Don F.,

As I've thought a bit more about your reply, I have remembered the words of one of my mentors whose counsel went something like this: "While the First Amendment may protect you from paying damages to a person you have harmed with a false, misleading or incomplete story, your words were still libelous." 

Something else he taught me was: "You don't have to like someone to write fairly and honestly about them. It's just a lot harder." 

As Christians, we are called to a higher standard of honesty and fairness than the world. We should be loyal to truth and respectful of what impact our words have on others because we must face the judgement of God. I think that includes calling something libelous when it is.