The Scott Peterson Case

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the media coverage of the Scott Peterson case. The case involves the murder of Scott Peterson's pregnant wife and unborn son, and this paper focuses on CNN's coverage, in particular, of the crime and how that coverage has become more like a narrative crime drama than a real look at the legal and ethical issues of the case.

From the Paper:

"Instead, even CNN has resorted to creating a narrative crime drama of the Peterson case. For instance, in recounting the reactions of different members of Laci Peterson's family, the media outlet quoted one family member that; "Scott Peterson had seemed the perfect gentleman to his mother-in-law." So, the article continues, "she [the mother-in-law] said she grew worried when he began behaving strangely the moment" he first reported his wife, Laci, had vanished. Thus, with dramatic foreshadowing after the fact, it is reported uncritically, long after Scott Peterson has been accused that Laci's mother had concerns about accused son-in-law "and worries only grew after daughter's disappearance," the article continues. (June 8, 2004) "

More papers on The Scott Peterson Case:

• Case Study # 146499 : "A Recap of the Scott Peterson Case"
• Case Study # 147574 : "Presumed Guilty": Scott Peterson"
• Analytical Essay # 72327 : "Two Issues in Law"

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