject to censorship.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session
45-2-11. Fair reporting privilege of newspaper or broadcasting station personnel as to public official proceedings -- Privilege as to defamatory matter not subject to censorship.
- (1)Except as provided in Subsection (2), the following persons may not be prosecuted for a fair and true report or broadcast of a judicial, legislative, or other public official proceeding, or of a statement, speech, argument, or debate related to the judicial, legislative, or other public official proceeding:
- (a)a reporter, editor, or proprietor of a newspaper;
- (b)an owner, a licensee, or an operator of a visual sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations; or
- (c)an agent or employee of a newspaper or broadcasting station.
- (2)Notwithstanding Subsection (1), a person listed in Subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c) may be prosecuted for making a report described in Subsection (1) if there is proof the person acted with malice in making the report, which may not be implied from the mere fact of publication.
- (3)An owner, licensee, or operator of a visual or sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations, or an agent or employee of a sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations, may not be prosecuted for a defamatory matter or statement published or uttered in a radio or television broadcast if the publication cannot be censored by reason of the provisions of a federal statute or a regulation issued by the Federal Communications Commission.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173, 2025 General Session
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