ABC: “The protection of sources is crucial for public interest journalism”

This press release was originally published on ABC.

A recent court ruling would have forced the ABC and our journalists to reveal the confidential name of a key source in the defamation matter being brought by former serviceman Heston Russell.

The ruling in the Federal Court resulted in the ABC having to choose between protecting the identity of its source by upholding a pre-publication commitment made to the source to not reveal their real name – versus continuing its defence of the defamation proceedings.

The ABC had no choice but to uphold its commitment and abandon its defence of proceedings.

The protection of sources is crucial for public interest journalism, especially when sources fear adverse effects from their real names being revealed. The ABC and other news organisations must take the strongest line possible in supporting and defending journalists and sources who have entered into such an agreement.

ABC Director News Justin Stevens said: “Commitments made and kept by journalists to sources are central to ensuring journalists retain the ongoing trust of people speaking truth to power, they are a key tenet of journalistic ethics and press freedom in this country.

“We wanted the opportunity to defend our journalism in court, however a greater principle is now at stake – our ethical responsibility to honour the promise protecting the name of our source.

“Mark Willacy and the ABC’s award-winning investigations team are experienced journalists with a strong track record of reporting on matters of public interest and the ABC supports them upholding their obligations to their sources.”

– ABC

More on this story

ABC drops defence in former soldier Heston Russell’s defamation case to avoid naming source (ABC News, 12 July)