Journalists able to protect sources
01 May 1996
After the European Court's judgement (Goodwin vs. UK) in March this year, the Dutch Hoge Raad (Supreme Court) revised its decision of 10 May in the case of Van den Biggelaar against journalists Dohmen and Langenberg of "De Limburger" daily newspaper. It has now granted journalists in principle the right to the protection of their confidential sources. A journalist's usual responsibilities regarding defamation and slander remain intact. Only in exceptional situations involving the need "to obtain a goal necessary in a democratic society" could a judge force a journalist to disclose his sources.