http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-977302.mp3
Keokuk, IA – The panelists discuss how the media handled the Casey Anthony trial and the accusations of sexual assault against the now former head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
They looked at how court coverage is trending away from a reporter providing accounts of the day-to-day events and more towards pundits offering play-by-play from hundreds of miles away.
The panelists see this leading to people siding with what they hear on the radio, read in the newspaper, or see on television as opposed to making up their own minds.
They discussed how the Casey Anthony trial drew such large ratings for networks like HLN, in particular Nancy Grace, that this could become the model for future trial coverage.
That led to concern from the panel as to whether states would decide to pull cameras from courtrooms as a way to avoid situations similar to the Casey Anthony trial.