From the Front Row: Big Bad Media
It’s getting easier to find a seat in the main courtroom. On Day 3 of the theater shooting trial, media outlets are starting to pull their reporters one by one. Which means more spots are opening up. The international outlets left after the first day. Many of the national outlets didn’t broadcast much about opening statements because bigger news like the Baltimore riots stole the air time. There will be some stubborn reporter types who will cover the trial for the entire summer — every day. We’re all going to get to know each other very well.
We are not supposed to be approaching the dozens of victims and their families at all — and we learned what can happen to us today. One poor reporter got called before the judge at the very end of today’s proceedings. He is from Yahoo! and I forgot his name. But it must have been really humbling to be brought before the judge for violating the rules. This guy was admonished for approaching a victim’s lawyer in the courthouse. The victim was Marcus Weaver, and he had just testified about the death of his friend, Rebecca Wingo. Weaver has been one of the most outspoken victims in the trial, so I imagine the shamed reporter figured it was okay to approach him.
End of story, he apologized, the judge accepted and all seems well for now. Truth is, I suspect each one of us was secretly relieved we weren’t the ones being called up before eight attorneys, intimidating sheriff’s deputies and the judge. And James Holmes’ parents. And whatever victims hadn’t cleared out for the day.
Things could change in the yawning days of summer when there’s not much coverage at all.
Other rules: no drinks with a logo on the cup. No cellphones or computers in the courtroom. We are all in there old school with pen and notepad. Just like the good old days.
Carol McKinley is a producer with ABC News working with CU News Corps students at the trial.