A disintegrating ritual: The reading of the Deri verdict as a media event of degradation

This article examines the live broadcast of the reading of the verdict in Arieh Den's trial. First, it is established that the reading of the verdict was a unique case of a radiophonic - not a televised - media event. The main implication of this is that the court, as the organizer of the event, enjoyed a privileged position vis-à-vis the media in determining the message to be transmitted. The article then explores the question of the event's script. Through an interpretative analysis of the event's text, it is established that the reading of the verdict is best categorized as a media event of degradation. Examining the social implications of the event for Israeli society, the article argues that in situations lacking a coherent and agreed-upon center of values and identity, media events of degradation, seen as one type of ritual, may catalyze social disintegration.