Media circus - Definition and Overview

A media circus is an event that occurs when an aspect of a popular news event receives almost ludicrously high levels of media attention. The image of a circus is thus evoked by the vast troop of reporters who are sent to cover the story, as well as a seemingly endless parade of pundits, spin doctors, and spokespeople.

A media circus will commonly appear when a story revolves around one central location. For example, when "Baby Jessica" (Jessica McClure) fell down a well, the well became the site of a huge convocation of reporters and cameramen. Elián González's home in Miami following his custody conflict was also home to a enormous media circus, complete with tents, food vans, and dressing rooms camped outside for the television networks' vast staff.

Events sometimes described as a media circus include:

• In the United States:
  • The trials of O. J. Simpson, especially his criminal trial
  • The sex scandal of President Bill Clinton
  • The sex scandal of Congressman Gary Condit
  • The trial of Michael Jackson
  • The trial of Martha Stewart
  • The trial of Pamela Smart
  • The Scott and Laci Peterson case
  • The "shark attacks" of 2000
  • The trial of Kobe Bryant
  • The trial of Jayson Williams
  • The Columbine massacre
  • The Florida Recount of Election 2000

• In Canada:
  • The marriage of Janet Jones to Wayne Gretzky

• In the United Kingdom:
  • The marriage of Lady Diana Spencer to Charles, Prince of Wales (One of the greatest worldwide media circuses of recent times)
  • The death and funerals of Diana, Princess of Wales, in August/September 1997
  • The detention of general Augusto Pinochet

• In Brazil:
  • The Candelaria Massacre
  • The Chico Mendes murder case