The O.J. Simpson Trial:
How The Media Effects High Profile Criminal Cases
Noah Norwood
Florida State University

Abstract This paper goes over the effects the media had on the O.J. Simpson case and how the media interfered. The O.J. Simpson murder case is touted as the most televised criminal trial in history and from the second the murders were discovered there was a media frenzy. On the night of June 12, 1994 the bodies of Nicole Brown and her waiter Ronald Goldman were found outside of Nicole’s condo both stabbed to death. The suspect, former athlete, icon, and actor Orenthal James (O.J.) Simpson was the main suspect of the crime. On June 16th, 1994 the LAPD pressed murder charges against him and placed a warrant for his arrest on which he agreed to turn himself in on June 17th 1994 at 11 A.M.. He would not show up to turn himself in and eventually the infamous White Ford Bronco police chase would ensue. Eventually O.J. would be brought in and face trial in what would subsequently lead to him being found not guilty. Throughout this paper we will go over the historical setting and the phases of the incident from the crime committed to the end of the trial. Along with this the effect the high volume of media coverage and publicity will be covered. Also research on how race and gender affected the outcome of this trial will be displayed. To conclude the O.J. Simpson murder trial was highly effected by the media interference from day 1, which caused a racial stir and a certain hype surrounding the event. Had the media not been so involved from the beginning there would have been a different outcome.

THE O.J. SIMPSON TRIAL:
HOW THE MEDIA EFFECTS HIGH PROFILE CRIMINAL CASES

According to CNN it is know as “the most watched trial of the century”, and it is with over 100 million viewers. That’s more than half of the United States population tuning in.