Court reporting is an important historical function of journalism. In part, this is due to news media’s role in enabling open justice, the goal described as ‘justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done’.

This report is based on a six-month analysis of court reporting in regional New South Wales, conducted in October 2023 and April 2024, and interviews with journalists and editors engaged in court reporting.

It finds that most reporting is produced by major media companies, with little to none produced by independent newspapers and news websites. Reporting is overwhelmingly occurring in Local Courts and not in District Courts, with most attention on plea hearings for violent offences. The authors found nearly no evidence of trial coverage.

Insights from journalists and editors suggest that the financial, time and training requirements of court reporting can act as barriers for smaller publications, even where there is a desire to conduct court reporting or a belief that court coverage is an important pillar of public interest journalism.