July 1, 2013 - PPM - TV Trials

This week's PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is the "Television Trial."

 

Every year, the cable networks anoint a criminal case and trial that they decide to promote and cover.

 

There is a long list of "Show Trials" dating back to the 1990's with the O.J. Simpson trial. That trial made the careers of Greta Van Susteren, Star Jones, and many others.

 

Since that trial, several crimes have dominated the news. The most recent were the Casey Anthony case and now the George Zimmerman trial.

 

Why do these cases warrant the coverage? With over 10,000 homicides a year, why THIS case?

 

I had previously blogged about the attention associated with the Natalie Holloway disappearance. Many people disappear every day. Why did The Networks focus on this blonde haired, blue eyed woman?

 

As for George Zimmerman and Trevon Martin. Lives: families, and communities are forever changed. Regardless of the jury verdict, someone will be incensed.

 

The media will do nothing but promote the trial, the verdict, and the volatile response to the verdict. I know first hand of the damage TV Trial can incite. I was caught in a downtown SF riot when the Rodney King verdict was released in April 1992.

 

It PEEVES me that THIS trial receives the media blitz when it could be ANY trial in ANY city on ANY day.

 

Why is one trial MORE important than another?

 

We are ALL CREATED EQUAL under our constitution, but just not by CNN?

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