JOUA06H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Privacy Law, Investigative Journalism, Telephone Tapping
Document Summary
Protecting sources: courts, public inquiries, and legislatures have the power to hold a journalist in contempt for refusing to provide evidence, including the names of sources, however, judges have been hesitant to go after a journalist"s sources. Sources must be identified if case goes to trial. Journalists can"t offer a iron-clad guarantee to protect a source. Journalists should carefully negotiate the terms of any agreement to protect a source. It should be made clear that the journalist is obliged to disclose the sources identify to an editor or producer: must know info before allowed to publish. Sources who demand confidently should understand that the law doesn"t offer absolute protection. Journalist"s should negotiate a exit strategy - to seek assurance form the source that they will come forward in the unlikely event the journalist is facing a fine or jail term for refusing to identify.
