The National NewsMedia Council of Canada (NNC) expresses its concern at events unfolding in Ontario Superior Court as the RCMP seeks to compel VICE journalist Ben Makuch to hand over his notes connected to an interview with suspected Canadian ISIS fighter Farah Shirdon.

NNC president and CEO John Fraser said that although police have responsibility to investigate, they should be extremely wary of co-opting the media to serve as assistants in that work.

“News media in Canada either have the duty and right to report without fear or favour, or they do not. There is little grey area here,” Mr. Fraser said. “It is particularly in the most difficult cases, like this one, where the truest test of media freedom is found.”