British media organisation ITN made it clear tonight that it was fully supportive of two of its journalists who have refused to name sources to the Saville inquiry.
The two journalists, who face possible contempt charges for refusing to reveal the identities of soldiers present on Bloody Sunday, said today they were prepared to go to jail to protect their sources.
Mr Alex Thomson and Ms Lena Ferguson were told by Tribunal chairman Lord Saville they would not have long to wait to discover if they will be reported to the High Court.
An ITN spokesman said: "We sincerely hope that the Inquiry does reach a speedy conclusion in the contempt matter.
"We hope that at this late stage they will accept out argument that the protection of whistleblowers is of paramount importance."
The pair, who worked on a series of Channel Four News reports to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, were threatened with criminal proceedings almost two years ago, for refusing to disclose confidential sources.
They were recalled to the inquiry in Derry today to face more questions.
Outside Derry's Guildhall, where the inquiry is sitting, the two journalists said they were disappointed the contempt issue had not been sorted out.
Ms Ferguson, a former producer at Channel Four and now head of political programmes at BBC Northern Ireland said: "We have had the threat of contempt hanging over us for two years and we were hoping it would be resolved today.
"Lord Saville has reinforced the fact that the contempt charge is still there and with it the possibility of a prison sentence.
"We are still prepared to go to jail. We are still prepared to deal with the contempt issue," she added.
Ms Ferguson said it would be ironic if two people not even present on Bloody Sunday could end up in prison.
"I think it would be ludicrous in the extreme, and everybody recognises that, if two people who weren't even in Derry on the day of Bloody Sunday end up going to jail."
Mr Thomson, Channel Four News Chief Correspondent, said the issue was not about journalism: "It's about protecting people, ordinary people who can't protect themselves."
The Inquiry is investigating the events of January 30th, 1972 when 13 unarmed civilians were shot dead by members of the Parachute Regiment in the Bogside area of Derry.
Lord Saville told Ms Ferguson that the inquiry had delayed taking action until they could find out the identity of soldiers by other means.
"All I can tell you is that we have your case and other cases under review and I do not think you are going to have to wait very much longer."
Meanwhile, a Real IRA prisoner serving a lengthy sentence for arms offences was released from prison to give evidence to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry today.
Ciaran MacLochlainn, who is serving 18 years for possession of weapons and ammunition was released from Northern Ireland's high security Maghaberry Prison in Co Antrim and as taken to the Guildhall in Derry by his solicitor.
MacLochlainn, who is leader of the Real IRA at Maghaberry, told the Inquiry that there was no way his friend Gerry Donaghy who was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, could have been carrying nail bombs that day.
The body of Mr Donaghy who was a member of the IRA's youth wing, was photographed with four nail bombs sticking out of his pockets.
His family have consistently contested claims that he was carrying devices on Bloody Sunday, insisting they were planted on his body by members of the security services.