Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The controversy around the broadcasting of court proceedings has reigned in the United
States since the 1950s, reaching a peak with the trial of O.J. Simpson, widely interpreted
as an example of the destructive effect of a "media circus" on the administration of
justice. In many other U.S. courtrooms, however, television and radio journalists do their
work unobtrusively, professionally and to the benefit of their viewers and listeners. The
King Commission of Inquiry into allegations of match-fixing in cricket gave South Africa
its first experience of television and radio coverage of judicial proceedings, and lay the
basis for a more liberal approach to electronic coverage of courts. The Constitution
protects freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive and impart information.
This has been interpreted by the High Court as conferring on radio journalists the
freedom to record and broadcast the King Commission's proceedings. It is argued in this
study that the High Court's reasoning could be applied with equal force to television, and
to coverage of the courts. It is suggested a trial period of electronic coverage of courts,
under clear guidelines for journalists and legal practitioners, may provide greater clarity
on the desirability of allowing electronic coverage of courts on a permanent basis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die netelige vraagstuk rondom die uitsaai van hofverrigtinge het alreeds in the
vyftigerjare van die vorige eeu in die Verenigde State ontstaan. Die vervolging van O.J.
Simpson was 'n hoogtepunt in die debat. Dié saak word gereeld voorgehou as 'n
voorbeeld van die nadelige effek wat 'n "mediasirkus" op die regsproses kan uitoefen.
Maar in baie ander Amerikaanse howe doen radio- en televisiejoernaliste hulle werk
sonder steurnis, professioneel, en ten voordeel van hul luisteraars and kykers. The
Kingkommissie van Ondersoek na beweringe van oneerlikheid in krieket was Suid-Afrika
se eerste ervaring van elektroniese dekking van 'n regterlike proses, and kan moontlik
die basis vorm vir 'n meer liberale benadering tot elektroniese dekking van howe. Die
Grondwet waarborg vryheid van uitdrukking, insluitende die vryheid om inligting uit te
stuur en te ontvang. Die Hooggeregshof het onlangs beslis hierdie vryheid beteken
radiojoernaliste mag die verrigtinge van die Kingkommissie opneem en uitsaai. In hierdie
studie word geargumenteer dat die Hooggeregshof se beslissing ook van toepassing
kan wees op televisie, en op hofverrigtinge. Daar word voor die hand gedoen dat Suid-
Afrikaanse howe vir 'n proeftydperk elekroniese dekking van hofverrigtinge toelaat, met
streng reëls vir joernaliste en regspraktisyns. So 'n proefneming kan dalk groter
duidelikheid verskaf oor die voor- en nadele van televisie- en radiodekking van howe op
'n permanente basis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52545 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Brand, Robert Christian |
| Contributors | Retief, Johan, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 119 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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