Welcome to Legal Reporting

Welcome to the website for JMSC6059 Legal Reporting. This course explores the challenges of covering the courts and other aspects of legal reporting, and examines styles of reporting and writing, including a study of high-profile cases. It also provides an overview of media coverage of the courts and legal issues and a review of relevant reporting restrictions. Lecturers: Doreen Weisenhaus and Cliff Buddle

Week 8, May 3: Legal Reporting and Television News

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Dr Yan Mei-ning, who teaches media law and ethics and broadcasting at HK Baptist University, will be our guest speaker.  She has worked for more than 10 years as a reporter, producer and sub-editor for various media organizations in Hong Kong, including TVB and Cable TV.  See ”readings” for what you need to look at before class. In particular, refer to the UK report on broadcasting and the courts.  We will meet at 10 am in Eliot Hall, Room 101. 

Also, your final assignment is due, but if you’d like more time, I can accept them by Monday, May 7, with no penalty.

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Week 7, April 26: Legal research

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We will be meeting in Digital Media Lab, Eliot Hall, at 10 am for our session on legal research conducted by Gibson Li (Westlaw trainer and solicitor) and Irene Shieh (law librarian, HKU Faculty of Law). Please make sure to read “Searching for public records of courts,” which I already handed out to you.

Week 6, April 19: The Legal Beat

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Cliff and I will talk about how to mine the legal beat.  We’ve posted articles we will refer to in “Readings.”  We’ll meet in Eliot Hall 101 at 10 am.

Week 5, April 12: Covering the high-profile story

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Albert Wong of SCMP will talk about some of the biggest legal stories he covered when he was courts reporter for The Standard, including the Nancy Kissel murder trial and the Nina Wang will dispute.  Class will start at 9:30 am.  See stories in “Readings”

Week 4, April 3: Visit to the High Court

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We will meet at 6:30 pm at the lobby of the High Court, 38 Queensway.  For bio and case background for Justice Michael Hartmann, please refer to the Media Law course website.  Your assignment: write a news story based on Hartmann’s talk.

Week 3, March 27: Visit to Eastern Magistrates Court

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We will meet at 9 AM sharp at Eastern Magistrates Court, 29 Tai On Street, Sai Wan Ho. There is a reception counter on the ground floor just inside the doors. We will meet a clerk named Edith, who will take us to Court 1, on the 6th floor. Principal Magistrate Gary Tallentire will preside and will [...]