Taking Them to Court

The threat was made and now it has been followed through on. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco are suing the French newspaper L'Express for invasion of privacy and publishing "incorrect facts" about the private life of the Princely couple. I say well done the Prince and Princess of Monaco. Someone should be made to answer for the dark cloud that was maliciously flung over the Princely wedding on what should have been a purely happy and celebratory occasion of the Grimaldi and Wittstock families and the Principality of Monaco. Of course, L'Express is not the only guilty party, not by a long shot, but they are the ones most other media outlets took their example from since, we were told over and over again, L'Express was a publication of great journalistic integrity. Well, not from where I'm sitting! This is, of course, not an effort to silence journalism, even of the rather trivial variety. I would not be in favor of that and I know the Princely Family wouldn't be either. However, what the Prince and Princess were hit with was not journalism, it was slanderous gossip wearing a journalistic mask.

A good journalist, for example, will report on an important story and give you some basic facts; exactly what happened, where it happened, when it happened and who it happened to. In most cases they will tell you where they got their information from so that others can verify that what they are reporting is true. In this case, however, all we got was third-hand rumors based on "anonymous sources" and then endless speculation. We were given gossip that was completely un-specific so that nothing that was reported could be verified. Freedom of the press is one of the most important liberties we in the western world have but that freedom should never be used as a cover to peddle gossip and ruin the lives of others simply to sell newspapers. Of course, L'Express will not be hurting too much, even if the Prince wins the case. The Palace has already said that they will be seeking only a nominal sum, the Prince does not need the money after all, because what is at issue here is not a monetary amount but a principle. Again, I say well done!