Plans to run a publicly-funded reporting service for courts and councils were called into question by a senior judge today.

Speaking at the Society of Editors conference, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, said he was “troubled” by the idea.

The Press Association in conjunction with Trinity Mirror has launched a pilot project in the North-West to trial the service, and is seeking public funding to establish it on a longger-term basis.

But Lord Judge said there was a risk that the funding body would end up calling the editorial tune.

“There would be a great danger that if you got funding from any institution, that institution would set itself up in judgement on whether reporting was accurate and fair and proper,” he told the conference.

“I am troubled about the idea. I would much rather the media were able to resolve this in some way on their own.

“I don’t want proceedings in court to be reported by council employees. We need objective, independent reporting.”

Earlier Lord Judge said that says research has shown 64pc of newspapers are now offering less court coverage than before, and that experience in both court and local government reporting was being lost.

Comments

lensman (16/11/2009 15:34:54)
“I don’t want proceedings in court to be reported by council employees. We need objective, independent reporting.” …. By properly paid qualified journalists