Canadian libel law has been a longstanding disgrace

But not uniquely so. Other democracies have peculiar views of press freedom.

OTTAWA—A new year, a new libel law. "Top Court Backs Honest Reporting," as The Vancouver Province put it. Journalists will not ponder it for long.

Media don't dwell on defamation rulings any more than farmers like chatting about locusts. Yet libel law remains a fascinating workplace irritant with its own tragi-comic history.

Defamation is an ancient complaint.

In the 17^th...