freeSpeech: L. Lin Wood

Attorney Speaks Out About Media Frenzies

(CBS)  It's quiet now, but don't be fooled – another media frenzy is just around the corner.

It may take a few weeks or a few months — or maybe just the next slow news cycle — but it will happen again just as it has happened in the past.

O.J. Simpson, JonBenét Ramsey, Chandra Levy, Laci Peterson. A partial role call of media frenzies.

John Mark Karr was added to the list, as the morning talk shows and 24/7 cable networks saw their ratings soar as the image of Mr. Karr being paraded in front of cameras in Thailand was played over and over again.

And with each media frenzy, the same old "talking heads" resurface for another 15 minutes of fame and are introduced as experts instead of being correctly recognized as uninformed windbags who likely would never be allowed to testify in a court of law.

But the media frenzy does not care. It will substitute itself for the system of justice. And each morning and each night will deliver a guilty or not guilty verdict to the viewers. Never mind that the verdict will be based on speculation, rumor, gossip, or hearsay. Never mind that most of the so-called facts will be wrong.

The media frenzy drives ratings and ratings drive profits. Truth is too often too boring.

A word of caution: When the next media frenzy dominates your television screen, be skeptical perhaps to the point of disbelief. Or better yet, turn off the television and read a good book.

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L. Lin Wood has 29 years experience as a trial lawyer focusing on civil litigation, representing individuals and corporations as plaintiffs or defendants in tort and business cases involving claims of significant damage. Mr. Wood also has extensive experience in First Amendment litigation and management of the media in high profile cases.

[jimc52]

Mr. Wood is right about the media hype. That is where his argument ends. What Mr. Wood is not recognizing is the fact that trial lawyers ARE the real problem in this country. They are the ones who fuel and frenzy feed every court in the US with litigation, that is often hysterically stupid. We all know the US is a sue-happy country where you can spill hot coffee on your crotch and get a $10 million win in court. If the feeding frenzy by the media are the pyranha, the trial lawyers are the bait. Neither of you wants to give up your "celeb" status OR your wealthy incomes. So Mr. Wood, complaining about the media hype is just blowing smoke when you yourself ARE the problem. We need tort reform in this country, but so long as lawyers control the legislatures, we won't have it. You need the media hype just as much as they need what you do.

[jabusario]

How about the Elian Gonsales media-manufactured frenzy? It's like the media was instructing us to care via hypnosis. Who gave a piddle? That thing went on for well over a month and was re-visited to give the folks an update as to how the kid was doing a year later! NBC now has an ongoing "Dateline NBC" dealing with the entrapment of child molesters caught on line talking to cops posing as pre-teen girls. The fact that cops are lucky to have the mentality of pre-teen girls remained unexplored. How about entrapping crooked politicians and corporate crooks and let Jesus or Falwell worry about molesters and other losers? This show is run strictly for entertainment.

[borntwice-2009]

Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we have ourselves. Our bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others. Do you find it easy to magnify others' faults while excusing your own? If you are ready to critisize someone, check to see if you deserve the same critisism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.

Matthew 7: 1,2 "Do not judge others,and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged."

[kailumego1]

And the real %u201Ccontradiction%u201D here is Iraq is a sovereign country just like the United States. I can recall the %u201Ccold-war%u201D, and if Russia had even a whisper of a thought to invade here, the U.S. people would have been outraged.
So, how can you logically convince yourselves we are right now?
And, likewise, the media has done an excellent job delivering the propaganda many Americans are so %u201Chyped-up%u201D to hear.
Because this is what some Americans crave for, projecting their inadequacies onto others, through lies and unfounded suppositions.
Some individuals are so superficial; they love hearing negative press about anyone else, besides themselves.
And the real critical issues get swept under the rug, because the American public has this perverse need to hear about %u201Cothers%u201D violence and mayhem. So, they can sit back, in judgment, and pontificate, how American ideology has brought these individuals out of the doldrums of backwardness, and civilized these poor wary %u201Cheathens%u201D.
So, if you want to blame the media, well don%u2019t, just take a good look in the mirror, it%u2019s about %u201Csupply and demand%u201D. And if this %u201Cgarbage%u201D weren%u2019t so appealing to so many people it wouldn%u2019t sell.

[kailumego1]

The real drama here doesn%u2019t reside on the %u201Cmedia%u2019s%u201D shoulders, but the American public, who has capitulated itself to this constant barrage of %u201Cnonsense%u201D.
He makes such a good point, however, the media isn%u2019t the villain here it%u2019s Americans neurosis for sensationalism.
And as stated in %u201CA Few Good Men%u201D, %u201C you can%u2019t handle the truth%u201D, Americans don%u2019t want good journalism they want to be bombarded with sexual perversion, murder, and terrorism.
Americans don%u2019t want to hear about %u201Cethical journalism%u201D, stories that cover both sides of the spectrum, like, for instance, the Iraqi war. They just want to know that %u201Cwe%u201D are right, no matter the consequences.
And it is so evident in the leaders they elect into office.
They don%u2019t vote on the issues, but partisanship.
We have a real environmental crisis here corporations are allowed to irresponsibly dump pollutants into our rivers, streams, lakes, etc. People are dying from cancer and whatever illness, because of water and soil contamination due to factories dumping toxic substances, and all some individuals can muster to argue about is the %u201Cillegal%u201D war in Iraq.

[fedora1958]

I no longer watch the CBS Evening News, but I happened to catch this one while channel surfing. It's a pretty reasonable opinion, but the sly subtext was alarming. In the intro, Katie Couric, who lately been carrying the administration's water so often her nickname ought to be "Gunga Din", segued into the story from the Foley scandal, suggesting that a possible cover up of sexual harrassment of minors by house leaders to protect one of their best fund raisers is somehow equivalent to celebrity-crazed media circuses like the OJ Simpson trial or the Jon Benet Ramsey murder. The allegations by Republican congressmen, that speaker Hastert's Office knew about Foley's behavior years ago suggest a grevious violation of the public trust. This is not a matter of morbid curiosity. This man is supposed to be working for us, and his conduct as the Speaker of the House is our Business.

[borntwice-2009]

Jesus' statement, "Do not judge others," is against the kind of hypocritical, judgement attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. It is not a blanket statement to overlook wrong behavior of others but a call to be discerning rather than negative. Jesus said to expose false prophets (Matthew 7: 15-23), and Paul taught that we should exersize church discipline (1 Corinthians 5: 1-2) and trust God to be the final Judge (1 Corinthians 4: 3-5).

Matthew 7: 1-5 "Do not judge others and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?"

[samthetvcat]

So it's Mr. Wood's assertion that media frenzies are damaging to society because they compromise truth and justice, and he's using the OJ and Laci Peterson incidents to prove his point? He presents himself well, but really what is he saying there - that OJ really was innocent?!? And how does he believe truth and justice were compromised in the Scott Peterson trial?

Perhaps it's not we the viewers who need to watch less tv, but rather Mr. Wood who needs to watch more if he doesn't understand the allure for people of crimes involving all-Americans who underneath the surface are different than they appear . . .

[kailumego1]

So, yes I understand Mr. Wood%u2019s point, there are too many important issues that shouldn%u2019t be swept under the rug all in the name of %u201Cratings%u201D.
Are we that %u201Cshallow%u201D and %u201Csuperficial%u201D to not comprehend that?
The economy is not doing as well as the Republicans have posited, and the war in Iraq has done more to threaten our national security.
Focus on what%u2019s important, certainly, American citizens have a right to know how our %u201Celectives%u201D are behaving themselves, but, really, this hasn%u2019t changed the opinions of many Americans.
Although Foley%u2019s cronies did an excellent job covering up his amoral behavior, those who adamantly believe in the Republican Party will still vote accordingly.
They don%u2019t care about this %u201Cminor%u201D setback. They don%u2019t see the improprieties within the party itself, all they %u201Cblindly%u201D see is %u201CREPUBLICANISM%u201D.
So, yes we have a right as American citizens to know the truth, but is it really going to change how anyone votes this November?

[kailumego1]

We need to be more "judgmental" to what we are receiving over the airways.
American citizens need to expect more from the media in area of ethical journalism, besides the constant barrage of sensationalism, such as the O.J. trial, in which we didn%u2019t need our television viewing interrupted for the whole entire trial.
There are so much more important issues to concern ourselves besides O.J. Simpson, Scott Foley, Natalie Holloway, etc, in which, obviously, is of little concern to most people. The Natalie Holloway disappearance, along with the O.J. trial should not have dominated precious media time that could have been spent covering other stories much more paramount.
Neither should our media be used as a personal agenda, there are 280 million people here, with their own personal agendas, which should not be the focus of all Americans.

[samthetvcat]

kailumego1, I'm not clear on your points either - it sounds like you think that if Americans are interested in crimes involving average Americans then they necessarily aren't interested in 'serious' issues . . . I don't see the basis for that assumption. It also sounds like you believe 'serious' issues aren't getting sufficient coverage as a result of the 'media frenzies' to the extent that progress is being thwarted (?) I don't see the basis for that assumption either.

Incidentally, law school was teeming with people who like Mr. Wood pride themselves on the belief that they are somehow more enlightened than most for knowing better than to follow current events . . . people there used to scoff at me too for my interest in crimes such as the OJ trial until I made dean's list and placed first on the state bar. I think keeping abreast of ALL events that matter to others is important no matter what your profession, and the people you you need to treat with skepticism are those who believe otherwise. jmo

[kailumego1]

SamtheTVcat;
Obviously, you don't understand the comment, because the media doesn't represent all American citizens, and only those whom are either in the "limelight" or a certain SES. And this is no assumption, I can see that I ruffled your "feathers".
Educational profession should make a difference, but obvious it doesn't since people like you are enchanted by insignificant stories, such as O.J. Simpson's trial. I would have thought someone of your profession would have opted for much better.
And since we are throwing around accolades, I have a Master's degree in education, with a Bachelors' in psychology/sociology/criminal justice/anthropoloy/history/politicalscience and environmental studies, so, what's your point.
And obviously Mr. Wood, must have tapped into your insecurities, if you feel such a need to defend yourself "obessive" behavior regarding watch the O.J. trial. Because, O.J.Simpson is such insignificance in the large scheme of things.