Why was the OJ Simpson trial nationally televised but not the Enron trial?

[Catherine Vincent]

Things that make you go hmmmm.

[henslee]

1. Lurid factor? Does that mean that it is not being taped at all?

[Puregonzo1188]

2. I don't believe a lot of trials have been televised since OJ

possibly for a reason.

[salin]

3. Sensationalism

[Akoto]

4. For the same reason that ...

Missing girls get 24/7 coverage for months while the actions of the administration go unreported. The first is distracting 'entertainment' for the people, which keeps attention away from the serious matters which we really need to be paying attention to.

Disclaimer: I sympathize with the families of people who have been kidnapped, but I don't think that's all we should focus on all day, every day.

[varkam]

7. Not just missing girls...

but missing, pretty, rich, young, white girls.

[FreedomAngel82]

10. And think of all the people who

go through years who never get any type of help to find their missing family members. :( I wonder why they pick these paticular people over someone else.

[Akoto]

13. Many reasons.

As has been said above, most of the girls getting coverage are pretty, rich and white. I don't want to turn it into a racial issue, but that does seem to be the trend. They take an "all-American" girl and sensationalize her situation for ratings (and to provide distractions).

[varkam]

5. Because OJ was a celebrity.

And we loves us some celebrities! (see also - Bennifer, Brangelina, Tomkat....)

[FreedomAngel82]

6. All theatre

[dsc]

8. California required cameras unless they could be shown to be detrimental

while Federal law either bans them or lets individual judges decide. (I can't recall which). Renquist was very much opposed to TV in the courts and he, as Chief Justice, was also administrator of the Federal Courts.

[bliss_eternal]

16. I don't think (CA) required them--

as much as the media wanted them there. I recall reading (and seeing on the news back then) that they spent many days, weeks I believe, fighting for the right to have the cameras in that court room. The media felt they had a right to be there, the justice system argued it may be of a detriment to the integrity of the trial.

I could be wrong of course--just what I seem to recall about that aspect of the trial. Do correct me if I am wrong here. :)

Sadly, allowing them in that case (imo), allowed the attorneys on both sides to play to the cameras more than try their cases.

[dsc]

18. Sorry it looks like you are right

though as I recall judges had to have a decent reason, not just I don't want cameras. I also think the Simpson case caused some cracking down on them.

[bliss_eternal]

19. You're right about that

as it seems Ito was slammed for allowing cameras in that case. :hi:

[catmother]

9. speaking of enron, i just saw the DVD last night "enron, the

smartest guys in the room" anyone else see it?

[FreedomAngel82]

11. I've seen the previews

It looks really good.

[catmother]

14. i got it from netflix. it will anger you. nt

[marions ghost]

12. Because

murders are REAL crimes that everyone can relate to. White collar crimes are not so important y'know. Despite billions lost every year to WCC, that is the myth. And the corporate media has NO incentive to change that view.

Good point, cat_girl.

[bliss_eternal]

15. A few reasons I can think of--

1. OJ Simpson was a celebrity. The msm at large believes that celebrities sell papers, get ratings, etc.

2. Sadly, there's a large portion of our population that's never even heard of Enron, so msm doesn't think that would translate to ratings or interest on the part of their viewers.

3. OJ Simpson was an a black man that had found success--the fall from grace was palatable to many.

4. Enron--a bunch of greedy, white men--while interesting to us, not interesting to many more unfortunately. It's kind of a run of the mill occurrence in America to most, rather commonplace and sadly--expected.

They were more enthused watching Martha Stewart take her fall, because they disliked the fact that a woman played by her own rules and reaped a fortune doing so. Again, palatable to misogynists to watch her fall from grace (in their eyes).

[emulatorloo]

17. no sex, no celebrity, Ken Lay is ugly, OJ is handsome EOM