TV3 presenter John Campbell and a Campbell Live producer have been summonsed as witnesses for the Waiouru Army Museum medals burglary depositions hearing.
Police have also filed an application for an order to compel Campbell and producer Ingrid Leary to answer questions disclosing the identity of an informant.
MediaWorks TV, which owns and operates TV3, will oppose the application, it said today.
TV3 will almost certainly argue "privilege" in terms of the media's right to withhold the identity of informants.
We have mixed feelings on this one. Sure, journalists are entitled to protect their sources. However in this instance, it would seem that Campbell and his producer had possession of information that was very material to a high-profile and significant police investigation, and had at the very least a MORAL obligation to pass this information on to the relevant authorities. The resultant court case will be very interesting indeed.
1 comment:
Campbell had absolutely no choice.
He’s a journalist, and once journalists start judging and moralising they are worthless.
Incidentally, his involvement did actually hasten the eventual return of medals.
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