The public will primarily learn about court proceedings via the media. And media interest in court procedures is indeed great. Knife killing, gang rape and violence are given both newspaper coverage and broadcasting time. Press coverage of legal proceedings is very important for the public conception of due process. Therefore good interaction between the media and the judiciary is essential. Under all circumstances, Denmark as a society founded on the rule of law cannot function adequately unless information about court procedures is a communicative task to be undertaken by the media in concert with the judiciary.
For this reason, in their communication policy the Courts of Denmark propose that the judiciary should, while observing professional secrecy, assist reporters by giving them background information, e.g. about legal practice in a given field. This may help ensure that the public is informed competently and adequately about proceedings and decisions in specific cases.
The communication policy includes some advice about interaction with the press. For it is important to us that the public and the press should, as far as possible, receive the same good treatment in all of Denmark.
In other areas, the Courts of Denmark has taken steps to strengthen the medie relations. A Communication network has been established with a contact person in each court aiming to help journalists and some courts have press judges that can explain and make a comment on court rulings.