A new book exploring the significance of open justice in the court system has been published by a Salford University academic.
Director of Journalism Dr Richard Jones’ book Reporting the Courts also examines how the closure of courts, such as Salford’s Magistrates Court, has impacted the perceived quality of local media.
In 2011 Salford Magistrates’ Court closed after 171 years leaving Salford without such a court for the first time since the Middle Ages and being the only city in the country without one.
Dr Jones said: “It has meant people have to travel a lot further. The further you have to travel, the more likely it is you’re not going to go, maybe won’t make it on time.
“If you’re a journalist, maybe you’re not going to bother covering that case at all. So, it makes it harder for us to find out what’s going on in our courts.”
Dr Jones explained what it means for journalists: “It’s become harder for local newspapers to cover the courts.
“Court reporting is on a bit of shaky ground, and that’s important because i’ts one of the most significant and important types of journalism.
“It’s been a big change in the way that we run the courts in this country.”
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