The first two articles of the "Communications and the Law" quarterly review issue devoted to the issues of libel and slander focus upon the U.S. Supreme Court decision in "Herbert v. Lando," 441 U.S. 153. That decision held that a defamed public figure plaintiff charging a media defendant may compel the defendant to answer questions bearing on her state of mind. Both articles examine the chilling effect that such a decision has on communications. Other articles included in the compilation cover topics that include neutral reportage as a new libel defense, the future of strict liability in libel, protecting confidential sources in libel litigation, and retraction's role under the actual malice rule. Also reviewed are the reach of out-of-state courts in libel actions, problems in libel litigation, methods of avoiding the chilling effect, "innocent Construction" rules, "single instance" as a defense, and libel as a communications phenomena. The drawing of the line between fact and opinion and limited libel protection for broadcast announcers as provided by the Constitution are also discussed.