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”… the thing that makes it harder for public figures to sue the media is actually the First Amendment."

With all due respect dschapin, this is probably not how the Founding States had intended for the 1st Amendment to be understood imo. This is evidenced by the fact that the Bill of Rights was originally intended to limit the powers of the federal government only, not those of the states.

It wasn’t until the 14th Amendment was ratified (under very questionable circumstances), that the states also obligated themselves to respect constitutionally enumerated rights.

H O W E V E R …

Note that John Bingham, the main author of Section 1 of the 14th Amendment (14A), had clarified that 14A did not take away state powers.

“The adoption of the proposed amendment will take from the States no rights [emphasis added] that belong to the States.” —John Bingham, Appendix to the Congressional Globe. (See bottom half of first column)
“No right [emphasis added] reserved by the Constitution to the States should be impaired…” —John Bingham, Appendix to the Congressional Globe. (See top half of 1st column)
“Do gentlemen say that by so legislating we would strike down the rights of the State [emphasis added]? God forbid. I believe our dual system of government essential to our national existance.” —John Bingham, Appendix to the Congressional Globe. (See bottom half of third column)

So since the states had the constitutionally unchecked 10th Amendment (10A) power to regulate our 1st Amendment-protected personal rights before 14A was ratified, they still had the power to do so after that amendment was ratified, 14A limiting, not prohibiting, such powers.

In fact, Justice Reed had noted that it is the job of judges to balance 10A-protected state powers with 14A-protected personal rights.

"Conflicts in the exercise of rights arise and the conflicting forces seek adjustments in the courts, as do these parties, claiming on the one side the freedom of religion, speech and the press, guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment, and on the other the right to employ the sovereign power explicitly reserved to the State by the Tenth Amendment to ensure orderly living without which constitutional guarantees of civil liberties would be a mockery." --Justice Reed, Jones v. City of Opelika, 1942.