Michael Jackson: The King of Media

By Eric Ivanov on 07/01/2009

Category: Assessment

What is in the news today? Is it North Korea's defiance of international warnings? What about the contested results of the Iranian election? The truth is that all of those stories have been pushed into the sidebars and archived by the news networks to make room for hours and hours of Michael Jackson coverage.

He is not only the King of Pop, but also the King of the media. Since his sudden death, Jackson was on the front page of every newspaper and Internet news site. The Media has covered every single event, no matter how simple or mundane it was. In death, Michael Jackson accomplished more than the Iraq war, or Obama's health care plan. Across the country national and international news were pushed aside for news about Jackson's death. If a celebrity can cause such a media sensation for days on end, what does it say for the American news networks? Does it cheapen it and make it less reputable? There are plenty of opinions out there that say it does.
If we are to know what is going on, should news like a government change in South America and progress on the Obama's nomination for the new Supreme Court Justice be hidden so every channel on TV can broadcast up to date events on the aftermath of Jackson's death?

We are forced to pay the price because of the networks decisions to flood the news with things that really don't affect the way we live or the way others see America. The question that must be answered is are we being dumbed down because of this?
MSNBC, FOX News, ABC have all become Entertainment Tonight in just a matter of hours. People must realize that it is their viewing habits that determine what is put on the television. If you don't like it don't watch it. The media has to see that the way they are covering Michael Jackson's death is hurting Americans because they are not being informed as to what is happening around them and becoming part of Jackson's Neverland Ranch.

Additional Photos: ["Death", Fox News, "Time Square", Washington Post]

Tags: King of Pop, Meida, Michael Jackson