Last Updated: October 01, 1996
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ASNE members were prominent at a Media and Courts Conference held May 29-31 at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev. A major purpose was to develop a list of "significant issues for judges, journalists and lawyers on court-media issues and relationships."
Ten practices to improve courtroom media coverage were prepared by the NJC staff afterwards to reflect the views of the majority of the conferees, and included: assuming all court proceedings are open, refraining from gag orders, and establishing press-bar guidelines in high-profile cases.
Two were controversial - non-binding professional standards for journalists and a model law covering when journalists can be required to testify or present evidence. They were strenuously objected to by several of the journalists and media lawyers in attendance.
As a result, the NJC made it clear that no recommendation necessarily reflected all conferees' views. For example, some lawyers and judges opposed camera coverage, yet it is a recommendation.
ASNE past president Bill Ketter (Quincy (Mass.) Patriot-Ledger) participated, as did Michael Gartner (Ames (Iowa) Daily Tribune) and Linda Lightfoot (Baton Rouge (La.) Advocate).
Tim Gallagher (Ventura (Calif.) County Star) coordinates the on-going relationship
between ASNE and the college.
