Better your court coverage

By Daniel Cásarez

On Saturday morning at the Press Summit, experts including Dan Day from The Modesto Bee, Linda Deutsch of the Associated Press and William "Bill" Murray, a judge from the Superior Court in San Joaquin County, offered great tips that can lead to better court coverage in your community.

Deutsch is a veteran at covering high-profile cases including O.J. Simpson, Charles Manson and the Exxon Valdez.

One aspect of coverage she discourages is talking off the record, saying it's vital to remain on the record for precision. And regarding pushy clerks and judges, she said to "act as if you belong there, because you do. There wouldn't be a public trial without you."

Due to the graphic nature of some cases, newspapers might not print details, but a reporter can talk about what the witnesses, lawyers, judges and defendants said, Deutsch advised.

"It's a very important moment for the person on trial, and it's a time when they are judged by their neighbors. Maybe the only time their opinion matters," she said.

Modesto's Dan Day said a great tip in covering the courts is to get to know the people.

"Who's behind the counter? And look for documentation to publish online as a PDF." Day said one counter person once gave him a great tip about a story.

"Nothing beats a great pair of severed legs," Day said.

Judge Bill Murray said his colleagues behind the bench would like to see more context.

"We expect the media to educate the public on court procedures," said Murray. "Just why did the judge make the decision he did?"

Deutsch added to Day's comments, saying a good reporter will get to know the beat: It's vital to know the judges, and the clerk is often a reflection of the judge.

Day said using today's high-tech gadgets, his coverage would include Instant Messaging, Twitter and iPhones for blow-by-blow accounts of trials.

-- Daniel Cásarez is a reporter for Vida en el Valle in Fresno.