If they really can eliminate potential jurors for simply "knowing about" or "following" the case, they will be forced to seek a change of venue. No one who lives in Durham would qualify under those rules. It has been in the local papers regularly for 7 months. Even if you don't buy the paper, you would still see the headlines above the fold in the boxes! That doesn't begin to address the coverage it has gotten on local TV channels. Then, of course, there's the NYT, Newsweek, ESPN, etc. I guess they'll have to move it to Bosnia!
I think mainly the juror has to say he/she hasn't made up his/her mind one way or the other. But they will try to look for people who know nothing about the case, or at least haven't paid attention to the case.