The first casualty?

Orla makes valid points in her blog entry, but if I am allowed to be critical (on her technique rather than the content): if I didn't know what this was about, I wouldn't know what this was about. She needs, in my view, to explain the context of this story more. The points she makes are valid ones however.
As journalists we all face pressures of one kind or another in our reporting. People who hold powerful positions may threaten to sue, call us liars, journalists have faced physical threats, been arrested, beaten up, even murdered.
But regardless of all of this, we are honour bound to question those in authority, report the truth as best we can and above all hold power to account. Good journalism keeps society honest, it has a fundamentally important role to play in a democracy. To quote the London Independent journalist Robert Fisk: "We journalists try - or should try - to be the first impartial witnesses of history. If we have any reason for our existence, the least must be our ability to report history as it happens so that no one can say: 'we didn't know - no one told us'."
Threats against press freedom must be fought.


I once again draw your attention to the following:
National Union of Journalists Code of Conduct, Point 1: "A Journalist at all times upholds and defends the principles of media freedom, the right of freedom of expression and the right of the public to be informed".

Irish Constitution:
Article 40.6.1.i: "[The State guarantees] the right of the citizens to express freely their convictions and opinions."

European Convention on Human Rights, Article 10.1: "Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers...."

Universal Declaration on Human Rights, Article 19: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

My personal favourite, and although not legally applicable, the spirit of the legislation, it can be argued, has influenced thinking and jurist prudence on the issue:
American Constitution, First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law ... abridging freedom of the press."

Finally, the New York Times, in an editorial, argues the point well for freedom of the press. You can read it here.
TF