trial by media
Journalism replaces courtroom
Trial by media describes the phenomenon where news coverage and public commentary about a legal case become so intense and one-sided that they effectively render a verdict before any court does.
The accused may be presumed guilty in the public mind regardless of what happens in the actual trial.
The defense argued their client couldn't get a fair hearing after weeks of trial by media.
The phrase carries a critical tone, suggesting that journalistic sensationalism has usurped the justice system's role.
- public opinionSociety's shared attitudes
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- tabloid journalismSensational news prioritizing shock
- yellow journalismReporting prioritizing shock value
- feeding frenzyFrantic competitive consumption
witch hunt · press · perp walk · rush to judgment · kangaroo court · defamation · mob mentality · character assassination · contempt of court · reputational damage · public shaming · press freedom · lynch mob · scandal · news cycle · frenzy · interview · cameras
- media trialscourt reporting, contempt of court, courtroom decorum, publication bans, judicial integrity
- media ethicsjournalism ethics, journalistic ethics, journalistic integrity, code of ethics, checkbook journalism
- social crueltybullying, harassment, humiliation, shaming, mocking
- tabloid mediasensationalism, tabloids, yellow journalism, tabloidization, gossip columns
- witch huntswitch hunt, witch hunts, witchcraft accusations, witch finder, accusations
- condemnationcondemnation, censure, rebuke, denunciation, reproach
trial by mediadue process
Guaranteed judicial fairness
fair trial · trial by jury · judicial process · court of law · rule of law
trial by mediapresumption of innocence
Default legal blamelessness
equal protection · due process of law · right to counsel · natural justice
trial, media, mediator, mediate, trials, mediation, intermediate, medial, multimedia