The engagement between the Judiciary Communications Committee and the media concluded on Friday.
The participants explored key topics such as national and international legal frameworks for media coverage of court proceedings, overviews of criminal and civil law and procedures, and general guidelines for journalists covering court trials.
In his presentation, Justice of Appeal John Katsala emphasized that the media must carefully balance freedom of expression with respect for privacy, safeguarding vulnerable individuals, protecting national security, and upholding justice in the pursuit of open justice. He also noted that the legal framework contains a mix of restrictions aimed at protecting the rights of all parties involved.
“Sometimes you don’t understand when we do not divulge information about some of our cases,” he said.
In his closing remarks, Media Council of Malawi Executive Director Moses Kaufa encouraged journalists to develop a culture of reading to familiarize themselves with relevant laws and court proceedings.
He extended his appreciation to the Judiciary for creating such a platform and has called for more training sessions to close the capacity gap among journalists on covering court proceedings.
This initiative, funded by the Chilungamo II Programme, aims to enhance collaboration between the Judiciary and the media to improve public service delivery.
