Newsroom Perspective: Casey Anthony

    Is the dust beginning to settle yet? This has been a completely standard week at work with the exception of the madness that was the Casey Anthony verdict on Tuesday afternoon. Like the rest of the world, I am not without strong opinions. However, unlike everyone else, I'm not a "regular news viewer." This idea of being a "regular news viewer" versus not being one was brought to my attention by the World News floor director when she stopped by the newsroom Monday (to guilt me into sitting on the set.) But having affiliations with news, working in news, etc, we--news heads, watch the news differently. And it's kind of funny because I briefly caught the beginning of a WABC (the local ABC affiliate) newscast, and I noticed when the camera angle was just slightly changed and focus was altered on the shot--stupid things that most people wouldn't notice. And I remember in March, I was in Tulsa with a fellow production assistant to visit a former director and anchor, and  Ryan, Jake and I were watching clips from Fox 23 and it was so nerdy because the conversation was all about camera angles and differences in equipment and stuff. I think that was the first time that I realized we absorb news different, and kind of television for that matter. I remember watching the NFL Draft this year and wishing so badly to be in the newsroom behind the whole event because it would be madness; the number of cameras, the last minute changes, all of the graphics, oh my gosh. I'm way off subject. Anyway, Casey Anthony!
     I've been just as captivated by the story. Since I've been here interning, we've had live feed from our affiliate station in Orlando of all of the courtroom drama that I was glued to, I read nearly every story, and every update, on the ABC website, and I've engaged in each conversation about the trial that's come my way--needless to say, I was addicted. And like nearly everyone out there, and I feel fairly safe saying and meaning "nearly everyone," I wanted Casey Anthony to get that Monopoly treatment: Go straight to jail, do not pass go, do not collect $200. But I hoped for that outcome more for the sake of a good ending to an even better story. And I was "shocked" by the verdict, but not shoooocked by it, and I say this without hindsight bias. By that I mean, I was shocked that as a result of the verdict, Casey Anthony will be a free bird in a matter of days, but not shocked that she was found not guilty of the charge of first degree murder.
      Regardless of how you feel about the story, the outcome, and it's main character, the Nancy Grace-coined "Tot Mom," I think there are a few important things to consider. First, is the role of the media in the villification of Casey Anthony; one of a handful of ugly sides I'm growing increasingly aware of. I almost guarantee that the first time you heard this story: doe-eyed two-year-old missing, and her party animal young mother failed to tell anyone for an entire month, right away, it preys on your emotions and already you had negative opinions about Casey Anthony. She didn't stand a chance against the opinions formed by the nation by way of the media.

 Stuart Chase said, "for those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is enough."

    Regardless of how the trial played out, opinions had been formed, and many minds were made. Then there's the anger and hard feelings towards the jury. Juror #3 that ABC had an exclusive interview with said that it had come down to the cause of death, and without a definitive cause, they couldn't define a punishment. Sure, with chloroform and duct tape, it seems nearly "common-sensical " to attribute those to murder. But imagine potentially having someone else's life in your hands, or even worse, your life in someone else's hands. Now imagine the reluctance associated with that, and relying on what someone else deems "common sense." I don't care how many people categorize an idea of common sense, if you're gonna take me out, I'd rather facts. 
     Most importantly, it's unfortunate that Casey Anthony has become the main character in this story and that the media and nation's fixation on her, and her outlandish lies and manipulations have taken centerstage. This story originally captivated the hearts of Americans because it was a story about a missing little girl, but it's been spun into a psychological thriller taken right from the set of Criminal Minds. SHOUT OUT TO CRIMINAL MINDS, MY FAVORITE SHOW EVER! But the focus should have remained on Caylee Anthony, and there were points when it didn't, and she was seemingly as invisible as Zanny the Nanny and the other make-believe characters.
     Either way, I don't want to play Nancy Grace, nor receive any death threats myself. But I support the verdict reached because it was based on the evidence presented. And I think Casey Anthony is bat-shit crazy, but was unfairly portrayed from the beginning. And the media was largely, if not unproportionately to blame. But, I have a funny story.
     So, Wednesday, the day that ABC scored the exclusive interview with juror #3, I got a phone call at work from a verrrry angry woman.

 

Me: NewsOne.

Her: Is this ABC, the affiliate..uhh, the network?

Me: Yes, NewsOne.

Her: Well, uhh, I heard that you all had an exclusive interview with the third juror in the Casey Anthony trial, and uhhh, I heard that you all offered her free trips to DisneyWorld and all expenses paid and everything! And I am OUTRAGED! I will NOT be watching ABC anymore, and I'm sure there are others that feel the same! So could you just pass that message along?!

     I wonder if she'll also stop watching ESPN, Disney Channel, Disney movies, ABC Family, and any other affiliations that ABC has. Baahah. That's all I'll say about that.