Khmelnytskyi courts promise to improve communication with journalists after Mediabaza initiates meeting

Khmelnytskyi media professionals had an off the record meeting with spokesperson judges, press officers, and court staff of Khmelnytskyi oblast. The event was initiated by the Institute of Mass Information's regional journalist hub Mediabaza Khmelnytskyi with the support by the Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal.

The meeting discussed the following topics:

• access to high-profile court hearings for the media;
• prompt delivery of memos about hearings in high-profile cases;
• prompt release of briefs about rulings issued in high-profile cases;
• notifying media professionals about hearings being postponed or held behind closed doors.

The Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal hosted a meeting between media professionals and spokesperson judges, press officers, and court staff of Khmelnytskyi oblast. Photo by the Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal

Media professionals called on courts to post sample applications for attending court hearings for journalists who want to film with stationary equipment and for livestreaming hearings on their websites.

The participants also discussed trials in high treason cases and access to these hearings for journalists. Media professionals seek to report on them in a way that jeopardizes neither the police investigation nor the prosecution.

The event took place with the support by the Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal

Following this meeting, the participants agreed to create a joint communication channel to improve the interaction between courts and media professionals, which will contribute to high-quality and up-to-date coverage of court proceedings.

Journalists explained the necessity of receiving up-to-date information on court hearings in high-profile cases and of having access to them. Photo by the Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal

The meeting also discussed possible communication options. Photo by the Khmelnytskyi Court of Appeal

Maria Turchyna, Mediabaza Khmelnytskyi communications manager