I'm trying to find the best way to frame a few recent stories regarding the media and its interrelation with other institutions.
One is the Casey Anthony trial, most importantly the fact that this was a trial that was conducted both in a trial court and in the court of public opinion. As we know, the verdicts in each diverged. What does this tell us about the nature of information made available to a jury in a trial versus the public through media sources?
A second is the DSK accusations and the entire concept of a perp walk, where police are able to parade a person arrested for, but not formally accused of, a crime. What's the point of it? Is it a gratuitous display of power? Might it bias a potential jury pool against a potential trial defendant.
A third is the entire Rupert Murdoch phone hacking scandal. There is so much going on in this I don't know where to begin, but I'll get an angle soon. Be prepared to field potential assignment questions about these.
