I am both appalled and amazed at how televised trials have become sporting events. I’m a little embarrassed to say that I was drawn into watching the Casey Anthony trial. I’m actually watching live coverage as I type this. The judge and the attorneys are conducting themselves in a serious and dignified manner. A woman’s life hangs in the balance. A child has died. All parties seem to understand the gravity of the situation. All parties except the TV commentators. They seem to believe this is the NFL or a rerun of Deal or No Deal.
In the early days of CourtTV, before the race for ratings turned it into TruTV, it covered trials with dignity. The commentators informed viewers of the intricacies of the law. They explained the reasons behind the methods used on both sides of the aisle. It could be boring at times. That’s because real trials do not operate like the 30 minute condensed trial on Law & Order. Real trials are ponderous. They go on for weeks or months and aren’t ratings giants.
So what’s a network to do? The not so obvious answer is to turn the trial into a sporting event.
The commentators, we shall call ‘the cheerleaders’ because they do not deserve to be called commentators or news professionals. They shout and they incite. They turn practicing judges and lawyers into caricatures of themselves as they encourage them to guess odds on the outcomes of various parts of the trial.
They want to know, “What are the “odds” that Casey will take the stand?” Is Vegas taking odds on the trial.
Watch as HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell interviews and prompts the “fans”. Fans is her word, not mine. Watch this video and listen to the words while remembering that they are talking about a trial over the death of a child. There is excitement and glee in their demeanor. It’s like the movies showing a hanging in the wild west. I thought our society had matured.
Watching this circus reminded me of a movie from some years ago. Pay particular attention to the great Richard Dawson as the master of ceremonies and you will see a chilling similarity.
Our society is perilously close to “The Running Man”
Please take a moment and share your thoughts about media coverage today.
Are we pandering for ratings?
Where do we draw the line between news and entertainment?
Off The Mainstream 
This reminds me of a list from 1994 of the top 10 stories by wire services in different countries around the world. Every country in the world was focused on international issues and political happenings. What were the top 10 US stories? #1 was OJ Simpson. As a matter of fact, the top 4 stories were all sports related (NHL lockout, Tanya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan, etc.). The first international story was the situation in Israel at the time. Very sad.
Ah, very insightful and true! The News has dumbed down their coverage and they have sensationalized human tragedy for ratings. Sad and true. Tragedy and reality. That’s what’s on the TUBE folks.
Thanks for the input. When ratings drop for these circuses maybe we will learn to be more civil to one another.
Excellent point Alan – when I’m preparing a client for a trial, I always tell them – trials are a game – yes, a very serious game, but a game nonetheless. But the Casey Anthony trial didn’t grab me (perhaps because I’m too cheap to shell out for cable TV). I still rather spend my time watching Anatomy of a Murder – again.
Not having any trial experience (thank god) my experience is watching Tv trials and reruns of Law & Order. Your phrase “a serious game” seems so accurate. But the talking heads want to make into another type of game. I feel for both sides in that fiasco.
Alan, you thought our society had matured. I’m sorry to say that the same issues and problems will always be there–people are people. And until the people who have philosophically grown and become enlightened can live forever, there is such a case for misanthropy. Sometimes, the last shred of hope that I have for humanity goes out the window when I am exposed to our media culture.
“You cannot make a man by standing a sheep on its hind-legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position you can make a crowd of men.”–Sir Max Beerbohm (1872-1956)
LG: Well said.
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