Graham Smith has been investigating the sinking of the Gaul for 30 years and has published several articles and interviews on his site.
Thirty-six men died when the trawler sank off the coast of Norway in 1974, and a second public inquiry was launched in 1997 after the wreck was finally found in the Barents Sea. The inquiry closed in February and Justice David Steel, the Wreck Commissioner, is now considering the evidence.
Mr Smith has been called to a hearing with the Treasury Solicitor and has been asked to bring his interview notes. He believes that he will asked to reveal the name of a former chief petty officer in the Royal Navy who claimed that the trawler was sunk by a submarine.
"As far as I'm aware, this is the first time a journalist has been asked to reveal the source of information published online," said Miles Barter, northern regional organiser for the National Union of Journalists who are supporting Mr Smith.
Although the NUJ code of conduct for journalists says that sources must be protected, Mr Smith could be found in contempt of court if he refuses to name his source.
"The media began to pick up interest in the site when the public inquiry was underway," Mr Smith told dotJournalism.
"It has come to something when government departments start subpoenaing freelance journalists to give information that they have every right to protect."
Mr Smith has confirmed that the source does not want to be named, and that he gave the information for the benefit of the families of those who died.
"I will not give up my source."
Story update: The hearing, which was scheduled for 10 May, has now been 'stood down' until 18 May pending legal negotiations.
Graham Smith's Gaul investigation:
http://www.mediaworldnews.co.uk/html/gaul/index.php
See also:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/3494418.stm
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