BBC reporter defends the media’s right to report investigations
A BBC reporter who broke a story about Sir Cliff Richard’s home being searched by police following a child sex assault allegation has defended the media’s right to report early stages of investigations.
Dan Johnson told a High Court judge that “the story” had not been about the singer being “guilty” but about him being “investigated”.
He accepted that such a report could be damaging. But he said that did not mean that journalists did not have a “right to report”.
Mr Johnson outlined his thoughts while giving evidence to Mr Justice Mann at a High Court hearing in London.
Sir Cliff has sued the BBC over coverage of the South Yorkshire Police search in August 2014 and wants damages at the “top end” of the scale. He says the coverage, which involved the use of a helicopter, was a “very serious invasion” of his privacy. The BBC disputes his claims. Bosses say coverage of the search of the apartment in Sunningdale, Berkshire, was accurate and in good faith. “The story was never about Sir Cliff being investigated,” said Mr Johnson.
“The story was that he was being investigated, that the police were searching his flat.”
Mr Johnson added: “Of course it could be damaging but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have a right to report that, a right to tell people what the police are doing.”
The journalist was answering questions from barrister Justin Rushbrooke QC, who is leading Sir Cliff ’s legal team.
Meanwhile, a BBC boss congratulated Mr Johnson on a “very good” piece of journalism regarding the raid, Mr Justice Mann has been told. Fran Unsworth, who earlier this year became the BBC’s director of news and current affairs, sent a message to Mr Johnson following coverage of the police search of Sir Cliff’s apartment, the High Court judge heard.
The hearing continues.