Final answer:
An individual may be liable for defamation when they create and promote malicious falsehoods about another person, which includes both slander (spoken) and libel (written statements). The standard of proof for public figures to claim defamation is higher, requiring evidence of 'actual malice'. c) Defamation
Step-by-step explanation:
When an individual creates and promotes malicious falsehoods about another, that individual may be liable for defamation. This can be in the form of either slander, which refers to false spoken statements, or libel, which encompasses false written statements. Defamation is a tort that can cause loss of reputation and income, and is not protected under free speech because the information is knowingly false. However, the standard of proof for defamation claims is higher for public figures due to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964). In this case, public officials must prove that the defamatory statements were made with 'actual malice' - meaning with knowledge that they were false or with reckless disregard for their truth or falsity.
The cases of Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts and Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc. further detail the standards and liabilities related to defamation. It's important to note that while the media do not have the right to commit slander or libel, opinions are protected from libel and slander provisions as they are not claimed to be factual representations.