But as journalism, its analysis and conclusions should rest as often as is possible on some form of original reporting or on peer - reviewed or government - sponsored research to back up
significant assertions of fact.
In British Chiropractic Association v Dr Singh [2010] EWCA Civ 350, the court held that Singh's comments were expressions of opinion
not assertions of fact.
... That analysis and
the assertion of those facts is what people need help with, and my lawyers in the governor's counsel's office will serve as counsel for any detainee who needs legal assistance.»
Although a judge initially ruled that Singh's words constituted
an assertion of fact, which would have made it hard for him to win a trial case, in April 2010 an appeals court found that his statement qualified as «fair comment» and was therefore protected.
The right - leaning British Times Online, which first publicized the alleged error, called
the assertion of this fact «the most important» of the issues yet to emerge from the 2007 report.
Does
the assertion of a fact on a website appear next to a photo of the writer?
They now claim that their statements were merely «expressions of opinion and rhetorical hyperbole... not
assertions of fact» — which could be proven false.
They now claim that their statements were merely «expressions of opinion and rhetorical hyperbole... not
assertions of fact» — which could be proven false.
There is
no assertion of fact in the post that the decision was not made using information aside from Facebook.
Every person who makes
an assertion of fact in a statement or entry in a document or form for use under this Act knowing that the assertion is false is guilty of an offence and on conviction is liable to a fine of not more than $ 2,000.