Taking the O.J. Simpson trial as an example again, it is important to consider that “public issues grow up around private troubles when the experiences of individuals are understood as exemplifying a larger social problem, and the news media, in particular, are positioned to play a vital role in the construction of such problems” (Gillespie et al., 2013, p. 223). O.J. Simpson was the perfect conduit of a private issue becoming a public issue because he was already in the public eye as a famed spokesperson and in Americans’ homes as a popular football star.

Taylor Norton

Taylor Norton

Taylor Norton is a current MSLIS student at Pratt Institute and currently works as the Archives Intern at The Moth. Much of her research explores how information is received differently depending on how it is presented and shared. She has an MA in Photojournalism from the London College of Communication as well.