Comments on: Police attack Australian over publication of raids story

By: Nothing black and white about journalistic ethics - mUmBRELLA

Nothing black and white about journalistic ethics - mUmBRELLA — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:54:55 +0000

[...] First came Tuesday’s attack on The Australian’s reporting on the alleged terrorist plot. [...]

By: noel m

noel m — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:16:10 +0000

Poor effort Australian,we want gone of these maggots,dont compromise piggys trying to catch them,its dangerous for cops and could lose possilbe convictions,but you know this,Editor Australian so why?

By: AdGrunt

AdGrunt — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:30:19 +0000

AW,
The leak referred to is the original one that the Australian received about the raids themselves and co-ordinated publication (allegedly poorly) with Vic Rozzers and AFP.

Yes, the Australian should report what it’s told, in the national interest.
No, the Australian shouldn’t take actions that may compromise future police work.
Both aims were achieved.

The piece is (deliberately) thin on useful suspect tip-off and in my opinion gives scant specific warning even if posted through their letterboxes the night before.

The police seem more miffed about the leak itself than any perceived or actual compromise caused by the story breaking. No evidence has yet been provided that early editions contained the story, which one might have expected by now.

Indeed, today AAP reports Overland as back-tracking somewhat saying “It’s been successful from our point of view, from operational safety and achieving what we needed to achieve.”

The toys are back the respective prams, it seems.

By: AW

AW — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:48:49 +0000

Something that concerns national security should not have been PRINTED prior to the actual raids.

While I am sure News Ltd staff probably sign some employment agreement not to disclose information, they are not subjected to security checks that our police and armed forces are.

Therefore, right back at the printing press is where ANY ONE of their staff could have leaked this.

Printers, delivery drivers, hell, even the junior that helps load the trucks with the papers could have leaked this.

This could have gone very wrong and a lot of people could have died.

FFS – where is the accountability to the people of this country?

By: Adam Paull

Adam Paull — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:53:45 +0000

Sounds similar to the Telegraphs “Masterchef” stuff up last month, only this time lives were at stake and it was a question of national security. At least they didn’t have quotes from the terrorists where they had to pretend to be arrested…

By: Police attack The Australian newspaper over terror raids scoop | Journalism.co.uk Editors' Blog

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:12:33 +0000

[...] MUmBRELLA: ‘Police attack Australian over publication of raids story’ [...]

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:39:20 +0000

Were those papers with the story available to newsagents for home delivery earlier than the raids occured?
Could those home-delivery papers be read by anyone that happened to walk past the bundles?
Could, for instance, all-night cab drivers have had access to the story?
What time did those home-delivery papers reach newsagents?
What time were the raids?
Please answer Chris Mitchell.

By: Tim Bennett

Tim Bennett — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:20:41 +0000

So, Simon Overland and Chris Mitchell have nailed their colours to the mast and the question is in play: were the raid stories available anywhere before the raids happened? Ironic that this is happening on the same day as Utegate re-enters the headlines.

By: Jack

Jack — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:09:25 +0000

If some blog had done this, Christian Kerr and the other anti-blog types at the Australian would’ve been crying foul. No excuse would’ve been acceptable.