About RNCCM
OUR PURPOSE
At the second National Conference on the Courts and Media, the three forming entities agreed that the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for the Courts and Media would serve these primary functions:
To provide the physical location and the appropriate atmosphere for continuing debates and discussions among journalists and judges on the relationship between the two. Clearly, with a public skeptical of both the media's commitment to accurate reporting and the judiciary's ability to administer justice, both sides have a keen interest in improving understanding of the other's challenges. The Center will provide both the place and the institutional support for the two professions to come together.
To augment and expand the media relations segments of the current courses at The National Judicial College through the work of the resident director of the Center.
To create special seminars involving both the judiciary and the media, both jointly and separately, to facilitate the understanding and appreciation each has for the other's responsibilities, including courses for judges to learn more about the media and its operations and how to deal with the media in given circumstances and courses for journalists, particularly journalists newly assigned the legal beat and journalism students seeking to specialize in legal reporting. National Conferences on Media and the Law open to court personnel and media representatives will be held as needed and as funding permits.
To serve as a resource center for journalists who need sources for stories they are writing or editing. By maintaining lists of judges from across the country who may be willing to comment in ways that do not conflict with ethical restrictions, the Center may be able to assist reporters in getting information that may not be available otherwise, for example, from a judge in a pending case who would feel compromised by commenting during trial.
To facilitate the mission and focus of the National Center for the Courts and Media, representatives from The National Judicial College and the Donald W. Reynolds School of Journalism collectively created a National Advisory Council for the Center. This Advisory Board will make recommendations for developing the courses and seminars, publications and research activities of the Center. The Members include representatives of the working media, organizations of publishers and broadcasters of the Reynolds School of Journalism, the Reynolds Foundation, and active judges and attorneys with experience in highly publicized trials and other media relationships.
Through the Center, journalists and other media representatives will:
Participate in national conferences that bring together journalists, judges and attorneys.
Utilize the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for the Courts and Media as a national resource center on First and Sixth Amendment issues.
Link to other journalists and expert judges via the Center's Web page.
Join with other working journalists for courses and seminars that address areas of controversy between the media and the courts.
Enroll in courses that link judges, journalists and other media representatives in problem-solving sessions to discuss such issues as gag orders, cameras in the courtroom, access, and confidentiality of sources.
Work to establish public forums held in multiple national locations, inform the public about First and Sixth Amendment issues.
Assist in providing media and judge participants as expert witnesses in First Amendment issues.
Through the Center, judges, lawyers and other court personnel will:
Complete a certificate of judicial studies for the courts and media.
Learn from a special segment of the General Jurisdiction course about working with the media.
Interact with the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts and Media for the purposes of achieving a better understanding of First and Sixth Amendment issues.
Study the media and the law as part of the Master's of Judicial Studies Program.
Participate in national conferences, seminars and courses with nationally renowned journalists and other media representatives.
Use the College and the Center as resources for working with the media and understanding First and Sixth Amendment issues more fully.
Through the Center, journalism and law students will:
Enroll in specially tailored courses that will help them achieve a better understanding of First and Sixth Amendment issues.
Join with other working journalists for courses and seminars that address areas of controversy between the media and the courts.
Participate with judges, journalists and other media representatives in problem-solving sessions to discuss such issues as gag orders, cameras in the courtroom, access, and confidentiality of sources.
Participate in internship programs at the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts and Media.
Act as research assistants, working with the professional staff to enhance the Center's capacity as a resource for judges, journalists and other media and law representatives.
Assist the Center in updating its materials on the Web page.
