SYDNEY - Three dozen Australian journalists and publishers are to face court on Monday over their coverage of cardinal George Pell's trial for child sex abuse, with prosecutors seeking fines and jail terms over accusations of breached gag orders in the case.
Although Monday's hearing is largely procedural, media experts say the case shows not only the serious consequences of breaching rules on court reporting but also how poorly the rules rein in coverage in the era of digital news. Breaches of suppression orders can be punished with jail for up to five years and fines of nearly A$100,000 for individuals, and nearly A$500,000 for companies.
The county court of Victoria put a suppression order on reporting of Pell's trial last year to prevent jury prejudice in that case, as well as on a second trial on other charges set for last month.After the verdict, some Australian media said an unnamed high-profile person had been convicted of a serious crime that could not be reported.Those who published online do not have offices or staff in Australia and were not charged for ignoring the suppression order, but have lobbied against it.
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