Twitter goes to court - in New Zealand [Bain retrial pushing media boundaries]

“Twitter, live streaming, all the platforms available to us through digital media are now really going to come into play.”

And the internet has also changed the way the court itself operates - with a team of stenographers in Auckland transcribing every word of the trial and firing it back in written form.

“We’re hopefully that by having a team of transcribers behind the scenes instead of someone in court we can shave hopefully about a quarter off the sitting length,” says Paula O’Flynn of the National Transcription Service.
Some commentators say the internet has opened the door to a new style of courtroom coverage.

SHOOT: It's thanks to the internet that I have been following this fascinating case. Without the internet and Tweets from the New Zealand Herald, how else would a South African have access or even knowledge of this trial? How did I find out about it? A chance comment by a friend on Facebook who is living in NZ. Then Google, Wiki, Blogs, Forums and Twitter took over.

clipped from www.3news.co.nz One of the big differences between the Bain retrial and the original one is the use of technology. For example, the internet. In 1995 when David Bain was found guilty, the internet was really just beginning to gain momentum. Now it's in all of our lives - allowing video streaming of the court proceedings and changes to the way the court itself works. The Bain trial is proving not just a legal landmark, it has also pushed back the boundaries of how the media has been able to report it. “It’s huge, I’ve never seen coverage on this scale and in so many platforms,” says Media Commentator Bill Ralston. “I guess it’s the growth of digital media. There’s streaming online, there’s blog following it.” “The most valuable coverage has been the general coverage really, especially video of the trial and although that’s been delayed the fact that it’s been able to go up on websites particularly,” says Media Law Expect Ursula Cheer.