1989-03-24 Comments of Star Tribune.pdf - Minnesota Judicial Branch

.l.
2.
3.
4.
.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Table 11
Comments by Media Representatives
photo coverage has been limited to three serious cases. One
involved felony manslaughter and two involved murder. We do
not photograph the witnesses but do photograph the
attorneys, the judge and the defendant. Photographs are
taken from an area of the courtroom which is always screened
from the jury and then the jury is not aware photos have
been taken. The most often heard comment is that no one is
aware photos are being taken.
It is good for the public to see workings of the court.
From what I could tell, everything went very smooth. I
think having a meeting with the media one day prior to the
preliminary was an excellent idea. I want to add that it
should be a requirement that the reporters covering the
story should attend the above-mentioned meeting with the
judge and that a specific area be designated for the media
to work and that it be in an orderly fashion.
With few exceptions, both judges and court personnel have
been extremely understanding regarding television cameras in
the courtroom. For the most part, the news media has
handled their new responsibility well. I believe because of
the size of our population, the cooperation between the
courts and the media and our experience over the past year,
Nevada can have one of the best working arrangements between
courts and the media in the nation.
Believe it to be beneficial.
I found the rule to work very well.
Believe it has been of service to the public, letting it see
the courts in action, especially controversial cases.
Toward the latter part of the experimental period the courts
were allowing two still photographers to operate in the
courtrooms. (One for black and white and one for color) I
would like to encourage this practice. I do not feel that
two photographers cause any extra problems and the problems
of pooling photographs are greatly simplified.
Please make it possible to hook microphones into witness
stands or total sound system. Our sound quality was not as
good as it could be. Other than than, all was perfect.
Newspaper representatives need to get their act together.
I believe in most cases media is attempting to present
coverage in as objective a fashion as possible.
Page 17