Perils of reporting on terrorism.

Image via Wikipedia

Image: Northern Ireland Parliament building at Stormont.

I think in cases where reporters have information in regard to terrorism and crime reporters have a higher obligation to society and should cooperate with the security services and police. Journalists should not be above the law. Journalistic integrity is not the issue, since it might be suggested that journalists have little integrity as a rule.

Suzanne Breen should reveal the information she has:

BBC NEWS: “A Northern Ireland journalist is facing jail over her refusal to give police her notes linked to stories about the Real IRA.

Legal conflict between journalists and detectives in Northern Ireland goes back to the start of the Troubles.

In 1971, BBC reporter Bernard Falk spent time in Belfast’s Crumlin Road jail rather than reveal any details about an IRA spokesman he interviewed.

The paramilitary had appeared on TV in silhouette, back to camera, to conceal his identity…”

via BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Perils of reporting on terrorism.