Writing Activity 13

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Writing activity 13

On FREE PRESS and FREE TRIAL

Scenario: If the press publishes and broadcasts anything it chooses about a crime or a person of interest

(Suspect)

1.Isnt it possible that the readers and viewers will make up their minds about the guilt or innocence of the

accused? And if they do, won’t the readers and viewers approach the case with bias or prejudice either for

or against the defendants?

Yes, it is possible. There is a great chance that the viewers and readers will make up their minds about the

guilt or innocence of the accused. Journalists and media had a great role when it comes to reporting crimes

incidence with restrictions and limitations. In some cases, most of the complaints from victims about

reporters involve Act I/breaking news stories. Reporters are rushing to meet deadlines and struggling to get

the facts of a story that may still be unfolding. Victims are often still in shock, unaware of the pitfalls of

speaking and staying silent. Unless journalists exercise special care, the situation can become the

proverbial recipe for disaster. Reporters need to understand the specific challenges that victims face in

being the subject of an Act I story. With those realities in mind, reporters need to approach victims

appropriately and sensitively. In this kind of scenario there must be a proper reporting of crimes and

incidence. Misleading facts and information’s will cause bias and prejudice of viewers and readers. Since a

lot of people nowadays becomes more and more aggressive in this kind of issue giving judgements based

on what information’s are presented to them.

2.But if the court moves to restrict this publicity by the news media to protect the integrity of the trial

process, wont this interfere with the rights


Well, it depends upon the crime/case or the situations. The courts can decide to exclude the public or press

if they think that their presence is not in the interests of justice. As what is stated on Article 6: Right to a fair

and public hearing1. In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against

him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and

impartial tribunal established by law. Judgment shall be pronounced publicly but the press and public may

be excluded from all or part of the trial in the interest of morals, public order or national security in a

democratic society, where the interests of juveniles or the protection of the private life of the parties so

require, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special circumstances where

publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.

There are times when the public and press are denied access to a hearing. This can happen in the

interests of protecting: morals public order or national security children and young people, or privacy. So,

for me, it will always depend upon the situation. if the restrictions made are not reasonable and written on

the law that means to say it interfere the rights.

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