United States Mission Corp. v. KIRO TV, Inc.

¶1 — Falsity is an element of a common law claim of defamation. But, a defendant against whom a defamation claim is asserted need not prove the literal truth of every defamatory statement. Rather, to prevail, a defendant need only show that the statement is substantially true or that the gist of the story, the portion that carries the “sting,” is true. Here, the gist of the two stories KIRO TV Inc. broadcast and published on its web site about United States Mission Corporation (US Mission) is true, even though some statements, such as that US Mission “recruited” felons and sent “bevies” of…