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The Chicago Conspiracy Trial and the Press

  • Book
  • © 2016

Overview

Authors:
  1. Nick Sharman

    1. University of Melbourne, Preston, Australia

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Nick Sharman
    Pages 1-13

  3. “My Wishes Are That a Lawyer Respect the Court”: Initial Representation of the Trial and the Lawyers’ Arrest

    • Nick Sharman
    Pages 15-47

  4. “The Orderly Administration of Justice”: The Chaining and Gagging of Defendant Bobby Seale

    • Nick Sharman
    Pages 49-85

  5. “The Use of Vile and Insulting Language”: The Voice of White Radicals

    • Nick Sharman
    Pages 87-117

  6. “You Are a Disgrace, Sir, I Say You Are a Disgrace, I Really Say You Are a Disgrace”: The Voice of Antiwar: Rennie Davis

    • Nick Sharman
    Pages 119-144

  7. “The Exclusion of Authority”: Ramsey Clark’s Muted Evidence

    • Nick Sharman
    Pages 145-171

  8. The Summation on the Conclusion of the Chicago Conspiracy Trial

    • Nick Sharman
    Pages 173-201

  9. Conclusion

    • Nick Sharman
    Pages 203-207

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 209-249
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Keywords

About this book

This book analyzes the newspaper coverage of one of America’s most famous and dramatic trials–the trial of the “Chicago 8.” Covering a five month period from September 1969 to February 1970 the book considers the way eight radical activists including Black Panther leader Bobby Seale, antiwar activists Tom Hayden, David Dellinger, and Rennie Davis, and leading Yippies, Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin are represented in the press. How did the New York Times represent Judge Hoffman’s decision to chain and gag Bobby Seale in the courtroom for demanding his right to represent himself? To what extent did the press adequately describe the injustice visited on the defendants in the trial by the presiding Judge, Julius J Hoffman? The author aims to answer these questions and demonstrate the press’s reluctance to criticize Judge Hoffman in the case until the evidence of his misconduct of the trial became overwhelming.

Reviews

“In his new book, The Chicago Conspiracy Trial And The Press, published by Palgrave/MacMillan Books, author Nick Sharman looks at how mainstream newspapers portrayed the trial. … this 250-page hardcover is obviously aimed at college libraries, academics and the like, but well worth seeking out for scholars of the era.” (Pat Thomas, Nightflight, nightflight.com, July, 2016)

“A working democracy needs a strong, working press. Nick Sharman’s rich analysis of the often timid and compromised press coverage of the (in)famous Chicago ’68 Conspiracy Trial, reveals the political price a democratic citizenry pays when the media’s pro-establishment bias—or its bottom line imperatives—triumph over honest, tough-minded journalism.” (David Farber, Author of Chicago ’68  (1994) and the Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor, University of Kansas, USA)

“This is a fascinating and important book.  The media shape our perceptions of important social struggles and their participants.  In the universe of media, The New York Times has historically influenced official and quasi-official views. Nick Sharman has carefully and eloquently showed us how the Times coverage of the Chicago Conspiracy Trial developed and changed.  On a personal note, it is refreshing to read a careful and thoughtful treatment of matters in which I was engaged.” (Michael Tigar, Lawyer, writer, law professor)

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Melbourne, Preston, Australia

    Nick Sharman

About the author

Nick Sharman teaches in the Media and Communications program at the University of Melbourne, Australia.  He obtained his PhD from Latrobe University, Australia.  His research focuses on media representations of American politics and protest.

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