Sign up

You’re reading the Prompt 2024 newsletter. Sign up to get it in your inbox.

Jury selection is underway for Donald Trump’s New York trial involving three things you don’t often hear about together: a former president, campaign finance issues and sex with an adult-film star. The headlines might seem to write themselves, but given the public’s limited access to the trial, reporters and columnists could have difficulty making sense of the high-stakes proceedings.

So I asked my Post Opinions colleagues Ruth Marcus and Erik Wemple: How should the media handle Trump’s hush money trial?

Alexi McCammond: Hi, friends! Because this is so historic in nature, it seems as much a test for the media as it is for Donald Trump’s legal defense team. Do you agree?

Erik Wemple: Sure, though the media is being tested as never before on all of its work these days.

Ruth Marcus: I feel like the biggest test for the media is going to be coping with the logistical limitations. We’ve all gotten so used to video, or at the very least audio, for legal proceedings, and now those of us who can’t be at the courthouse are going to have to rely on reporters inside to tell us what’s going on. It’s really a shame that the public can’t see for itself.

Erik: Yes, Ruth!!! The media story here is all about the failure of most of our courts across the land to accommodate journalists. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly we can get transcripts.

Alexi: Are you surprised the court didn’t make any unique accommodations for this trial?

Erik: Yes! I’ve written a fair bit about........

© Washington Post