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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

FELDSTED: Journalistic protection of sources works for the benefit of society most of the time, but is not inviolate


'Dark day for press freedom': Vice must give ISIS notes to police, top court rules 
Catharine Tunney  ~~  CBC News  ~~  Nov 30, 2018

A Vice Media reporter will have to hand over records of his conversations with an alleged ISIS member to police following a Supreme Court of Canada decision.  In the unanimous decision released Friday, the top court upheld a lower court's ruling regarding the work of reporter Ben Makuch. The case was seen as pitting journalists' interest in protecting their sources against the state's duty to investigate crimes.

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Freedom of the press does not remove a reporter’s ethical obligation to report a crime to authorities, or … to resist making relevant evidence available. Protecting sources does not include protecting criminals from arrest and facing due process. ISIS targets Canada and her allies.

No one blocked Makuch from writing his stories, or Vice Media from printing them. Press freedom was not interfered with.  Protecting sources is a time-honoured tradition in the media.  Journalists could not get to the roots of problems if they could not provide anonymity to those they interview.

That raises ethical concerns when the source is actively engaged in criminal activity. And that, is the issue the Supreme Court was dealing with.

Can the protection of public security and safety override the protection of sources?  The answer is ‘yes’ … provided that the journalist is given full opportunity to argue his case for protection.  It is a matter of applying common sense.

Journalistic protection of sources works for the benefit of society most of the time, but is not inviolate.

John Feldsted
Political Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg, Manitoba
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