Mixed reviews after local newspaper violates publication ban

The Chronicle Herald’s decision to defy a publication ban in a high-profile child pornography case is drawing mixed reviews.

Police are investigating after several people complained, however others are applauding the move.

This is the second time police have dealt with apparent violations in this case, earlier this month they announced they wouldn’t press charges in other instances of alleged breaches.

Despite that, crown spokesperson Chris Hansen said it’s important the ban remains in place.

“If, for example, there was a directive issued that said, ‘OK, we’ll look the other way, we won’t prosecute,’ then we couldn’t prosecute those cases where the victim’s name perhaps was used in a derogatory way,” said Hansen.

Hansen said the Crown strongly considers the public interest in these cases – something the Herald is counting on.

University of King’s College journalism professor David Swick said he was surprised to see the Herald openly defy the court-ordered ban.

“The Chronicle Herald is a pretty conservative voice in journalism, you would not expect the Herald to be the one to be gutsy and break the law,” said Swick.

Swick said he wants to applaud the Herald’s decision, but there’s a sneaking suspicion the paper has an ulterior motive.

“Some people are thinking that this is just the Herald doing something brave to try to draw attention to itself as a good newspaper, rather than the fact that the paper is in some kind of crisis,” he said.

“We’ve decided to publish the name of the victim in this story, despite a court-ordered ban. We believe it’s in the public interest in this unique case, given the widespread recognition of (the victim’s) name, and given the good that can come, and has already come, from free public debate over sexual consent and the other elements of her story,” said an editor’s note published with the article.