TFL Vsebine / Revija Pravnik

3

Svoboda tiska in novinarjev je v samem jedru svobode izražanja kot temeljne človekove pravice in demokratične vrednote. Njen pomen za demokracijo je očiten in neizpodbiten. Pogojuje obstoj pravice javnosti do obveščenosti, ki je v funkciji demokratičnega nadzora nad oblastjo. Med pomembnejšimi elementi svobode tiska in novinarjev pa je pravica novinarjev do zaščite svojih virov informacij. Vendar čeprav pravno in sodno priznanje te pravice ni novost, kot tudi zavedanje o problemu »zastraševalnega učinka«, ki ga povzročajo omejevalni posegi v to pravico, nanjo ne smemo gledati ne kot na nekaj samoumevnega ne kot na dokončno izoblikovani koncept. Prvič, ker se tudi ta pravica v praksi še vedno in prepogosto krši. Drugič, ker ob različnih okoliščinah in posebnostih konkretnih življenjskih primerov dobiva različen domet in različne poudarke. In tretjič, ker je za njeno učinkovito pravno zaščito in kakovostno uresničevanje zelo pomembno določanje izjem, kdaj se sme poseči v to pravico in pod katerimi pogoji. To izhaja tudi iz sodne prakse, predvsem iz sodb ESČP, ki so obravnavane v članku. V tem duhu je treba posebno pozornost nameniti nedavni sodbi Vrhovnega sodišča Republike Slovenije, ki pomeni prvi primer sodne konceptualne utemeljitve te pravice v slovenskem pravnem redu. Avtor analizo sklene z doktrinarnim sklepom o obsegu in razsežnostih te pravice.

Freedom of the press and journalistic freedom are at the core of the freedom of expression as a fundamental human right and democratic value. Its importance for democracy appears obvious and indisputable. It presupposes the right of public to be informed, which stands in the function of democratic control over the state powers. Among the most important elements of free press and journalistic freedom stands the journalists’ right to protect their sources of information. Even though the legal and judicial recognition and protection of this rights is not new, and the same goes for the problem of the so-called chilling effect produced by the intrusions in such right one must not consider it as a self-evident matter, or as a finally resolved concept. Firstly, because infringement of this right occurs daily. Secondly, because its dimensions and emphases are in constant flux due to different circumstances and particularities of concrete cases at hand. Thirdly, effective legal protection and quality exercise of such right rests on determining the exceptions when the intrusion is legally acceptable and the criteria for such deeds. This observation arises from judicial decision-making, especially the ECHR case-law, which is analysed in this article. The decision of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia should be observed in such a spirit since it represents the first judicial conceptualisation of discussed right in Slovenian legal system. The author concludes by doctrinal assessment on the extension and limits of this right.

The Right of Journalists to the Protection of a Source of Information – A Doctrinal Supplement to the Judgment of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia