Courses
COURSES
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Journalists -- Basic Legal Affairs Reporting for Journalists is designed to assist the general assignment reporter in understanding the court system.
Basic Legal Affairs Reporting for Journalists
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COURSE DATE: July 27-28, 2009
COST: FREE TO JOURNALISTS
TRAVEL, LODGING AND MEALS will be paid for the 30 applicants from around the nation selected to attend based on demonstrated interest and value to the student through the application process.
TO ENROLL: If you are interested in attending this course, please contact Mary Jo Fata at (775) 327-8371 or fata@unr.edu.
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ABOUT THE COURSE
Presented in collaboration with the Conference of Court Public Information Officers and the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. Special thanks also goes to the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation for its generous funding.
With a strong media focus on legal news stories, why are news reports often criticized as inaccurate? Legal reporting is a specialty too often tackled by the general assignment reporter. Accurately covering the courts requires knowledge of court procedures and legal terminology. This course for journalists provides the basics needed to cover the courts effectively. Topics covered include an overview of the First and Sixth Amendments, the court structure, the court process, court rules, judicial and journalist obligations, the gag order, the court record, the high-profile trial, and expanding the news source potential.
Why is this course important for you?
Our Center's Governing Board and Advisory Committee includes representatives from the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the Radio and Television News Directors Association, the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, Court TV, Criminal Justice Journalists and the California First Amendment Coalition.
In preparing this course, we have consulted these experts, along with some of the top legal affairs reporters and judges in the nation. Obviously, the terminology, procedures and rules applied in court proceedings can be challenging to the reporter who is assigned to cover a trial and who is not experienced in the legal arena.
Overwhelmingly, the chief complaint of lawyers and judges about media coverage is inaccuracy. Sometimes, these complaints are justified. Our aim is to help reporters do their best when assigned to report on complicated legal matters.
As Lucy Dalglish, Executive Director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says, "The best court reporters understand how the courts work, as well as how lawyers and judges think. This course is designed to give reporters enough information so they can cover even the most complicated criminal and civil cases competently".
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FOR MORE INFORMATION and a Course Application Form
Contact: Mary Jo Fata at 775-327-8271 or fata@unr.edu
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* Court Staff (Public Information Officers) and Judges-- Essential Court Teamwork in Dealing with the Media is a blend of our former Basic Skills for Disseminating Court Public Information and our First Amendment and Media Issues for Judges.
Essential Court Teamwork in Dealing with the Media
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COURSE DATE: October 27-29, 2009
TO ENROLL: To enroll for this course, open the Course Application Form below using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Print the form and fax it to (775) 784-1269. Please see the schedule for tuition fees.
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ABOUT THE COURSE
Presented by the National Judicial College in collaboration with the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts and Media, this course is a blend of our former Basic Skills for Disseminating Court Public Information and our First Amendment and Media Issues for Judges. The course also is sponsored by the Conference of Court Public Information Officers and the Reynolds School of JOurnalism at the University of Nevada, Reno. Open to both judges and key court administrators, this course offers training on how the courts can deal with media issues, both positive and negative, and who should take the primary role in given situations to provide a coordinated approach.
When the media seek access to court information, the first people they likely will contact are not judges, but other court personnel. Ideally, a judge and a selected member of the court's administration should take this course as a team to prepare them for dealing effectively with the media. Topics covered include free press and fair trial, working with the news media, the gag order and other impediments for the court spokesperson, making sure you have a Web presence, cameras in the courtroom and the high-profile trial.
Qualifies as an elective in the Certificate in Judicial Development, General Jurisdiction Trial Skills, Special Court Trial Skills and Tribal Judicial Skills programs.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: (800) 25-JUDGE
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If you are unable to open the Course Application Form, which is in Adobe .pdf format, download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for free.
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National Conferences on Courts and Media
sponsored by The National Judicial College
In response to greater court coverage by the media, The National Judicial College held two conferences with participants from both the judiciary and the media prior to the establishment of the National Center for Courts and Media.
1996 - Media and the Courts
2000 - Courts and Media - Conflict and Cooperation
2005 - From O.J. to Martha to Michael - What Have We Learned About the Conduct & Coverage of Trials?
2005 - Confidentiality in the Courts and Media - The Gathering Storm
2008 - FYI, LOL or OMG? - Technology's Impact on the Courts and Media
