ALECOMM

Dozens of Australian news organisations and journalists face possible "orders for imprisonment" or fines for alleged contempt of court over their coverage of Cardinal George Pell's conviction for child sexual abuse.

Thirty-six news agencies and individuals have been called to a Supreme Court hearing on April 15 to answer accusations they breached a suppression order when publishing material about the trial last year.

Among those named in documents filed by the Victorian Department of Public Prosecutions on Friday are The Age editor Alex Lavelle, Herald Sun editor Damon Johnston, 2GB host Ray Hadley and Channel Nine presenter Deborah Knight.

Victorian County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd placed a non-publication order on all of the evidence and the verdict in Pell's trial, which was held last year.

The order was made to protect the proceedings of a planned second trial for unrelated offences, which was subsequently dropped.

PHOTO Deborah Knight and Ray Hadley are among those named in the summons.

When the jury delivered its verdict, it was reported on international news websites, where the court had no jurisdiction.

But a number of local agencies are accused of flouting the suppression.

Some major Australian newspapers covered the verdict in articles which did not mention Pell by name and left out other key details.

They included The Age, which reported "a very high-profile figure was convicted on Tuesday of a serious crime, but we are unable to report their identity due to a suppression order".

The ABC received an initial letter about coverage by RN Breakfast, in a segment about newspaper front pages, but it was not included on the list of those called to the hearing next month.

'Scandalising the court'

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) contended that publications by 34 of the 36 named parties "had a tendency to interfere with the due administration of justice in the prosecution of Pell".

They are also accused of having "aided and abetted the overseas media's contempt".

Sixteen of the respondents are also accused of having the "effect of scandalising the court" in publications that were critical of the court.

Two weeks ago, Pell was sentenced to six years in jail for historical sexual abuse offences against two choirboys at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in the mid-1990s, when Pell was archbishop of Melbourne.

News Corp Australasia said it would "vigorously defend all charges" and "resolutely stand by our editors and journalists".

A Nine spokesperson said Nine and its named employees denied the allegations, but would not comment further as the matter was before the courts.

Macquarie Media also refused comment.

The 36 respondents:

• The Herald and Weekly Times Pty Ltd
• Damon Johnston
• Charis Chang
• News Life Media Pty Ltd
• Queensland Newspapers Pty Ltd
• Sam Weir
• The Geelong Advertiser Pty Ltd
• Andrew Piva
• Nationwide News Pty Ltd
• Ben English
• Lachlan Hastings
• Advertiser Newspapers Pty Ltd
• Michael Owen-Brown
• Fairfax Media Limited
• The Age Company Pty Ltd
• Alex Lavelle
• Ben Woodhead
• Patrick O'Neil
• Michael Bachelard
• Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd
• Lisa Davies
• Michael Stutchbury
• Patrick Durkin
• Danielle Cronin
• Franziska Rimrod
• Mamamia.com.au
• Jessica Chambers
• Allure Media Pty Ltd
• Simon Thomsen
• Macquarie Media Limited
• Chris Smith
• Ray Hadley
• Nine Entertainment Co Pty Ltd
• Lara Vella
• Christine Ahern
• Deborah Knight