Four issues are examined: (1) the impact of trial-relevant publicity on jurors in cases completely unrelated to the one being publicized; (2) the ways in which media representations of the criminal and the civil justice system influence jurors' preconceptions and decisions about legal issues; (3) the influence of insurance industry advertisements on jurors' damage awards; and (4) the impact of heavy viewing of pornographic movies on jurors' decisions. Attention is focused on these topics as they have all been evaluated empirically and often through the use of trial simulations and case specific situations. However, overall general media effects are emphasized in this article as opposed to the traditional case-specific effects. Therefore much of the work described is rudimentary, speculative, and involves hypothesized influences rather than empirically-based evaluations of real juries. 39 references (Author abstract modified)