Catering to the Media: Thoughts for Judges

I came to the Eighth Judicial District Court five years ago (April 30). The first day on the job local and national media descended on the courthouse because a school principal from Indiana had been caught in Las Vegas in the company of a 14-year-old student. I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been busy working with the media since that first day on the job.

I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ve been accused of catering too much to the media. And I guess I'm guilty of going out of my way to help them.

I do it because without a good working relationship with the media I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have a way to keep the public informed about the court ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú especially when trouble is brewing.

It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s important to keep the relationship friendly, but professional. Candor is very important. I tell reporters like it is, sometimes I tell them things that are not flattering. I make sure I tell them the truth.

I provide them with too much information. We have a website, a blog, and an interactive calendar. All of these things keep them informed about the court. I build relationships with the media. Yesterday I met with Matt Fields from Dateline. I took a call from Melissa Sanford at 48 Hours. A reporter from Oklahoma emailed me asking for the sentencing of Josh Nichols. Today I met with Andy Brooks of CourtTV.

Four local TV crews were in Justice or District Courtrooms yesterday. A total of 11 crews so far this week. CourtTV wants to be in Judge Joe Bonaventure?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s courtroom next week.

Talking to the judges is as important as talking to the journalists. I work to keep my judges informed about the media and their interests. Clearly we have requests to videotape trials, but we also have media stories about the court and its programs. It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s important to keep everyone informed about the media?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s perceptions of the courts.

The media provide a window on our world. And it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s important we help them see what we do. A 2005 national survey found that the American public has a very rudimentary knowledge of the courts. For the most part they think Judge Judy can be found behind the bench of every courtroom in America.

Opinions of the courts are based on high expectations, a general lack of knowledge about how the courts function and a vague notion that our courts and judges need to be held more accountable.

The survey concluded that building long-term support for a strong judiciary requires the public to become better informed about the courts. And that requires courts to reach out to the media.

You build relationships with the media because someday you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re going to need them to explain something, defend something or share the good, or bad, news. The media provides an eyewitness account of what happens in the courts and gives the public a better understanding of those other constitutional amendments afforded to them by the courts that most just take for granted.

Can judges afford to ignore the media? Only at their peril. So do I cater to the media? Yes, I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m guilty as charged.

Ideas for courts seeking to reach out to media:

?¢‚Ǩ¬¢ Not everyone has a dedicated media relations professional in their courts. Chief Judges fill that role. As the public face of the court, Chief Judges must add media relations to their duties.

?¢‚Ǩ¬¢ Develop a communications plan. Make sure everyone is aware of your plan and its key messages. Let your judges know what the media are covering about your courts. Encourage them to work with the media.

?¢‚Ǩ¬¢ Develop a media plan for high profile cases. Develop decorum orders that spell out exactly how the media is expected to act in your courts; there are some excellent examples available.

?¢‚Ǩ¬¢ If Kobe Bryant ends up in your court, call in the cavalry. Seek help from your Administrative Office of the Courts, a media liason or public relations professional.

Last updated by Michael S. Sommermeyer at May 4, 2006.