ABSTRACT
The purpose of the media in court is to report the proceedings to the public, the majority of whom cannot be there in person but who have a right to be informed about what has taken place. It is, of course, the criminal cases that catch the greatest media attention. This chapter discusses the main issues that arise when reporting in civil and criminal court proceedings and describes the different rules which govern children and young persons, vulnerable witnesses including victims of sexual offences, family and Court of Protection hearings. When journalists are involved in court reporting they can only publish what was said in court, known as contemporaneous reporting. Victims of a wide range of sexual offences are given lifetime anonymity under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992. The prohibition imposed by section 1 of the 1992 Act applies to ‘any publication’ and includes online media and social media.
