Netflix's Trial by Media fails to convict the media

The Globe and Mail

The six-part docuseries that counts George Clooney as a producer tackles six true-crime cases where the media helped shape the narrative. The problem is its emphasis on cases from the 1980s and 1990s makes Trial by Media feel outdated in today's media environment. "The point of all this – rarely stated – is that media coverage sensationalizes a trial and gives the public the impression of knowing the facts," says John Doyle. "The legal arena is different from the media arena. We knew that. Besides, the Trump-era is even more unsettlingly bizarre than what’s examined here." ALSO: Trial by Media is a worthwhile addition to the true crime catalogue that covers cases younger crime buffs may be unfamiliar with.