Journalists will now be able to tweet, email and text during court proceedings in the UK, under new guidance issued by the lord chief justice, Lord Judge.

Journos will be allowed to take in phones and small laptops to document court cases without having to apply for permission beforehand.

However, while members of the public are allowed to do the same, they will have to seek permission from the court in advance.

The move is an effort to make court proceedings more open to the general public. The decision, an extension of guidance delivered last December, aims to give journalists the chance to provide “fair, accurate and, where possible, immediate reporting of court proceedings”, according to Judge.

Courts will still be entitled to withdraw permissions if it is deemed in the interest of justice, but for now journalists are free to “Twitter as much as you wish”, says Lord Judge.

(Source: MediaGuardian)

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