Ministers are being urged not to forget the needs of local newspapers amid plans to close up to 157 magistrates courts across England.

The cutbacks, unveiled in last week’s Budget, are designed to save £15m in running costs from under-used court facilities which could also have a significant sell-on value for redevelopment.

However the proposals will mean local reporters making, in some cases, 60-mile round trips to cover magistrates’ courts which were previously within walking distance of their offices.

Now the Society of Editors is lobbying ministers to ensure the needs of the local press are not reglected.

Executive director Bob Satchwell told HTFP that the Society had raised the issue with the Ministry of Justice “at the highest levels.”

Among ideas that the SoE would like to see given consideration are grouping cases from certain local areas on particular days and, in the longer term, having video cameras in court.

Said Bob: “We know this govermment is determined to make cuts across the board but we need to make sure that any time a court is closed the interests of the local media in those areas most affected are properly considered.”

“They have certainly got to remember that this is not just an issue for the public and for defendants who are up in court. They have got to make sure that media facilities are adequate.”

Comments

Golam Murtaza (29/06/2010 10:09:52)
This could be a nightmare. Local and regional papers are struggling to cover courts adequately as it is.

realword (29/06/2010 10:24:39)
most local papers have crisis-level staffing and cant’t get to court anyway so it’s an academic argument. nice try though.