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Libel
The legal definition of libel is a published (including broadcast) false statement
that:
• exposes someone to hatred, ridicule or contempt
• causes them to be shunned or avoided
• lowers them in the estimation of ‘right thinking’ members of society
• disparages them in their office, profession or trade.
In order to be a libel, the words used must refer to an individual or individuals who can be identified. It does not apply to an organization or group of people, unless what you write or say can be taken to refer to identifiable individuals in a group (so the smaller the group, the more possible for individuals to be identified).

How libel can occur
A libel is most likely to occur by accident. Anything you publish carries a risk if it includes inaccurate, unclear, ambiguous or unchecked facts which could be taken to reflect badly on an individual or individuals. You can even libel someone you did not know existed. And libel can be simply an innuendo or implication. But even truthful statements carry a risk; if you were sued you would have to be able to prove they were true. And even if you could prove that, could you afford the cost of a court case? The winning side might still have to pay thousands of pounds to its own lawyers. So the key to libel is to avoid it in the first place!

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