L-R: HW Karemani (Judiciary - PRO) , HW Langa (Chieg Registrar) at the breakfast meeting in a bid to improve the working relationship with the media fraternity
The Chief Registrar, HW Sarah Langa Siu on March 29, 2022 hosted court reporters at the Judiciary headquarters for a breakfast meeting in a bid to improve the working relationship with the media fraternity to ensure proper reporting of court performance and activities. She was flanked by the Judiciary Public Relations Officer, HW Jamson Karemani.
"It's your role to relay information from Court to the public and it's our responsibility to make sure that we provide accurate information to you for sharing. Ensure that we work closely together, avoid misquotation and biased reporting," she said.
The Chief Registrar expressed gratitude to the journalists for the support and publicity rendered towards the Judiciary's transformational agenda. "We have gone to places and zones we could never have reached because of you."
She further implored them to be Judiciary ambassadors, provide feedback from the public about Judiciary services. Some of the issues she brought to their attention that need redress included improper reference to titles and authorities,misrepresentation, filtering of information, biased reporting and inaccurate interpretation of court records.
The Judiciary Public Relations Officer, HW Jamson Karemani appreciated the media for standing with the Judiciary over time and implored them to uphold the partnership. "Media has been part of the Judiciary journey over time. You are very important stakeholders in the administration of justice and in that regard we need to develop rapport on a friendly basis and look at how best to work together in harmony", he said.
On their part, the Court reporters raised their concerns to the Chief Registrar, among these were the need for working areas for journalists, development of guidelines on court reporting, accreditation of Court reporters, security harassment of journalists,accessibility to Electronic Court Case Management Information System (ECCMIS),among others.
They equally appealed to the Judiciary to train journalists in the basics needed for court reporting,to hold open courts for public interest cases, to expedite the commencement of hearings at magistrate courts and to grant journalists access to court proceedings.
In response, the CR expressed her commitment to resolving these issues. She promised that the media room will be availed after the completion of appellate courts and media guidelines will be developed.
On the issue of accreditation, she said that the Registry of Communication and Public relations will is going to carry out an exercise to update the register of court reporters, update the composition of the Court Media Forum, and provide press tags and jackets.
Other plans for improved Judiciary-media relations include convening regular Press conferences,countrywide media tours, and meeting with media managers and editors, the CR disclosed.
In attendance also was HW Patricia Amoko, the Private Legal Secretary to the Chief Registrar and staff from the Registry of Communications and Public Relations.
Posted 29th, March 2022
