marc vallée

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 06.11.06. The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) (often known as MI6) headquarters in Vauxhall on the River Thames. The distinctive building is a well known London landmark designed by the architect Terry Farrell. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2006.

“A source for concern” – Duncan Campbell, The Guardian.

“Police demand terror notes from press and broadcasters” – Press Gazette.

“NUJ to back major press freedom legal case” – nuj.org.uk.

Tomorrow freelance journalist Shiv Malik (with backing from the NUJ) will be in the high court for a judicial review due to police demands for his source material relating to the former right-wing islamist Hassan Butt. The outcome to this case could have serious implications for the future of investigative journalism.

NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: “It would appear the police now see journalists as simply another tool of intelligence gathering – and that puts both journalists and journalism under threat. If someone wants to blow the whistle on wrongdoing, or speak out on issues of a sensitive nature, they will be far less likely to come forward if they are unsure about whether they can speak in confidence. That’s not only damaging to democracy, it also forces debate around these issues out of the public eye. Open debate is one of our strongest weapons in taking on terrorists, yet this case undermines our ability to expose the fragility of their arguments.”

“Terrorism Act 2000″(pdf) – Office of Public Sector Information.