The mainstream media has shown little concern for the ban on camera coverage in federal courtrooms, despite numerous high-profile defendants over the years.
However, when it comes to Donald J. Trump, the media apparatus is united in clamoring about the perceived unfairness of the situation.
In a recent filing, a coalition of broadcasters and media outlets, including ABC News, the Los Angeles Times, Univision, The Washington Post, Politico, and C-SPAN, submitted an application to record and telecast the criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump in March 2024. Alternatively, they requested that the court livestream or release audiovisual recordings of the proceedings.
The coalition argues that the historic nature of a former president and current GOP front-runner being put on trial for his actions leading up to the Capitol incursion on January 6, 2021, justifies the need for audiovisual access. They claim that continuous public oversight of the justice system is crucial in a case involving a former president accused of subverting the electoral process.
However, this request for camera coverage represents an unprecedented shift in the federal court system. Long-standing precedent prohibits televising or recording court hearings. Although some lawmakers have advocated for a change in these rules, such a process would likely take years.
Despite the unlikelihood of a rule change before March 4, the Media Coalition continues to emphasize the significance of the trial. Steven Brill, co-CEO of media ratings system NewsGuard and founder of Court TV, argues that televising the trial would combat misinformation and ensure that the evidence is vetted and presented in a courtroom setting.
However, the idea that having cameras in the courtroom would prevent people from forming opinions about the trial is questionable. The media outlets that would broadcast the trial are not known for their non-partisanship or objectivity. Moreover, the argument that trials were always meant to be public does not necessarily imply the need for camera coverage.
The Media Coalition contends that the ban on cameras is based on outdated views about recording and broadcasting trials. However, they rarely challenge this ban in court, making their argument less compelling. Ultimately, the media's push for camera coverage seems more driven by the desire for a media spectacle and the opportunity to shape the narrative surrounding Trump, rather than a genuine commitment to transparency or combating conspiracy theories.
Even if there were valid reasons to reconsider the rules regarding federal court proceedings, the trial of Donald J. Trump would not be the appropriate catalyst for such a change. The media's focus on entertainment and their preconceived narrative about Trump undermines their claims of seeking transparency and combating false information.
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