If you’re a local news outlet that’s been blocked from entering a courtroom to cover an event live, you have two options. The first is to send in a artist who can sketch the proceedings in a lumpy, boring, pastel blah kinda way. The second? Puppet reenactments.
Okay, you’re right, I take it back. There’s only one option.
Cleveland’s 19 Action News (WOIO) has taken the righteous path for its coverage of former county commissioner Jimmy Dimora’s corruption trial. The results? Beyond brilliant. “The Puppet’s Court” uses transcripts from the trial, the lead reporter is a squirrel, the topic of conversation is herpes. If you want anything more than that out of your local news, you’re just being greedy.
Oh, and this wasn’t a one-off. WOIO’s crack team is going to follow this story all the way to the final, felt-trimmed gavel. With any luck, this thing’ll be held up in appeals for years to come. [WOIO via The Daily What]
