Tweeting from court: New guidelines for modern media

Australian courts in five States recently changed their rules to permit journalists reporting on court proceedings to use electronic devices to send text-based transmissions from court. These changes reflect an international trend to allow journalists and, in some cases, members of the public, to use live text-based communication in the courtroom. This development has clear benefits in terms of promoting open justice and timely reporting of court proceedings, in an era when mobile computing technologies have become essential tools for news reporting. However, it also poses risks to the administration of justice, including the potential for an increased risk of breaches of court orders in relation to publication. This article analyses the approach taken by the courts in Australia and overseas in developing policies that attempt to manage these risks