Fixation on Tragedy, Beyond Casey Anthony

I was asked to provide legal commentary on the Casey Anthony Trial.  Before being asked, I had not watched the trial or kept up on the developments.  In preparing for the commentary,  I discovered that the trial brought HLN (formerly CNN'S Headline News),  it's highest ratings for a month period of time.  So, the tragedy of death and the specter that the mother may be found guilty for the crime, created a ratings bonanza.  What is about tragedy and suffering that draws the public's attention?

The fascination with OJ's trial made some sense as he was arguably a celebrity and the case did have some interesting twists and turns.  However, the public's hunger for courtroom coverage since then and for non-celebrities is puzzling.   To put the focus on tragedy in perspective,  ratings for President Obama's Press Conference total 11.49 million viewers.  While Nancy Grace gathered nearly two million viewers for the same time period. And, that is not the actual coverage of the Anthony Trial, but re-hashing the days events.  Sadly,  Two and a Half Men gathered over 14 million viewers. And, it was a re-run.

What is it about tragedy that causes this frenzy?  We are more focused on the trial of one person than we are on the factors that cause people to become violent.  To boil it down,  if viewers had a choice between the Anthony Trial and a report on 48 hours on a study that illustrates the factors that cause people to become violent criminals,  it's safe to say that the Anthony Trial would gather at least ten times the viewers.

This sad development doesn't surprise me, but still saddens me.  In a culture where websites such as "the dirty" can make millions of dollars posting internet gossip and trash about ordinary people and label them as "sluts" or as having an STD,  it is no shock that glitz and drama beat out thoughtful dialogue.

The blood in the water that the frenzy has created causes me to doubt the sincerity of pop trash promoters' such as Nancy Grace.   Which do you think was first?  The draw of viewers or Nancy Grace's concern for the victim Caylee Anthony?    

As a trial lawyer, I can tell you that working on a trial is riveting.   However,  watching as a passive participant can be quite dull.  The evidence is not packaged in a quick tempo entertaining manner. The pace is often slow and plodding.  Yet, somehow, viewers will still stay fixed to the trial.  Is it because the focus on other's suffering helps alleviate the viewers? Or is it simply just morbid curiousity?

Meanwhile,  today in our country, as with every single day, a child will be reported missing or abducted. In fact, this occurs every forty seconds.  So, while you read this blog, a child was abducted.  Yet, there is no story or clamor for coverage for these forgotten souls.