Oj Simpson Reflection

From June 1994 through October 1995, the O.J. Simpson story took American culture by storm. The media were not just highly involved observers reporting on the scene, their presence, both inside and outside the courtroom, altered the course of justice from the trial itself. Subsequently, the media not only formed American consciousness regarding the case, but additionally, fueled a relentless political and racial discussion that encompassed spectators, reporters, the defense and prosecution tables, the witness stand, and the jury box. The media was more than just storytellers, they were storymakers. Although, they did report and investigate the case, moreover, they were instrumental in the creation. The storymakers shaped both the public's perception on the Simpson story and more significantly, on the trial itself. Once the trial

The media not only affected the trial, but O.J. himself felt that his personal life was rewritten in a fashion that placed all the blame towards him. In his memoir, O.J. writes, “I heard myself described as an obsessively jealous ex-husband so many times that the media almost had me believing it.” Also written in his memoir, O.J. states, “the media was starting to dissect my relationship with Nicole—a woman I had loved for fifteen years, before everything went to hell.”(footnote) He begins to picture the media’s upcoming story as O.J. lashing out in anger and betrayal in result of his fears that his wife was not content with their relationship and possibly wanted to pursue one with Goldman. As if the evidence did not directly point to him, the media painted a violent and heartless husband to the millions engrossed to their television