Utah § 45-2-11 Fair reporting privilege of newspaper or broadcasting station personnel as to public official proceedings -- Privilege as to defamatory matter not subject to censorship.

Utah Statutes

§ 45-2-11 — Fair reporting privilege of newspaper or broadcasting station personnel as to public official proceedings -- Privilege as to defamatory matter not subject to censorship.

Utah § 45-2-11

Title 45Publication and Broadcasting

Ch. 45-2Libel

This text of Utah § 45-2-11 (Fair reporting privilege of newspaper or broadcasting station personnel as to public official proceedings -- Privilege as to defamatory matter not subject to censorship.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Utah Code Ann. § 45-2-11 (2026).

Text

(1)Except as provided in Subsection (2), the following persons may not be prosecuted for a fair and true report or broadcast of a judicial, legislative, or other public official proceeding, or of a statement, speech, argument, or debate related to the judicial, legislative, or other public official proceeding:

(1)(a) a reporter, editor, or proprietor of a newspaper;

(1)(b) an owner, a licensee, or an operator of a visual sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations; or

(1)(c) an agent or employee of a newspaper or broadcasting station.

(2)Notwithstanding Subsection (1), a person listed in Subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c) may be prosecuted for making a report described in Subsection (1) if there is proof the person acted with malice in making the report, which may not be implied

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(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), the following persons may not be prosecuted for a fair and true report or broadcast of a judicial, legislative, or other public official proceeding, or of a statement, speech, argument, or debate related to the judicial, legislative, or other public official proceeding:
(1)(a) a reporter, editor, or proprietor of a newspaper;
(1)(b) an owner, a licensee, or an operator of a visual sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations; or
(1)(c) an agent or employee of a newspaper or broadcasting station.
(2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1), a person listed in Subsection (1)(a), (b), or (c) may be prosecuted for making a report described in Subsection (1) if there is proof the person acted with malice in making the report, which may not be implied from the mere fact of publication.
(3) An owner, licensee, or operator of a visual or sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations, or an agent or employee of a sound radio broadcasting station or network of stations, may not be prosecuted for a defamatory matter or statement published or uttered in a radio or television broadcast if the publication cannot be censored by reason of the provisions of a federal statute or a regulation issued by the Federal Communications Commission.