This is a very important practical halacha that I was concerned about after some scandals involving Jewish people were written up in the newspapers.

Many people mistakenly think that repeating well-known derogatory information is not considered loshon hora.  It should be made clear that many halachic authorities do not differentiate between loshon hora that is well-known and loshon hora that is not well known.  Therefore, even loshon hora that is well-known should not be repeated.

Mr. Gold read in The New York Times that Mr. Cohen was arrested for an infringement of the law.  Even though this is obviously well-known, Mr. Gold should not relate this information to others.

~ Guard Your Tongue