Guidance

Guidance for checking status of journalists (accessible version)

Updated 16 July 2026

1. Context

Legislation, procedure rules, and practice directions set out what data can be released from court records. Independent judges may also use their discretion to release, or in some circumstances restrict access to, case information and do so in the interests of justice.

There is no statutory definition of a journalist.

HMCTS has established protocols and practices to provide individual journalists with enhanced levels of information, access to information and access to specific areas of the courtroom to support them in their work.

In this guide, we will use ‘journalists’ to mean bona fide journalists and members of the media who are entitled to enhanced levels of court and tribunal information, over and above what is available to members of the public.

2. Purpose

This guidance sets out our operational process for checking, as far as possible, that enhanced levels of information and access are made available only to journalists.

It is intended to:

• be used in conjunction with HMCTS staff guidance on supporting media access to courts and tribunals
• support open justice and transparency
• support individual journalists (rather than organisations) in their work
• protect personal and special category data in line with data protection laws
• provide HMCTS officials and Court and Tribunal Security Officers with a clear, consistent, practical and proportionate approach to verify the status of a journalist
• align with the approach taken by the wider Criminal Justice System, including the police and Crown Prosecution Service

Nothing in this guidance limits access to information that the wider public, journalists or the media are already entitled to.

Verification of journalistic status should not delay access to information that journalists are entitled to.

Most journalists covering court and tribunal hearings will have had training in media law as part of wider professional qualifications and so should be familiar with legal issues relating to reporting proceedings.

The law sets out clearly what can and cannot be published in respect of criminal and other proceedings and it is news publishers themselves, not HMCTS, that carry the legal obligation to make sure that these are met.

3. Defining the media

HMCTS does not accredit journalists or media organisations.

We rely on the verification of journalistic status by independently recognised media industry organisations, schemes and licences.

For the purposes of this Protocol and HMCTS Staff Media Guidance, a journalist includes:

• a professional journalist who holds a valid UK Press Card, issued under the UK Press Card Authority (UKPCA) scheme [or/and]
• a journalist who can provide a letter from the editor of a recognised news publisher such as those regulated by IPSO or Ofcom

Where standard forms of identification are not available, verification will be considered on a case-by-case basis by HMCTS Communications team who will consider alternative evidence of journalistic activity which can include evidence of published material, the credentials of the person or organisation making the request, and whether they are bound by clear codes of practice or have access to legal advice on how they should report court and tribunal hearings.

HMCTS and MoJ officials should make reasonable checks to satisfy themselves that a request for enhanced levels of information or access is coming from a journalist as defined above. If staff are in doubt, they are advised not to refuse automatically – they should escalate to the HMCTS Communications team for advice. Any checks must be conducted quickly, avoiding unnecessary delays in the provision of information or access.

3.1 To note

Freelancers, recognised news publishers and broadcasters can all be considered as journalists.

Individual journalists do not need to be affiliated with an organisation.

Members of the public, bloggers or citizens journalists should not be treated as journalists.

Third party suppliers who provide services to the media, for example data service providers or any other companies who are not themselves publishers or media organisations but provide services to the media are not considered journalists HMCTS Communications team

4. Ongoing and repeat checks

To maintain confidence in access arrangements:

• accounts on the Courts and Tribunals Hearing service (CaTH) are revalidated periodically
• email distribution lists for accredited members of the media are reviewed annually
• journalists are expected to notify HMCTS if their circumstances change (for example, if they leave their employer)

5. Practical checklist for HMCTS officials and court and tribunal security officers

5.1 Does the journalist have a valid UK Press Card?

Question	Does the journalist have a valid UK Press Card?
How to verify:	ask to see the press card (in person or via clear image by email where needed, verify using the UK Press Card Authority hotline: 01430 456543
What to check / accept	a valid UK Press Card issued by a recognised UK Press Card Authority issuer, the card must be held by the individual journalist

5.2 Does the journalist have a letter or email from an editor at a recognised and regulated news publisher?

Question	Does the journalist have a letter or email from an editor at a recognised and regulated news publisher?
How to verify:	review the editor’s confirmation, consider whether the publication is established and recognised
What to check / accept	letter or email from the editor of the journalist’s publication confirming: the journalist’s role and that they are acting in a professional journalistic capacity, the publication should demonstrate editorial oversight and be regulated by IPSO, Ofcom, or a recognised standards body

5.3 Is the journalist able to provide credible evidence of journalistic activity?

Question	Is the journalist able to provide credible evidence of journalistic activity?
How to verify:	Escalate to: HMCTS Communications Team
What to check / accept	confirmation from another government department, evidence of published material, whether the individual or outlet operates under recognised journalistic standards