The Telegraph Apologizes for article on Melania Trump

[Jocassee]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/01/26/melania-trump-apology/

I have never seen a more abject, groveling apology (couched in media PR-speak, of course).

One has to wonder what exactly was threatened.

If someone else has a similar example I'd be interested in seeing it but this is...unique.

[zxcvbob]

Wow.  That's how it's supposed to be done!  I've never seen that before in a newspaper, online or print.

[griz]

The last line:

As a mark of our regret we have agreed to pay Mrs Trump substantial damages as well as her legal costs.

To me that says "there is so much evidence that we are guilty of libel that this is the only way we don't go to court". 

[230RN]

Speculation:

The Trump Organization Lawyers (TTOL) had them dead to rights on all points and they knew it, and when TTOL pounded their fists on the table and demanded a full, point-by-point, complete, honest and obvious retraction, the newsrag caved.  TTOL probably dictated the actual statement.

I hope the GDF reporter gets his/her/its due, too.

I hope this is an object lesson to all the TDS people, reporters, and editors.

I hope they learn or re-learn the definitions of "slander" and "libel."

[RocketMan]

The Telegraph has a lot to learn.  An American newsrag would never apologize in this fashion.  Any retraction would be grudgingly given and buried on the last page of the lifestyle section under a bunch of "one weird trick" ads.

[French G.]

Well, expect to see a CNN Sunday panel talking about that. Not.

[MillCreek]

I have read elsewhere about this: the UK has strict libel laws providing for substantial penalties for libelous or untrue articles published in the press. I read several UK newspapers and news sites, and it is not that uncommon to see retractions or apologies published.

[Ben]

I have read elsewhere about this: the UK has strict libel laws providing for substantial penalties for libelous or untrue articles published in the press. I read several UK newspapers and news sites, and it is not that uncommon to see retractions or apologies published.

Man, the US media would go on 24/7 tirades if they were subjected to such laws. Likely our news (across the political spectrum) would look much different as well.