Question of media bias without courtroom cameras

From Correspondent Charles Feldman

SANTA MONICA, California (CNN) -- With cameras barred from the courtroom, the news media must be relied upon for O.J. Simpson's courtroom testimony in the civil trial.

By contrast -- for anyone who may need reminding -- Simpson's criminal trial was daily fodder for television audiences, much of it live -- giving viewers a chance to see for themselves what happened.

"For the public, I think, in the past, they were able to watch things that happened in the courtroom and they could decide if analysts were correct or not," said CNN producer Veronica McGregor.

Since many of the reporters covering what has come to be called 'Simpson Two' also covered 'Simpson One,' so the question of bias inevitably comes up.

"It's back to the past -- this is the way trials always were before television, and the reporters covering the trials have a tremendous responsibility to be accurate," said Bill Boyarsky of The Los Angeles Times.

Fred Goldman, who is suing Simpson for wrongful death in the knife slaying of his son Ron Goldman, appears to have a cozy relationship with some reporters. They often exchange notes in court, occasional laughs and sometimes even hugs.

And when former Simpson lawyer Robert Shapiro showed up last week as a paid CBS analyst, some reporters complained to a sketch artist that he didn't make Shapiro look 'bad' enough.

(Shapiro's career as a commentator ended abruptly on Monday because of conflicts with his former role as Simpson's criminal lawyer.)

Veteran reporters reject the notion that bias may be creeping into the Simpson civil trial coverage.

"I think there is no trouble at all to keep your opinion out of your reporting," said AP Radio's Brian Blande.

"I can't sense that anyone is going out of their way to curry favor with one side or the other, said David Li of the New York Post.

Simpson has publicly disputed that notion, saying he believes the media are biased against him. Some journalists counter that the coverage is not what makes Simpson look bad, but the evidence that emerges in the courtroom.

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