Media Gathers In Durham Court To Hear Ground Rules For Peterson Trial

DURHAM, N.C. — The Mike Peterson murder trial is just two weeks away, and the media is gearing up, literally -- getting all their camera gear, lights and microphones ready for the big event.

To some reporters, covering a trial can be as exciting as watching paint dry. But the Peterson trial? Think of all those cameras rolling. All that tape they'll shoot.

Even if the trial's flat, the courthouse will shine. After all, high interest deserves high gloss.

Wednesday marked the hearing before the trial. The media heard the ground rules for covering the trial -- discussing the microphones and cameras and where they will be in the courtroom.

Competitors were grouped as comrades in the very courtroom where they'll soon be competitors again.

"You have to coordinate where the cameras are going to be, where the press is going to be," said judge Orlando Hudson. "It's living in a modern judicial system."

It may be cliche to say the media is on trial. But in a way, for this case, it is. Is the Peterson trial worth all the media coverage?

"I don't think there's any story, short of the war, that is worth all the coverage it gets," a local newspaper reporter said. "I mean, Court TV is broadcasting the whole trial. That's amazing."

The trial will be shown on satellite, as well. It also will be carried live on the WRAL Newschannel -- digital cable channel 256 or digital channel 5.1 -- and livestreamed on WRAL.com.

They are the media footsoldiers. And the stampede is about to begin.