Jury To Rule On Whether HBO Child Labor Exposé Was Defamatory

Five years after its 22-minute segment, “Children of Industry,” aired, HBO is now hoping a jury will find that it practiced responsible journalism. Mitre Sports International, one of the largest soccer brands in the world, was the focus of the investigative piece, which showed children stitching soccer balls for pennies a day. Mitre claims that it has been a leader in cracking down on child labor, and is suing HBO for defamation. In the Hollywood Reporter, Eriq Gardner summarizes the two sides’ closing arguments.