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America's Love Affair with Michael Jackson: The Mainstream Media Gets It Wrong (Again)
Posted Jul 07, 2009 10:31am EDT by Peter Gorenstein in Internet, Media, NewsmakersThe media frenzy surrounding the death of Michael Jackson reaches a crescendo today in Los Angeles. Thousands are on hand at the Staples Center for the Memorial Service but millions more are watching on TV, in movie theaters and, maybe most fittingly, online.
The King of Pop's death is another example of the growing dominance of new online media and increasing irrelevance of old traditional media, says Michael Wolff founder of Newser.com and Vanity Fair columnist. Based on the traditional media's coverage prior to his death, "what you would have inferred is that no one liked MJ, everybody thought he was a complete weirdo that he was written-off marginalized, absolutely forgotten," Wolff says. When in fact, the opposite is true.
"The takeaway from the Michael Jackson story is how dramatically and profoundly wrong the media got this story," he says. "People didn't hate Michael Jackson, they loved him!"
This is just the latest in a long line of media miscues, according to Wolff. "The old media has consistently, time and time and time and time again, gotten the story wrong."
Wolff’s views may be extreme, but the response to Jackson’s death has demonstrated again the power of online media and social networking:
- TMZ.com broke the news of Jackson's death at least a half hour before other news organizations were able to confirm details. And now they’re reaping the benefits. TMZ attracted nearly 8 million visitors last week – a 70% year-over-year spike in traffic, according to comScore.
- From Twitter to Facebook, the public has used social networks to shower MJ with love and affection. Michael Jackson's Facebook page has overtaken President Obama's as the most popular on the site.
- Roughly 1.6 million people applied for memorial tickets online. That's amounts to thirteen requests per second.
297 Comments
yogi9448 - Tuesday July 07, 2009 10:55AM EDT
Whether you liked his music or not you had to respect him for his reign as King of Pop....I was just bummed his untimely passing over shadowed the traction Farah Fawcett cancer story was getting.
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday July 07, 2009 10:56AM EDT
How many times has TMZ gotten it wrong. Fast isn't always accurate.
Michelle - Tuesday July 07, 2009 10:58AM EDT
Yeah!!! The child molesting pedophile is LOVED by everyone! We can't get enough of WackoJacko and his desire to rape little boys. What an honor he is to the world!
RonK - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:00AM EDT
This article is total B.S. Loved him, are you kidding me.
Mikey - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:02AM EDT
CHILD MOLESTOR IS WHAT HE WAS AND OF COURSE HE LOVED CHILDREN. BUT HE LOVED BEING WITH THE BOYS. THATS WHY HE PAID OFF THAT FAMILY THAT HE WAS ACCUSED OF MOLESTING. I DONT LIKE HIM THAT CHILD RAPIST.
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:04AM EDT
This Fanatic Turn-Out .....Clearly Shows,... The Superficial & Hollowness...Of The "NOW" American Public.....We Are Sinking Into ....A Feel Good & Do As You Please.."Society"...Like A "Cult" Following....What Happened To Good Old "Decency"...And the Moral Values...That Were the Guidelines For Our Nation.....A Christian Nation...!!!! Amen.
Ramanat - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:05AM EDT
The country loves a pedophile and pervert.What a country?
Ramanat - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:05AM EDT
The country loves a pedophile and pervert.What a country?
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:06AM EDT
This Fanatic Turn-Out .....Clearly Shows,... The Superficial & Hollowness...Of The "NOW" American Public.....We Are Sinking Into ....A Feel Good & Do As You Please.."Society"...Like A "Cult" Following....What Happened To Good Old "Decency"...And the Moral Values...That Were the Guidelines For Our Nation.....A Christian Nation...!!!! Amen.
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:09AM EDT
This Fanatic Turn-Out .....Clearly Shows,... The Superficial & Hollowness...Of The "NOW" American Public.....We Are Sinking Into ....A Feel Good & Do As You Please.."Society"...Like A "Cult" Following....What Happened To Good Old "Decency"...And the Moral Values...That Were the Guidelines For Our Nation.....A Christian Nation...!!!! Amen.
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:09AM EDT
This Fanatic Turn-Out .....Clearly Shows,... The Superficial & Hollowness...Of The "NOW" American Public.....We Are Sinking Into ....A Feel Good & Do As You Please.."Society"...Like A "Cult" Following....What Happened To Good Old "Decency"...And the Moral Values...That Were the Guidelines For Our Nation.....A Christian Nation...!!!! Amen.
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:10AM EDT
This Fanatic Turn-Out .....Clearly Shows,... The Superficial & Hollowness...Of The "NOW" American Public.....We Are Sinking Into ....A Feel Good & Do As You Please.."Society"...Like A "Cult" Following....What Happened To Good Old "Decency"...And the Moral Values...That Were the Guidelines For Our Nation.....A Christian Nation...!!!! Amen.
joannis - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:12AM EDT
Well this guy is profoundly wrong. In this case there is no inconcsistency between new and old media, there is simply the typical massive change of heart once somebody dies. He is comparing old media before with new media after MJs death. If you liked MJ you obviously feel striken in some way and express it, whereas if (like me, and hopefully millions of others) you prefer to forget he ever was relevant, you dont really run around gloating he is dead. If Wolff were right then the old media would still insist on all the bad sides of MJ, they dont. Instead they have reinvigorated his king of pop status. The only interesting thing about this interiew is that somebody found yet another way to use Jacksons' death to promote his own business. And I thought I d be safe on TechTicker from the MJ frenzy.
RonH - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:13AM EDT
How could you not love a weird looking child molester?
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:13AM EDT
Whether its online media or tv or radio, ours is the most manipulated generation ever! Media is a subtle brainwashing tool, we never really know if the facts presented are true, but anything from our morals, world views, opinions, to the way we dress is influenced by media. Michael's hupla is nothing more than exploitation by those who will make money off of him - think Elvis!
Tim - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:14AM EDT
Gorenstein, you got it wrong. Michael Jackson was an outstanding entertainer who was also a weirdo and probably a pedaphile. I wouldn't want to buddy around with him and I certainly wouldn't allow my child to be around him. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy his music and videos. I will always be a fan of MJ, the entertainer. I would have avoided MJ, the person. The media exploited MJ the freak. The media's exploiting MJ the entertainer. Note to Peter King: Don't bad mouth the deceased before they're buried. You come off as cruel and indifferent.
Yahoo! Finance User - Tuesday July 07, 2009 11:14AM EDT
We didn't love him. He was a freak show, a car wreck. We couldn't keep ourselves from looking.
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no1noseurme - Tuesday July 07, 2009 10:48AM EDT
Loved him? To read about some of that "love", check out Kunstler's article and all the comments here: http://kunstler.com/blog/2009/06/the-man-in-the-mirror.html