It is evident that this article compeltely focuses on the point I was trying to make about this murder trial in the first place. As ALderman explores the fact that news and entertainment are very related and real in this society. More people were viewing this case, more money was spent covering this case and millions of Americans enjoyed it. EVery day you would check in the OJ case and see what the new piece of the trial was evident.
In my opinion this is just like a soap opera. A sitcom. The news stations were longer trying to report the news. They wanted more viewers. They wanted to make money. SO this race battle was exploited in every single way. Millions of dollars were spent and more anchors and shows covered these mid 90s events than anybody could ahve guessed. This was the most popular issue in a long time and everyone took advantage of it.
Is this what our society has come to? This shouldn't have been a race issue, yet it was turned into one. The different opinions different races had were exploited as well. People were made to think they were outcasts if they didn't back up their race. There was turmoil between whites in blacks, as described in both articles. That's again why I wished I was older during the time. I want to really understand the impact and these articles help with that.
The "way" that these pieces of information were shared is what fuedl the fire. ALderman says that it is also a matter of what is not said. As he points out the data of course is important, but the way it was manipulated is even more important. The media coverage is more important. The geography is important. This is what everyone forgets. Depending on where you were, what station you were watching and what your background was the media could paint a complete different picture for you.
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I really wish I'd been older when the trial happened too. I have a very vague memory of the whole thing, and most of those memories have to do with my parents' reactions to everything. But I remember at the time thinking that it didn't seem all that real--that it felt like a sitcom, like you were saying. I think eventually people sort of forgot that people had actually died and were just concerned with following the "story", the same way they follow Britney Spears and all her craziness. It got to the point that it was entertainment and nothing else, and the good thing is that these articles really helped to put things into perspective.
ReplyDeleteI wrote the same thing in my blog, I wish I were older to see this unfold to see this spectacle and also see how I stood in regards to understanding what was happening. I feel the most heart-wrenching sorrow and also anger for the families of the victims. It must have been devastating to see a man who was so clearly guilty to ones who knew him, WALK. Especially with how brutal the scene was.
ReplyDeleteThis is hard - as someone with the utmost optimism and faith in television journalism, I really do agree that there was too much coverage, causing saturation. BUT I just don't think the media would do it if people weren't interested -this was the "perfect storm." Is it really taking advantage of a situation if you are begged for the coverage by your public?
ReplyDeleteThis is kind of more of a response to YesAlex's comment, which basically said the same thing I've been thinking all week. All of the discussion about the case is focused on the cultural issues surrounding it, but the fact that he was guilty of murdering two people in cold blood seems to be of secondary importance. Even the African American community is willing to admit his probable guilt at this point, but it doesn't matter because the important thing is the symbolic victory of a black man against the LAPD and a racist legal system. What about the families and friends of the victims, or the children left without a mother? The justice system failed, and I feel for the families who will never truly get justice for their loved ones.
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