NCJ Number
130009
Journal
Judicature Volume: 74 Issue: 6 Dated: (April-May 1991) Pages: 307-313
Date Published
1991
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A study of radio and television broadcast coverage of four criminal cases in Florida suggested that cameras in the courtroom do not disrupt the judicial process or distort the proceedings.
Abstract
The four cases all involved charges of first-degree murder and were held in the Alachua County courthouse. Information was gathered mainly through participant observation as well as through interviews with judges, attorneys, and news media personnel and through juror exit polls. The stories published in the local daily newspaper were also compared with the broadcast coverage. Findings showed that the only major area of concern was the poor audio quality due to the single microphone allowed in the courtroom. Results also indicated that broadcasters should try to increase the length of coverage of courtroom stories, that journalists should receive more education about courtroom proceedings, and that members of the legal community should receive more education regarding the role of journalists. Tables and illustration