Cameras in courtrooms : an analysis of television court coverage in Virginia

The purpose of this research was to evaluate news coverage of the judicial system by television news stations in Virginia and to explore characteristics of news directors as determinants of assigning court coverage. The study took place in 1991 while the state was in the final stages of an experimental evaluation of cameras in seven of the state's courtrooms. Methodology included a self-administered questionnaire completed by news directors, an in-depth interview with each news director, and a content analysis of news files for three month period. Results show that having access to a courtroom with cameras does not determine whether trials are covered in that courtroom. Ninety-five percent of the court stories covered during the research period were in courtrooms without camera access. Criteria for news value such as the number of people affected and uniqueness of the story are cited as reasons for including a story in a television newscast. There were three significant factors among news director characteristics that determined the number of court stories covered by the news department. They were (1) the amount of personal experience the news director had in courtrooms, (2) the amount of time in broadcast management, and (3) the amount of involvement the news director had in the statewide issue of cameras in court. News directors with the most involvement in the issue of cameras in the courtrooms of the state also exhibited the strongest attitudes about the importance of camera access as a First Amendment right.