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Trial By Media is a documentary series from 2020 that examines some of the most high-profile trials in recent history and how they were depicted in the media. The series consists of six episodes, each of which delves into a different case and the ways that the coverage of the trial affected public perception and ultimately the outcome of the case.

The first episode, "Talk Show Murder," focuses on the trial of Jenny Jones, who was sued for wrongful death after a guest on her talk show was murdered by another guest who had been humiliated on air. The episode explores the fascination with daytime talk shows and the way that they often exploit guests for dramatic effect, and how this case in particular highlighted the potential dangers of such shows.

The second episode, "Subway Vigilante," features the case of Bernard Goetz, who shot and injured four young men on a New York City subway train in 1984. The episode examines how the media fueled public outrage over the incident and how Goetz was initially hailed as a hero by some for standing up to what was seen as rampant crime in the city. However, as more information came to light and questions were raised about Goetz's motivations and mental health, public opinion shifted.

In "Blago!", the third episode, the focus is on the corruption trial of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who was accused of attempting to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat after he was elected president. The episode looks at how Blagojevich's bombastic personality and media savvy made him a frequent guest on talk shows and news programs, but also how this ultimately backfired when his words and actions were used against him in court.

The fourth episode, "Big Dan's Tavern," tells the story of a sexual assault case in which the victim was a dancer at a Wisconsin bar called Big Dan's Tavern. The episode examines how the media coverage of the case focused on the victim's background and behavior rather than the perpetrator, and how this played into harmful stereotypes about rape victims.

The fifth episode, "King Richard," focuses on the trial of Richard Scrushy, the CEO of HealthSouth, who was accused of orchestrating a massive accounting fraud that cost investors billions of dollars. The episode examines how Scrushy used his personal charisma and media relationships to cast doubt on the charges against him and how his attempts to paint himself as a victim of corporate greed ultimately failed.

The final episode, "41 Shots," deals with the case of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed African immigrant who was shot and killed by New York police officers in 1999. The episode examines how the media coverage of the case emphasized the victim's immigration status and the officers' fear for their safety rather than the fact that he was unarmed and posed no immediate threat.

Throughout the series, the filmmakers incorporate interviews with a wide range of people involved in the cases, including defendants, victims, journalists, and legal experts. They also use archival footage from news reports and talk shows to illustrate how the media helped shape public opinion about the cases. In addition, each episode explores the larger social and cultural forces at play that fueled the media frenzy around these trials.

Overall, Trial By Media offers a thought-provoking examination of the complex intersection of law and media in our modern world. The series raises important questions about the impact of media coverage on the justice system and the ways in which the media can manipulate public opinion and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Trial By Media is a series that ran for 1 seasons (6 episodes) between May 11, 2020 and on