minal. No longer would they print newspaper stories that did not have a neutral standpoint. The reporters leaned toward the “guilty” verdict, and they showed it in the stories. This would no longer occur. Never again would an accused person be labeled a criminal before the trial’s verdict. The word “alleged” is now a key word in news stories, especially those covering a trial. Without it, the paper could be sued. Finally, the press would no longer be allowed on a person’s property if told to leave. The only way they could then get shots of people or places was to stand outside of the property, on a sidewalk or street. However, even though it is legal to do this, most newspapers and other media do not do it at all – it is considered extremely unethical. Journalism after Sam Sheppard would never be the same.Sam Sheppard was attacked by the media’s unethical practices so much during his trial that journalism had set new boundaries to limit the power of the press following the final verdict. Because of the way that the media went about getting stories for their papers and the way stories were written, Sheppard was released from prison. Journalism then set up new boundaries to assure that every person accused of a crime got a fair and just trial. Even though he set precedent for new practices that the media still follows, it is a shame that it took something as horrific as his wife’s murder to allow the media to see just how much power they had over justice....
