Journalist fined for protecting source

Journalist Sabina Slonková has been fined 20,000 crowns (nearly 1,000 USD) for protecting one of her sources. Ms Slonková, who works for the news website Aktualně, refused to reveal who handed her material from a meeting held between lobbyist Miroslav Šlouf and head of the president’s office Jiří Weigl shortly before the presidential election last year. The reporter was convicted under a law which compels journalists to identify their sources when such information can be used to investigate serious crimes such as murder. Ms Slonková has said the lawsuit is tantamount to ‘harassment’. On Saturday, Mladá fronta Dnes reported that the fine was the first of its sort to be handed out since the Velvet Revolution.

Author: Rosie Johnston