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WRAL NewsChannel To Provide Historic Trial Coverage
Peterson on Trial First Gavel-to-Gavel Coverage for Station |
The WRAL NewsChannel will feature historic gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Mike Peterson trial, live from a Durham courtroom. “Peterson on Trial” will be the Triangle’s only complete broadcast of the trial as it happens, and only one of two in the country. CourtTV will provide gavel-to-gavel coverage nationwide.
The WRAL NewsChannel broadcast several of the pre-trial hearings previous to the onset of the trial. Two cameras will capture the courtroom action, and WRAL will also feature live interviews and daily experts to provide commentary. WRAL-TV Reporter Ken Smith will anchor the broadcast each day, and other WRAL personalities will conduct individual interviews. A different local expert will be included in the coverage each day.
“This is the first time we’ve done something of this magnitude on the NewsChannel,” said Digital Media Producer Jennifer Fauteux, who will be producing the coverage. ”
Another facet of the coverage will be questions from the public. The daily local experts will answer questions posed to them by WRAL viewers. Through WRAL.com and via the broadcast, an email address will be provided by which questions can be sent to the station.
The WRAL NewsChannel is sporting a new look, with sharper graphics and a larger screen for the newscasts and other programming. |
WRAL.com will stream portions of the trial on the Internet as well as serve as a conduit for the questions from viewers. Several interactive features will include information on key players, bios, the schedule of experts on the NewsChannel, a timeline and more.
The trial is expected to begin sometime in June after the defense and prosecution complete jury selection. The WRAL NewsChannel coverage will begin each day around 9:30am, when the day in court begins, and will end in the early afternoon, as court officials expect to break for the day around 2:30pm.
The WRAL Newschannel is carried by Time Warner Cable’s digital cable on channel 256. HD set owners can catch the action on Channel 5.2.
