Informed 03


We successfully defended Ed Moloney in 1999 when the police demanded his records of a conversation with a loyalist paramilitary. Safeguarding Robin Ackroyd’s notebooks, took seven years, but we stood with him and his notes retained their secrets when we won in 2007. A year later, we supported Shiv Malik at a judicial review that significantly narrowed the scope of information he was required to disclose. Similarly, the production order served on videographer Jason Parkinson in 2011 in respect of his footage from the Dale Hall Farm evictions was substantially resisted. And just two years ago, the NUJ supported Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey when they successfully argued they were entitled to protect their sources – despite suffering dawn raids, and the hijacking of their computer server.


Indeed, the assault on sources is


ongoing and widespread. Julian Assange is facing extradition from this country to face charges of cultivating and protecting a source. Daily we hear about intrusive software, such as NSO’s Pegasus, being used to snoop on journalists – to find out who are their sources. And, the Government is currently preparing legislation that would broaden the scope of the Official Secrets Act to criminalise journalists who receive documents from whistleblowers.


This should concern us all. The ability


of reporters to expose wrongdoing, incompetence and corruption is a vital check on democracy. Undermine that ability and the electorates will be hoodwinked, the power of corporations will be unchecked, and the innocent will languish in jail. For a grieving individual it is understandable when those broader benefits are obscured. The purpose of a civilised legal system, however, is to resist atavistic justice. Given the previous failings in the case by West Midland’s Police, their conduct in this case is particularly depressing. What will happen when the case gets


Be Part of a Collective Voice


As a member of the NUJ you are part of a united force championing the rights of media workers and defending atacks on press freedom. Successful workplaces are those where the management and workers share the same aims and talk to each other. Being a member of the NUJ means giving yourself and colleagues a real voice at work.


Are you keeping good company? Join the NUJ today at


nuj.org.uk/join


to the Old Bailey – I don’t know. Of Chris Mullin’s instincts, however, I am pretty certain. As his former Parliamentary colleague, Jack Straw wrote to The Times last week: “I have known Mr Mullin for 40 years. Wild horses, thumb screws, and a lengthy spell in prison would not make him break a confidence”.


www.nuj.org.uk


I hope that the court rules out the application of any of the above. If they don’t, however, I am certain that journalism’s most sacred commitment will be safeguarded by one of its doughtiest defenders. He will have by his side, in spirit at least, every member of our union.


REASONS TO JOIN


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