I don’t quite see how this takedown of Skeeter is so brilliant. Ok, she’s been convinced of something that’s not true, but what of it? She’s written untrue things before without getting into trouble.
That’s what I was wondering about the most. Perhaps the main difference is that her usual dishonest stories are written to be difficult to falsify — so it’s technically her word against her victims’ — whereas in this case she believes the story to be true, and perhaps the Weasley twins will have left specific proof that the story is false, or perhaps even made it appear that she had actively forged the evidence; this could compel the Daily Prophet to fire her (even if they don’t really want to). It probably wouldn’t do much to her reputation (sounds like everyone already hates her), but if it interferes with her career, her ability to disseminate information to wide audiences, that could indeed reduce her usefulness to Lucius.
Come to think of it, how do real tabloids get away with reporting week after week that every celebrity is having an affair with every other celebrity or is in drug rehab or whatever? Do the celebrities in question just not consider it worth the time or money to go after them for libel?
That’s what I was wondering about the most. Perhaps the main difference is that her usual dishonest stories are written to be difficult to falsify — so it’s technically her word against her victims’ — whereas in this case she believes the story to be true, and perhaps the Weasley twins will have left specific proof that the story is false, or perhaps even made it appear that she had actively forged the evidence; this could compel the Daily Prophet to fire her (even if they don’t really want to). It probably wouldn’t do much to her reputation (sounds like everyone already hates her), but if it interferes with her career, her ability to disseminate information to wide audiences, that could indeed reduce her usefulness to Lucius.
Come to think of it, how do real tabloids get away with reporting week after week that every celebrity is having an affair with every other celebrity or is in drug rehab or whatever? Do the celebrities in question just not consider it worth the time or money to go after them for libel?