What Is 'Actual Malice'?

Actual malice' is a situation where a statement was made that was not only false, but that it was made recklessly, or maliciously. For example, you knew, or should have known you should have investigated to see if that statement was true, but you didn't. And because you didn't investigate to see if it was true, and it turns out it was false, you've got a problem. Because that public figure, who normally wouldn't be able to sue you for making an untrue statement, now has a "greenlight" to do it, because you acted with a reckless disregard of your duties to make sure that statement was true before publishing it.