A state Senate committee was wrong to subpoena materials UNC-TV had gathered for a documentary on possible pollution of Badin Lake by Alcoa.

UNC-TV was even more wrong to roll over and meekly comply with the dubious show-all order obtained by the Senate Judiciary Committee II, chaired by Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, R-Cabarrus. It was nothing but an unwarranted legislative fishing expedition. The TV organization should never have risen to the bait.

The whole story is a little murky. The committee reportedly got word that the network was preparing a hard-hitting program exploring possible environmental damage caused in the past by a now-long-closed Alcoa aluminum smelter, located in Stanly County on the shore of one of a chain of Yadkin River impoundments.

Hearing reports that UNC-TV might have decided to hold off on airing part of its reporters findings, Hartsell apparently decided to force the issue by having the committee staff prepare a subpoena demanding that the TV system turn over its raw footage and outtakes.

This kind of thing raises a red flag to self-respecting media organizations everywhere. In North Carolina, reporters enjoy the protection of a journalist shield law. Though it’s unclear whether the law applies to a quasi-official agency, UNC-TV’s decision to cave so quickly has set a regrettable precedent that may well come back to haunt independent media everywhere.