How Chicago TV covered the Jason Van Dyke verdict

Chicago TV stations offered extended coverage of the guilty verdict of police officer Jason Van Dyke Friday, Oct. 5, 2018.

#ChicagoTV stations in special coverage mode for #JasonVanDyke trial for death of #LaquanMcDonald early Friday evening. @cbschicago pre-empted @JudgeJudy. pic.twitter.com/APct6deMs3

— Chicago TV Critic (@ChicagoTVCritic) October 6, 2018

Jurors found Van Dyke guilty of second degree murder, 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm but not guilty of official misconduct Friday afternoon.

Van Dyke shot and killed Laquan McDonald in 2014 responding to a report of McDonald’s “erratic” behavior on a Chicago street.

News the verdict first came around 12:45 p.m. local time, with most local stations breaking in around that time.

WLS, the ABC O&O in Chicago used this fullscreen graphic during a press event with jurors, who were kept off camera.

When ABC 7 wasn’t using the fullscreen graphic, viewers saw closeups of parts of the courtroom with live audio of journalists and jurors.

‘ABC 7 Eyewitness News’ also used this fullscreen graphic to outline the charges and verdicts.

WLS also used this “video on video” approach to show a six box of its team coverage.

Advertisement