NCJ Number
125784
Date Published
1990
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This discussion of the systematic effect of media coverage on the criminal justice system considers two related concepts: "media trials" and "echo effects."
Abstract
The "media trial" involves the merging of news and entertainment. Media trial themes can be categorized as "Abuse of Power and Trust," "Sinful Rich," and "Evil Strangers." These three media trial categories provide thematic explanations of the style and content of the news media trial coverage. Within media trials, coverage of all aspects of a case are reported, and extra-legal facts are often highlighted. Extensive coverage is provided for judges, lawyers, police, witnesses, jurors, and particularly defendants. Coverage is live whenever possible, pictures are preferred over text, and text is characterized by conjecture and sensationalism. The "echo effect" involves the continuation of the effects of media coverage of particular trials to affect subsequent similarly charged cases. An echo effect portends that the influence of media trials extends beyond a single case to influence the dispositions of a large number of subsequent cases, including those that are not covered by the media. What is most needed at this time is research that will detail the possible echo effects of media trials and their effects upon the perceptions and actions of criminal justice decisionmakers. 92 references.