MPR News reporter Jon Collins takes us inside the coverage of the Potter trial

a courtroom sketch of Kim Potter appearing in court
In this Zoom courtroom sketch, former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter and defense attorney Earl Gray (upper right) appear before Judge Regina Chu (upper left), a court reporter (lower right) and prosecutor Imran Ali (lower left, audio only) on May 17.
Cedric Hohnstadt for MPR News file

The trial of the former police officer charged with killing Daunte Wright begins Tuesday with jury selection.

Ex-Brooklyn Center officer Kimberly Potter shot Wright during a traffic stop on April 11. The case is drawing a lot of media attention, like other high-profile cases surrounding the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. The attention speaks to the ongoing moment of reckoning on racial justice, especially related to police shootings of Black people.

So how do reporters and editors decide what to cover and how in these trials? Jon Collins, the lead reporter on the trial for MPR News, walked host Cathy Wurzer through the process of covering complicated legal issues, the responsibilities of being a pool reporter, courtroom security and how he responds to critiques of his coverage from the public.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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