Where do jurors in Trump’s hush-money trial get their news from?

Jury selection was challenging for both the defense and prosecution for the case involving an alleged hush money payment made to an adult film star by Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. Stephanie Clifford, professionally known as Stormy Daniels, met Donald Trump in 2006 in Lake Tahoe at a golf tournament. Michael Cohen, the former president’s former lawyer, admitted to making the payment but denied that Ms. Clifford and his client had any romantic relationship or that campaign money had been used. However, after facing a series of legal issues of his own, Mr. Cohen cooperated with investigators and is expected to testify during the trial on the origins of the funds used to make the payment. The former president was indicted on over thirty felony campaign finance violations.

Finding a group of twelve impartial jurors for a case involving Donald Trump was no easy task, and only time will tell if the correct individuals were selected for the role. The legal teams faced a challenging task due to the former president’s highly divisive nature and policies, which stirred strong opinions both for and against him. Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, who was in the courtroom as jury selection took place, posted on X a few of the exchanges that took place as the legal teams questioned prospective jurors.

For the teams selecting the jurors, taking into consideration where they get their news was critical. In the United States, media outlets often cater to specific political views and perspectives. This could potentially mean that a juror has prior information about the case, which could influence their decision on whether they believe the former president is guilty or innocent before any evidence has been presented or testimony heard. The legal teams and the judge presiding over the trial are responsible for ensuring that such a possibility does not occur. The court and its members are responsible for protecting Donald Trump’s right to a fair trial, and putting together the jury is a critical aspect of that task.

What we know about the jury’s media diet

Very little is known about the twelve Manhattanites selected to participate in the trial. However, CBS has reported on the background of what is known about the group of twelve, including their news preferences. Opening arguments were heard today, and as the jury entered the room, Donald Trump did not make eye contact. Instead, he continued holding his gaze straight ahead.

Juror #1, who hails from Ireland, has a vast media digest that includes “the New York Times, the Daily Mail, Fox News and MSNBC.”

Juror #3 is a fan of the outdoors and stays up to date with the world, reading The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Jurors #5 and #6 both cited The New York Times and TikTok as their main sources of information, with jurors #7 and #8 naming a broader list of outlets that include The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, the Washington Post, BBC, and CNBC. Juror #9 was frank during the selection process, stating plainly that while she does “not agree with a lot of his politics or his decisions as president,” she took the responsibility seriously and felt she could be an impartial juror. Her media diet, which she admitted was slim, consisted primarily of The New York Times and CNN. Juror #12 is the only person among the twelve who listed “faith-related podcasts” in their responses. She supplements these and other sports-related podcasts with news from The New York Times, USA Today, and CNN.