Thank you everyone for the great responses and great insights. I'm from New Jersey.
Here’s why I asked this. I was the victim of a “false tip” that was sent in to a local online publication . . . moreover it was an “anonymous false tip.” I know because the publication called me for a quote - at least an opportunity to defend myself. I declined to do so, but before I declined, I was asked for a copy of the tip/email. To my surprise, the publication sent me the email. The email was, in fact, anonymous. It was also, in fact, fake news about me. And they published it! I believe it to be slanderous and/or libelous.
Questions:
1. Who is legally liable? The publication or the person who sent in the false news tip.
2. I’ve spoken to lawyers and journalists. They say it would be practically impossible to sue the anonymous tipster because, for one thing, I would need to file a John Doe Lawsuit and that’s an uphill battle. But the other reasons, I’m told, is that there’s nothing illegal about sending in a news tip . . . even if it proves to be a false tip. Why? Because a tip is merely a suggestion or a pitch. The news organization isn’t forced to run a tip, suggestion or pitch. If the news organization is interested in publishing the tip, then it’s on the news publication to verify and vet the tip/suggestion/pitch. Is that true?
3. I could try to prove malice on the part of the anonymous tipster. But that would also be pretty difficult. Since a tip is a suggestion, the tipster could just say, “I heard a rumor and sent it to the publication to see if they wanted to investigate further.” In fact, the tipster seemed to know what they were doing, as they actually said in the email “I’m hearing . . . “ So in other words, to me, it sounds like they’re admitting right off the bat that the info was unverified. Did the tipster do anything illegal? If yes, would be difficult to prove?
4. It sounds like my issue, if I wanted to sue, would be with the publication and the publication could attempt to sue the tipster. True?
5. I’m really not interested in sueing the publication as my damages, I admit, would be minimal. I’m more interested in finding our who is spreading these lies. But if I don’t have a legal case against the tipster, I may be trying to swim upstream. True?
6. A lawyer actually said to me "internet service providers don't usually play ball - even if subpoenaed." They don't silently ignore it. But they do fight the subpoena. Especially if its an out of state subpoena. True?