Trial by Media
Trial By Media is a crime documentary series recently released on Netflix, in each episode it tackles how media coverage and the effects of televising a criminal trial are these effects are mostly negative.
The jurors decide the verdict and they are presumed to be objective but staying unbiased and unaffected is not an easy task when there are external forces at play such as additional information about the case being released in media that is not discussed in courts or shown as evidence and smear campaigns directed at the defendant to weakens their defense and attack the defense’s character. The Jury comes to the verdict guilty or not, based on which side tells the better story at times the evidence might suggest guilt but the prosecutor discredits the evidence by appealing to emotions and simplifying the story.
There are 6 episodes in total all covering different televised trials , but episode 5 in particular “Big Dan’s” struck a chord in me the most this episode revolved around the first televised rape case Portuguese immigrants were put to trial for aggravated rape. Television channels such as CNN broadcasted the whole trial, the judge thought it would render positive results in informing the public of the American Criminal Justice system but viewers watched it as if it was an soap opera, and everybody had an opinion about it. The cross-examination of the victim was unscrupulous, after the televised trial many rape victims were afraid of reporting their rape to the police and getting their assailant prosecuted because of how brutal the cross-examination of the victim was. The victim’s identity was leaked through the press, she was the victim but people treated like she was guilty some people even suggested that she should also be punished and persecuted, because of the heavy press coverage many rape victims feared that the same would happen to them that they would be scrutinized and blamed as well if they chose to go to trial. The jury decided on a guilty verdict however Portuguese american immigrants rallied and protested making the argument that it’s not a crime and she was asking for it. I think people really need to be educated on what consent means and stands for making such comments such as “she is also guilty” just supports the rape culture, people attacking the victim instead of condemning the actions of the assailants is senseless, unreasonable and absurd. Cheryl Araujo died 2 years after the trial and her death was not even mentioned in the media I think she was brave for coming out and telling her story it’s such a tragedy how her life ended.













