More than 1,000 journalists in Ireland have signed a petition in support of the refusal of the editor of The Irish Times, Geraldine Kennedy, and its public affairs correspondent, Colm Keena, to assist in revealing the source of information about payments to Bertie Ahern.
The petition was presented at a special meeting of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Liberty Hall yesterday, held as part of the Europe-wide Stand Up For Journalism day.
The signatories expressed solidarity with Ms Kennedy and Mr Keena, who were ordered by the High Court last month to answer questions from the Mahon tribunal in relation to the source of an article about payments to Mr Ahern when he was minister for finance in 1993. The petitioners saluted "their commitment to the protection of sources and defence of journalism in Ireland".
The Stand Up For Journalism event was organised in response to threats from a number of sources such as commercial pressures, lack of investment, outsourcing and legal threats, according to the NUJ.
At the meeting in Dublin, the High Court's decision in the Irish Timescase was described as a blow to press freedom.
"In a free society, press freedom is crucial, and protection of sources is crucial to press freedom," said Martin Fitzpatrick, chairman of the union's Dublin branch. "We are right behind Geraldine and Colm."
John Moran, acting father of The Irish TimesNUJ chapel (branch), said it was "encouraging to see senior people in journalism taking a strong moral position . . . I am aware they do feel from time to time under severe pressure and this support will be a great boost to them."
Other participants spoke of the damage being done to Irish media by staff cutbacks, erosion of pay and outsourcing of vital jobs.
"The desire to maximise market share at all costs is having a negative impact on all journalism," said Séamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the NUJ.
At Independent Newspapers, outsourcing and staff cuts had led to a poorer product, said Mr Dooley. About 150 journalists from the group had been replaced by fewer, lower-paid, less experienced staff. Inevitably, more mistakes were made, he said.
"I think it's being done in a belief that the public won't notice the difference," he said.
Dublin branch chairman Mr Fitzpatrick said: "it has been done simply to bid down wages and salaries."
Earlier, Mr Dooley had addressed a meeting in Northern Ireland where redundancy plans threaten the jobs of 100 BBC journalists. The plan "will tear the heart and soul out of the BBC", he said. "Without properly staffed media organisations there cannot be proper scrutiny of central or local government."