September 8, 2014

Academic to head study on the protection of journalists’ sources

University of Wollongong (UOW) journalism academic Julie Posetti has been appointed chief researcher of an investigation into changes in legal protections for journalists’ sources globally, and the effectiveness of them, in the context of the changing digital environment.

Titled UNESCO Internet Study: Privacy and Journalists’ Sources, the project is to be undertaken by the World Editors Forum (WEF) for UNESCO and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

In an online announcement published on 5 September, Ms Posetti, who is a research fellow with WAN-IFRA in Paris, France with the WEF, writes: “The protection of journalists’ confidential sources is considered important to ensure a free flow of information, especially in regard to whistle-blowing.”

“Without adequate legal protection, a ‘chilling effect’ is likely, with holders of sensitive information being reluctant to come forward to journalists because they do not feel safe,” she adds.

Editors, publishers, industry bodies, legal authorities, media law academics and relevant NGOs from around the globe will be surveyed and interviewed as part of the research project, which will produce case studies highlighting key issues and make recommendations regarding the legal protection of journalists’ sources in the digital era.

The results of the study will be published in 2015 and will feed into the wider UNESCO Internet Issues Study.

Media contact: Julie Posetti can be contacted on julie.posetti@wan-ifra.org. Follow Julie Posetti on Twitter via @julieposetti.