Does Media Liability Cover Slander?

Slander traditionally refers to an allegedly defamatory spoken statement. This can be relevant to interviews, broadcasts, podcasts, livestreams, and other spoken content. The reviewed Hiscox specimen lists slander as an offense under its media liability grant, alongside defamation, libel, trade libel, and product disparagement. The specimen’s terms do not establish coverage under another insurer’s policy.

A spoken statement may also be recorded, edited, republished, or incorporated into a promotional campaign. The policy’s definitions and the insured’s covered services determine whether that activity falls within scope. Intentional-act, prior-knowledge, and reporting provisions can affect a claim even if slander appears in the offense list.

Ask how interviews, live shows, guest statements, and rebroadcasts are treated. Check the offense grant, exclusions, retroactive date, claim reporting window, and defense-cost limit. Keep the issued wording and endorsements for the policy period in question.