With barely 30 minutes’ notice given to news organisations, they succeeded in obtaining the order and an injunction from the NSW Supreme Court based on averting a potential “injurious falsehood”. Last week,by the NSW Court of Appeal and the program and accompanying articles were immediately published. They exposed unsafe medical practices by Ajaka, and revolting and dangerous conduct by another practitioner, Dr Ryan Wells.
Ajaka’s courtroom manoeuvres were yet another example of the rich and powerful seeking to stop genuinely motivated, courageous journalism.threatened publication. It amounted to intimidation, and emotional blackmail of third parties – of fellow journalists and other media operatives, of doctors and patients – to get them to hand over information or use their influence to derail the program and publication of adverse articles.
Efforts to hinder are not new, but the court’s initial decision was new and alarming. It would, as the media organisations’ counsel told the court, amount to judges, and the lawyers of alleged wrongdoers, becoming the de facto editors of journalists’ work.Although the NSW Court of Appeal last week found there was “no such power, jurisdiction or authority” in the Supreme Court rules to make the original discovery order, Justice Stephen Rothman, who authorised it, continues to disagree.
That raises serious concerns about judicial discretionary powers. The lawyers who brought the action have been inventive in finding new ways to threaten the work of journalists. An order like the one Ajaka obtained could gravely endanger public interest journalism and jeopardise whistleblowers and confidential sources..
In the interests of integrity and accountability new federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, and his state and territory counterparts, must act swiftly to rebalance the law to make it safer to
There is no integrity when it come to media and to cry that you’re not being afforded the very thing you lack yourselves including any kind of basic standard smacks of monumental hypocrisy… it’s laughable
Bunk, too many journalist and media are engaged in political activism, bias should be disclosed in the interest of informing the public ?
Recalling all the 'expert regulators' who couldn't see any need for those Royal Commissions despite overwhelming evidence to the likes of 'St Adele of Fairfax'. Even liberals in GoldsteinVoices electorate wanted a bank Royal Commn, fed icac, lobby/donation changes, simonahac
Smizzy777 Costello’s TheAge & SMH abandoned journalism a while ago by publishing lies, puff pieces promoting their corrupt LNP mates, outing people & undermining health efforts for political reasons. There are no journalists there & their editors shit on journalistic standards every day.
SACK BEVAN SHIELDS
Journalists are on agendas for their media outlets, they squeal like pigs, freedom of the press.......What a lot of bullshit.
'Australian journalists work to a code of ethics' - the Age wouldn't know a code of ethics if it bit them on the arse. You jokers are having yourselves on.
The issue I have with this is that journalists don't always tell the truth and run stories that are not based on fact! they run their own agenda - there does need to be some accountability!!
Media has let itself down no use crying about it now.
Code of Ethics..didnt see much of that during or even now, post election. MSM and Sky Lies journos haven't practice journalism with integrity for quiet a while!
So where's you campaign to save JulianAssange
Interesting editorial. Not sure the bulk of today's media stick to close to the rules