Legal first as STV to Tweet live from court during Sheridan's sentencing
In a Scottish legal first, STV is set to report on the sentencing of Tommy Sheridan using Twitter.
The Scottish Judiciary has confirmed that journalists will be allowed to send live text updates from the hearing following an application being submitted by STV News.
The sentencing of former MSP Tommy Sheridan follows a jury ruling last month that he had lied during his original successful libel hearing against the News of the World in 2004.
He will be sentenced on Wednesday at the High Court in Glasgow, where, for the first time in a Scottish courtroom, reporters will be allowed to send direct electronic updates.
The Lord Chief Justice recently issued interim guidance for England and Wales, allowing journalists to Tweet from court during the bail hearing of Julian Assange, founder of whistleblowing website Wikileaks.
STV News was the only media organisation to make a formal written application to Lord Bracadale, who has overseen the trial, asking for permission to use Twitter to provides live updates.
These will be available through the STV News website and its Twitter feed.
Matt Roper, digital news editor, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this innovation for our viewers. Fair and accurate reporting of court has always been central to the principle of open justice. Now technology will allow journalists to bring us what is happening inside court without delay.”
A video livestream will also be provided by STV from outside the court, to its website, while special reports from political editor Bernard Ponsonby and chief reporter David Cowan will air during its Six O’clock news broadcast.