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How can journalists protect their confidential sources from exposure? How can journalists protect their confidential sources from exposure?
(about 5 hours later)
In an era when whistleblowers are under attack from the authorities and confidential sources are being compromised by state surveillance, how can the people who provide journalists with valuable information be protected?In an era when whistleblowers are under attack from the authorities and confidential sources are being compromised by state surveillance, how can the people who provide journalists with valuable information be protected?
Some answers can be found in research carried out for Unesco by the World Editors Forum (WEF). The paper, called “Protecting journalism source in the digital age”, suggests a framework for assessing the conditions necessary to provide protection.Some answers can be found in research carried out for Unesco by the World Editors Forum (WEF). The paper, called “Protecting journalism source in the digital age”, suggests a framework for assessing the conditions necessary to provide protection.
It has been published as part of a wider, ongoing study by WEF, which is investigating the protection of journalistic sources in 121 countries around the world.It has been published as part of a wider, ongoing study by WEF, which is investigating the protection of journalistic sources in 121 countries around the world.
Its initial findings show that more than 100 of these countries have had some form of source protection in place since 2007. But these frameworks are at risk from national security and anti-terrorism legislation.Its initial findings show that more than 100 of these countries have had some form of source protection in place since 2007. But these frameworks are at risk from national security and anti-terrorism legislation.
So the report’s author, Julie Posetti, believes there is an urgent need to revise and strengthen them and points to the problems faced by inadequate source protection:So the report’s author, Julie Posetti, believes there is an urgent need to revise and strengthen them and points to the problems faced by inadequate source protection:
• pre-publication exposure of journalistic investigations which may triggercover-ups, intimidation, or destruction of information;• pre-publication exposure of journalistic investigations which may triggercover-ups, intimidation, or destruction of information;
• revelation of sources’ identities with legal or extra-legal repercussions forthem;• revelation of sources’ identities with legal or extra-legal repercussions forthem;
• sources of information running dry;• sources of information running dry;
• self-censorship by journalists and, more broadly, by citizens.• self-censorship by journalists and, more broadly, by citizens.
So what’s to be done? Her study proposes an 11-point “assessment tool” for measuring the effectiveness of legal source protection frameworks:So what’s to be done? Her study proposes an 11-point “assessment tool” for measuring the effectiveness of legal source protection frameworks:
Related: Journalists must be able to protect their sources | Julian Huppert
That’s perfection, of course. And, using that framework as a guide, how do you think Britain measures up?That’s perfection, of course. And, using that framework as a guide, how do you think Britain measures up?
Source (and full report): WAN-IFRA. Hat tip: journalism.co.ukSource (and full report): WAN-IFRA. Hat tip: journalism.co.uk