Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts - Impact

In the tumultuous events that shaped the 1960s and the early 1970s, the Court's ruling went a long way to ensure the press could cover stories without fear of lawsuits for inaccuracies that can occur when reporting on deadline. The rulings also helped pave the way for the hard hitting investigative journalism that allowed newspapers and television news broadcasts to pursue Watergate and publish the Pentagon Papers. The Court has consistently protected the rights of a free press, some would argue to the detriment of the individual, particularly when dealing with public figures.