What is ethics like in Australian media?

What Media Ethics Theories would apply about revealing a sources whereabouts?

• This is the case: Mr. Newz Rheporter is one of the top journalists at The Daily Mix-up. He has won several awards for his breaking news stories. Two days ago, Mr. Rheporter received a mysterious phone call from someone whom he did not recognize. The person told him that Stesha Milla, an alleged gang leader, accused of killing several people, wanted to meet with him to give him a story. Milla who is on the police most wanted list wanted to dispute the police allegations against him. Mr. Rheporter, with some trepidation, agreed to do the interview. The next day a package is left at his door with directions to find Milla. On that same day Mr. Rheporter followed the instructions provided and drove to a house in Meverly Hills. There he was greeted by several armed men who escorted him in to see Milla. Before both men sat down, Milla said to Mr. Rheporter: “I am doing the interview with you on the basis that you do not provide any information to the police about my whereabouts.” Mr. Rheporter agreed. One week later Mr. Rheporter’s story is published on the front page of The Daily Mix-up entitled: “I’m not a gangster – Milla”. On the same day the article is published, the police visited The Daily Mix-up’s office to speak with Mr. Rheporter. They asked him to reveal information on the whereabouts of Milla. He refused. They then got a search warrant to search his home and office. The police removed flash drives, computers and a telephone from his home and two notebooks from his office. While carrying out the search at Mr. Rheporter’s office one of the policemen said to him: “You better think about this carefully because you’re going to jail for obstructing justice if you don’t give up this criminal”. What theories apply to what Mr. Rheporter should do to resolve this matter?

• Answer:

  The Libertarian (or liberal) theory of the press. The liberal theory prefers a privately owned news media that is maximally free to inform citizens and criticize public policy, as well as act as a watchdog on authorities.