Free TV CEO Bridget Fair today welcomed the South Australian Government’s release of draft shield laws to protect the work of our journalists and their sources.
“The Marshall Government is walking the talk on their commitment to a free and open media in South Australia. We congratulate Premier Marshall and Attorney General Chapman on these important measures to support public interest journalism.
Shield laws are critical to ensuring that journalists do not face criminal sanctions for maintaining their ethical obligations to protect their sources. Without such protection, sources could be deterred from assisting the media to report on matters of public interest.
Commercial free-to-air television employs hundreds of high-calibre, award winning investigative journalists whose work is fundamental to the checks and balances required in a healthy democracy.
In an era of fake news and alternative facts, Australia now more than ever needs a strong and vibrant local media industry providing trusted news and analysis to the community.
We look forward to working with the Marshall Government to give our journalists the protections they need to continue to shine a light on our democracy.”
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