In the aftermath of the Don Imus firing, Smashed Frog finds it extremely ironic that Nancy Grace remains on the air.
As if the online verbal assault which symbolically pushed young mom Melinda Duckett over the edge was not enough, the clearing of the three Duke University students must now be evidence enough for CNN.
Grace has become too much of a legal liability for the network to keep her on air.
Fire Nancy Grace...NOW.
The Duke students-David Evans, Reade Seligmann, and Collin Finnerty-have not ruled out a lawsuit for the zealous DA Mike Nifong.
Add Grace to that lawsuit.
Litigation journalism-a deliberate, well-planned strategy-allows plaintiffs and attorneys unchallenged air time to try their cases in the Court of Public Opinion.
Nancy Grace-a litigation entertainer-elevated herself to the role of judge in the Duke case as well as the Duckett case. Night after night, Grace pounded and pounded the accused, convicting the three students in CNN's court. She invited the audience to serve as the "jury" rendering instant "verdicts" that now have serious consequences. At stake are personal and corporate reputations, public fear, and lots of money.
Even more critical is the threat that such "journalism" exercises pose to the system of legal due process. (Carole Gorney. The case against litigation journalism. March 1, 1994).
Provocative, accusatory and often incendiary pre-trial publicity-sought by attorneys attempting to build public sympathy for their client- has created "a breeding ground of litigation journalism that is one-sided, distorted, heavy on emotion, and light on evidence." (Gorney, 1994).
Nancy Grace must be held accountable for what every person in this country appears to remember except for this one-woman court.
Innocent until proven guilty.
Jon Stewart Thrashes Grace Here.
(Worth every froggy second).