Elevate Your Journalism in One Day
The Challenge
With new funding opportunities available, news organisations must ensure their journalists have the legal knowledge and court reporting expertise to produce accurate, high-impact journalism.
The Solution:
Court reporting is a noble profession that requires dedication to accuracy, a knowledge and understanding of legislation and an ability to spot the human interest story amid the legal jargon. As a court reporter, you take up the privileged position of being the eyes and ears of the public inside the courtroom. It is the job of a reporter to provide accurate and engaging copy so that the wider public has a better understanding of how the legal system operates.
PAI’s intensive one-day programme equips journalists with the essential skills to report confidently from court, navigate legal constraints, and deliver accurate, compliant, and compelling stories. Led by our legal expert and experienced court reporter, this session covers court structures, media law, privacy rules, reporting restrictions, and best practices for live and digital coverage.
Designed to align with Coimisiún na Meán’s €5.7 million Journalism Schemes, which was launched in February 2025 and which have created a significant number of new or enhanced journalist roles across Ireland, our programme ensures your team is equipped to deliver high-quality, independent journalism that meets the scheme’s objectives.
The programme offers attendees expert insights to understand the structure of the legal system in Ireland and to gain practical, courtroom-ready skills that will enhance their reporting and protect their work from legal pitfalls.
PAI’s Programme Learning Objectives:
- Understand the Irish Legal System & Court Structures
- Master Court Rules & Specific Process Rules
- Navigate Media Law, Privacy & Reporting Restriction
- Develop Accurate & Ethical Court Reporting Techniques
- Understand the Role & Purpose of Court Reporting
- Learn Best Practices for Live & Digital Court Reporting (with Guest Speaker Insight)
- Apply Practical Court Reporting Skills Through Case Studies & Exercises
The workshop element of the programme will focus on the fundamental principles of court reporting: Accuracy, fairness and engagement. You will also learn about the basic layout of the court, who’s who in the courtroom and what function each person fulfils, how to recognise them and how to conduct yourself.
You will learn how to avoid legal pitfalls and create copy that is safe from contempt of court or libel actions while engaging your editors’ and readers’ interest to ensure that what you write gets published and noticed.
Who Should Attend?
- Journalists & Reporters – Those covering courts or legal matters for print, online, or broadcast media.
- Editors & Newsroom Managers – Professionals overseeing court-related stories who need to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Freelance Journalists – Writers looking to expand their expertise into court reporting.
- Trainee & Early-Career Journalists – Those new to court reporting who want a strong legal and practical foundation.
- Media & Communications Professionals – PR specialists, legal correspondents, or public sector communicators who engage with court reporting.
- Academics & Journalism Students – Those studying media law, journalism, or investigative reporting.
