Fairbanks Publishing Company v. Francisco

NESBETT, Chief Justice.

This appeal grows out of a libel suit commenced by appellee Grant Francisco against appellant publishing company which publishes a daily newspaper in Fairbanks, Alaska known as the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. The libel is alleged to have been contained in an item published in the News-Miner on May 6, 1957 which was reporting the contents of a letter from the newly appointed Fairbanks Fire Chief to the City Manager of Fairbanks.

The questions raised by appellant are: (1) whether the news item was a fair and accurate abridgment of the privileged communication; (2) whether…