A couple of notes on TV coverage of the death of Michael Jackson:
TMZ.com reported Jackson's passing at 6:04 p.m. (at least that's when I got the e-mail alert). Other outlets were still reporting he suffered a cardiac arrest. The L.A. Times death notice arrived at 6:26 p.m., just as I turned on the TV and Fox News was saying "cardiac arrest," although within a few minutes Fox was quoting the L.A. Times that Jackson had died. I'm not a fan of TMZ, but they got this one right. Not that it matters in the long run as far as Jackson fans are concerned but it is interesting to see how journalism evolves, particularly in the Internet age, and how the scoops migrate from one platform to another. (Eric Deggans notes how getting the scoop first can burnish a news brand.)
Wow, CNN is really late. Their confirmation of his death e-mail didn't hit my in box until 7:33 p.m.
MTV breaks into programming for news of Jackson's death, airing a cameo-filled Jackson video at 7 p.m. and a crawl with the news.
ETOnline promotes its "exclusive" last photo of Jackson prior to his death. Really, ET? Really?
Glad to see "CBS Evening News" report didn't gloss over the accusations of child molestation against Jackson. He was never convicted but so much of the cable news coverage has been starry-eyed fans wallowing in their grief (many congregating at a Walk of Fame star for a different Michael Jackson. Oops.). A little perspective is necessary.
Found link to live stream of coverage from CBS O&O in Los Angeles. (But, eww, is live coverage of Jackson's body being moved via helicopter really necessary? And we think out local affiliates are nuts...) Anchor Pat Harvey: "He's the kind of person who might have had plans for his afterlife already planned out." Wow, if Jackson is able to see those plans through, that would be something to top the Moonwalk.
And as Sharon Eberson notes in the POPi blog, contrary to some reports, Jeff Goldblum lives.
Jackson's death complicates the plans of networks that already had slated special programming tonight to mark the passing of Farrah Fawcett.
-- NBC just expanded a one-hour Fawcett retrospective to a two-hour special, starting at 9 p.m., that will commemorate both entertainers.
-- ABC will have a Jackson special at 9 p.m. before its Fawcett program.
-- CBS will air a Jackson retrospective tonight at 10.
-- TV One will air tribute at 8 p.m. Friday.
-- BIO will air a program on Jackson at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Here's a wonderful remembrance of Jackson. A great read.
Posted
Jun 25 2009, 06:51 PM
by
Rob Owen