Much has been written and said regarding media coverage of the first-degree murder trial for Shawna Forde, especially the lack of national media coverage of the case. Here's the take from The Village Voice.
Forde, 43, is charged with two counts of first-degree felony murder in the May, 30, 2009, deaths of Raul “Junior” Flores and his daughter, Brisenia, 9, as well as charges of one count of attempted first-degree murder; one count of burglary in the first-degree; one count of aggravated assault, serious physical injury; one count of aggravated assault, deadly weapon/dangerous instrument; one count of armed robbery; and one count of aggravated armed robbery.
While I represent only of the local media outlets, the Green Valley News and its affiliates, the only other local news representative in attendance throughout the trial has been the Arizona Daily Star. Also in attendance has been a freelance writer representing the online news outlet The Daily Beast. Joining us last Friday and today was a reporter from a Detroit publication called The Looking Glass and for opening statements the Los Angeles Times sent a staff reporter who is based in Denver.
During the first day and a half of testimony, local television news outlets were here to record opening statements and testimony from victim Gina Gonzalez. Joining the local TV news outlets the first day-and-a-half was a reporter and producer from the CNN program AC360. Since last Wednesday local TV news has not attended the trial. A crew from Univision, a Hispanic television network, did attend the morning that a witness, attempted to enter the courtroom in disguise entered only to be banished by Judge John S. Leonardo, the veteran jurist who is presiding over the case. It’s unknown if they filmed that episode as they did not seem to understand the implications of the event.
Today, a producer from Dateline NBC and a reporter from National Public Radio have joined us in the gallery. Late this afternoon, a reporter from CNN/New America Media also attended the trial.
So far today, we have heard testimony regarding DNA testing on the items of evidence collected at the scene of the home invasion. On the stand this morning and after lunch is Scott Walton, a DNA analyst with Sorenson Forensics in Salt Lake City, Utah.
©David S. Ricker, all rights reserved
