Oklahoma City Bombing (1995), impact of media coverage; further reading
The impact of the media coverage on the trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols in the mid-90s is worth examining relative to coverage of large criminal events in mass comm eras before and after.
The Oklahoma City bombing has at least a brief appearance in the book I’m working on. This reading list is to give me pointers for additional research, especailly the impact of media coverage at that time. This is a theme to compare and contrast how media covers major events during the course of the 1900s.
Books and Media Coverage
"The Oklahoma City Bombing" edited by Diane Andrews Henningfeld - This book provides a comprehensive exploration of the historical and cultural events surrounding the bombing, including personal narratives from those impacted and discussions on the media's portrayal of the militia movement and Timothy McVeigh's confession (Barnes & Noble) . "Reaching Law’s Limits: Trying Terry Nichols and Welcoming the McVeigh Jury" - This book examines the trials of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, providing detailed insights into the courtroom proceedings and the broader implications of the trials (Oxford Academic) . "Oklahoma City Bombing Coverage, April 19-21, 1995" on Internet Archive - This archive offers a collection of video coverage from various news outlets in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, showcasing the media's response to the event (Internet Archive) .
Articles on Jury Selection Challenges
The extensive media coverage of the Oklahoma City bombing posed significant challenges during the jury selection for Timothy McVeigh's trial. Jurors were heavily scrutinized to ensure they could remain impartial despite the pervasive media influence. McVeigh's defense team argued that the media coverage had prejudiced potential jurors, and the trial had to be moved from Oklahoma City to Denver to mitigate these concerns (Encyclopedia.com) . Articles in academic journals and other publications have discussed the psychological impact on journalists covering the event, likening their experiences to those of first responders. This trauma also influenced public perception and potentially the jury pool, as constant media exposure to the bombing's aftermath made it difficult to find jurors without preconceived notions about the case (Oklahoma Today) .
I was not in the United States of America in April 1995, and only saw the first 5-10 minutes of media coverage at that time. When I returned to the US I didn’t really follow the story until the coverage of the jury selection challenges caught my eye.