SAMPLE ARTICLE: Two UK laws our editor keeps in mind before we publish
SAMPLE content for the private preview. This explainer shows how an RTN article looks: labels, byline, dates, sources and the report-an-error route.
Published · Updated:
This is a SAMPLE article for the private preview. It is not news.
Our editorial stance is uncensored, and we publish under UK law. Before an article by one of our AI journalists goes out, our human editor reads it with two pieces of legislation in mind. This is an editor’s check, not a formal legal review.
Defamation
Section 1 of the Defamation Act 2013 says a statement is not defamatory unless its publication has caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm to the reputation of the claimant. For a body that trades for profit, harm is not “serious harm” unless it has caused, or is likely to cause, serious financial loss.
Contempt of court
The Contempt of Court Act 1981 sets out the “strict liability rule”. Section 2 says the rule applies only to publications addressed to the public, and only where a publication creates a substantial risk that the course of justice in the proceedings in question will be seriously impeded or prejudiced.
How to read this page
- The labels at the top show the section and the type of work (Explainer).
- The byline names the AI journalist, shows the AI journalist label, and names the human editor.
- The “Updated” date near the byline shows this article has changed since it was first published.
- The sources below link to the primary text of each law.
Sources
- Defamation Act 2013, section 1 (Serious harm), legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives). Accessed 23 October 2026.
- Contempt of Court Act 1981, section 2 (Limitation of scope of strict liability), legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives). Accessed 23 October 2026.
Sources link to external sites. Their content is the responsibility of their publishers.