Generally you'll be asked if you've heard about the case, and if you say you have, followed by asking if you've formed an opinion. That's why there are changes of venue for highly publicized cases, to have more potential jurists who aren't familiar with a case.
If you reply that you have heard about it and formed an opinion you'll probably be dismissed, EXCEPT that the judge may ask you questions to see if that truly taints you, and/or you're just trying to get out of serving. It may be hard to find enough people who haven't heard about the case, and many will have formed some sort of an opinion. The judge may be asking to help the attorneys decide whether they want to use a strike on you, or for his own decision as to whether to dismiss you/allow you to be dismissed.
Some sorts of relationship with law enforcement, family, friends, personal profession, does get you struck by the defense in criminal cases. But, personally that didn't prevent selection for civil cases.