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O.J. Simpson Murder Trial and Media Bias
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The media became frenzied over the idea of such a high profile celebrity commiting such an crime.
The mass media made sure to give everything from the "O.J. is guilty" perspective. Many media outlets had already made up their minds on the case and decided to persuade America by covering specific events and interviewing specific people. One station even went out of their way to show Goldman's mom mourning, but did not show anyone sympathetic to O.J.
Was the Media Biased?
Repeatedly, the media used it's influence in an attempt to sway the public against O.J. by the people they interviewed and the topics they touched on. There was an obvious bias agaisnt O.J. Simpson.
O.J. Simpson 1995 Murder Trial
The Media's Portrayal
Orenthal James Simpson, aka O.J., aka The Juice was arrested on June 17, 1994 after a lengthy chase in through California, he was then put on trial for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
Perception of the Justice System and Reaction to the Verdict
After being told and convinced that he was guilty, then watching walk off scott-free outraged many Americans. The media said things it could not guarantee and America didn't get upset at them, they got mad at the courts instead. Many saw this as a failure of the justice system even though due process was carried out properly.
Cameras in the Court Room?
Videos:
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/12/gotta-watch-o-j-simpson-saga/
http://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/june-17-1994-oj-simpson-murder-case-10553374
Sensationalization of the Case
Yes, there were camerias in the courtroom; In fact, the entire trial was televised. This affected the trial because both sides of the trial were put under pressure my potential millions of eyes instead of a standard full court room. This also placed a lot of pressure onto the jury's shoulders as people could see every piece of evidence nationwide.
The O.J. murder trial is infamous even today as a case of extreme sensationalization. Because of his celebrity status, practically all of the news stations in the country were televising his trial. Papers, periodicals, magazines, etc. were all printing the story frantically in an attempt to get the readers they knew they could. Even cases like the Casey Anthony trial were not blown anywhere near to the same proportions.
Cameras cont.
The cameras also gave us the ability to watch the entire trial, live. The film still exists and the entirety of the trial can be watched online. You can see where the prosecution and the police force drop the ball many times and where Johnnie Cochran was able to convince the jury with his "improbability" argument .