Emma Tucker says powerful figures sue media before publication
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 6
Emma Tucker says powerful figures sue media before publication
14 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 6
At the Harry Evans summit, the Wall Street Journal editor said legal threats now arrive in a torrent before stories run, citing Donald Trump's lawsuit over Epstein reporting.
Tucker said the tactic has become lawfare and a public relations tool, making investigative reporting harder and more expensive before publication rather than only after alleged defamation.
The warning came as RSF said more than half of countries now have difficult or very serious press freedom conditions, while editors also highlighted political hostility and AI-driven misinformation.
How might AI-driven legal tools and anti-SLAPP legislation reshape the global fight for press freedom in the next few years?
With lawsuits and AI-generated fakes rising, can independent journalism survive without sweeping legal and funding reforms?
Landmark Dismissal of Trump's $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit Against The Wall Street Journal
Overview
In April 2026, a federal judge dismissed Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, ruling that Trump failed to prove the newspaper acted with actual malice. The Journal's thorough journalistic process, including seeking Trump's comments and publishing his denial, was key to this decision. The lawsuit arose from a 2025 article about a lewd drawing in a birthday card Trump allegedly sent to Jeffrey Epstein, which Trump called fake. This case highlights a global trend of powerful figures using legal threats to intimidate media, causing chilling effects on press freedom. In response, news organizations are strengthening legal defenses, adopting AI tools, and diversifying revenue to protect independent journalism and uphold democratic accountability.