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If media outlets were magnets for defamation lawsuits, then New Matilda would be a super conductor. In less than 12 months, we’ve had seven defamation threats, including one from a Rabbi who publicly argued that same-sex attracted people should consider killing themselves, rather than engage in sex. He objected to us describing him as homophobic.
You can’t make this stuff up.
And now, Channel 7 is threatening to sue. Yes, Channel 7. You might remember them from such recent headlines as ‘We’re seeking legal costs against a woman we tried to gag who had sex with our CEO for a couple years, and snorted a whole pile of cocaine with him’.
New Matilda’s alleged offence? Columnist Michael Brull wrote this article in March, in which he trashed Today Tonight (yes, remarkably, they remain on the air in South Australia and WA) and its reporting around ‘Muslims who are trying to take over the world… or at least our small corner of the world’.
Needless to say, Today Tonight and Channel 7 have taken some offence.
As is New Matilda’s stated policy, we publish threats of defamation for our readers to behold. With that in mind, below is the ‘concerns notice’ sent to us by Channel 7’s lawyers. Below that is my reply. Admittedly, I was a little ’emotional’ when I wrote it.
As always, we’ll keep you posted.
And here’s New Matilda’s reply….
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