Relationship Between the Criminal Courts and the Mass Media (From Crime, Justice and the Mass Media, P 55-73, 1982, Colin Sumner, ed. - See NCJ-87969)

• NCJ Number: 87972
• Author(s): M Jones
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: University of Cambridge
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

In England there is a close relationship between the criminal courts and the mass media. This relationship has evolved over the years to become one in which the media have rights but not duties.

Abstract

The media have the right to enter courts and cover proceedings but not have a duty to attend any court or to report any case. In practice, the media only attend those courts likely to produce newsworthy material. The mass media's right to publicize privileged reports of criminal proceedings is not accompanied by any duty to consider the consequences of such publicity for persons identified in the reports, even though this may cause suffering to the convicted and may conflict with the accused person's presumption of innocence. Relevant laws and cases over the years illustrate the court-media relationship. A discussion of related issues is appended. Two references are cited.