Michael Jackson and the Media (Hello! What Happened to Iran?)
We are now in the second day of the Michael Jackson story. I was on the phone with a friend when she broke the news to me. She had seen it via her computer, before any of the television outlets had the story. It was a surprise. It was almost bizarre, coming on the same day as the death of Farrah Fawcett. Two pop icons, representing different things to a range of people, dying within a 24-hour period.
I put on MSNBC, and watched as a crowd gathered outside the hospital where Jackson had been taken. At 7 pm, I expected that the usual news line-up would resume, and I would learn about the latest developments in Iran. It wasn't happening. Keith Olbermann was anchoring the "breaking story." There were moments of insight, as when he interviewed writer Maureen Orth, who had profiled Jackson for Vanity Fair. Unfortunately, that was interrupted by a cut-away to a (non) press conference at the "scene," where a police chief informed the waiting reporters he had no comment for the press.
My phone kept ringing with calls asking me if I had heard the news. It felt similar to Elvis, but nothing like the shock of John Lennon's assassination. I checked Twitter, to see if I were the only person wondering where all the other news stories had gone. The bird was pooped, exhausted from too many Tweets. When I went back later, I was able to get on, and found a few kindred souls lamenting the media situation. One had sent a message out to followers in Iran, asking them to hold on while the United Sates went through the Jackson news cycle.
Everybody has weighed in on Jackson's death, from Cher on the Larry King show to Christine Hefner and Al Sharpton on MSNBC. This morning, the live coverage of the president's news conference with German Chancellor Merkel felt like it was squeezed in, between a further dissection of the Jackson persona -- ranging from references to him as a Mozartian genius to a suspected pedophile.
There is no doubt that Jackson had a tremendous impact on popular culture, especially in uniting music listeners of all races in a way that we now take for granted. His talent is undisputed.
However, the watershed image of loss for me of the past week was not the "King of Pop," with his unique musical skills, wonderful dancing, and gloved hand. It was the picture of Neda Agha Soltan looking squarely into the camera, for what may have been a passport photo.*
*The photo that had been circulated of Neda Agha Soltan has been deleted from this post.
It has proven to be erroneous, and in accordance with other posts, I wish to protect the safety of the "woman in a headscarf" that has been seen around the world. The content of my comments remain the same. I used that picture, rather than the one of Neda shot and bleeding. I support the people of Iran and the women who have played such an active role in fighting for freedom and self-determination.
Follow Marcia G. Yerman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mgyerman
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
You all need to stop your BS this is so old and typical of the left. Keith didnt cover Iran that much. That was Rachel and she was off.
But as usual the headline for Rachel was about Gays. I guess thats more important than Iran.
The problem with this is that maybe Ms. Yerman is caught up in what's going on in Iran, as is a lot of people, but there are many, many more people in the world who are ALSO grieving the death of Michael Jackson.
The man DESERVES more than a day to adequately cover his amazing music career, which many times had a political twist to it. He meant the world to many people OUTSIDE of the media, which all too often found it easy to attack and criticize him. You in the media didn't find a problem with frying OJ for weeks on end, or MJ during his trial, or even with the POTUS over Rev. Jeremiah Wrights' "No, no, no! Not God BLESS America! GOD DAMN America!" I know I have heard that line 500 times, if not a thousand, but where is the complaint for those dragged out stories? There were the same kinds of "special report" on the same shows mentioned in this article.
Only people who rely on tv for their "news" are missing it. It's not like the media has actual "news", as in NEW, about the state of affairs in Iran. THAT is found on the internet, not tv.
Try Nico's blog or the BBC website, and stop hating on the man in the mirror.
http://www
Thank you. I too waited for news on Thursday -- switching between channels to no avail. It was very frustrating. I kept on thinking, "I want my Rachel Maddow" like an 1980s teen begging for MTV.
I think Rachel Maddow may have been planning to go on vacation on Thursday. Or maybe she just didn't have the stomach to gush over Jackson for an hour. If so, more power to her. I wish they had let Ana Marie Cox guest host on Friday, as they originally announced on msnbc.com, instead of preempting it for that vacuous Michael Jackson retrospective.
Isn't that the wrong Neda picture? Seems I remember the person in that picture is still alive and gave an interview stating that although she appreciated the attention and supported the cause, she was very much alive. You might see if there's a correct picture out there and repost it.
It's still be featuring as "an alleged passport photo" on numerous news sites. Rechecked, and found another that said "the real Neda Agha Soltan." They look quite similar. The same goes for the Newsweek website that says of the photo attribution "believed to be."
http://www
Hi Marcia... see the comment below mine from elp37... go to her blog and read the explanatio
Please LoveLifeLaughter What photo are you referring to and what interview? I am trying to help Neda Soltani, have someone at the Daily Beast working on the story and need information. The photo of Neda Soltani (NOT Neda Agha-Soltan) was mistakenly used and she is currently in danger in Tehran. Please write me and let me know where you have seen the interview and what you are referring to in your comment.
See http://ned
I have deleted the picture on this post, and will comment on Facebook and Twitter
about this situation. I can't refind that original page, but I think it is the same one that you
referenced, that was written in Farsi.
A milestone toward the gutter for America: June 26, 2009 the three major broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC did not believe that there was anything important enough going on in the entire world today to take 1 minute away from airing post adolescent videos of a bubble gum rock star. I remember Walter Cronkite. I believe that even when president Kennedy was assassinated and the Vietnam War ended , Or to put it in the same category of popular entertainment, when the fictional character J.R. died, the nightly news also reported other stories of the day. I am disgusted by the present generation of newscasters who betrayed their journalistic integrity and patriotic responsibility to keep America informed about what really matters in order to pander to the management of who are more concerned about profits to provide them with a second Lexus in their garage, than conducting their duty to assure that America has an informed electorate. These holding companies for outlets of the press are members of the only industry given special protection under the constitution of the United States exclusively in order to discharge that duty.
There's not really much the US can do for Iran Ms Yerman but let them run their life and watch from the sides while President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad acts like his stuff don't stink as dictating ruler supreme!!! I know not everyone is like myself and a fan of MJ and if you are tired of the media coverage of The King of Pop I kindly suggest you turn off your tv. Don't listen to any R&B or Adult contemporary Top 40 stations at least throughout this weekend and have a stash of CD or mega tunes downloaded on your IPOD as MJ songs will more than likely be in heavy rotation on those stations!!!
MJ - 24/7.
That's what I want for now.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!
Right!
Back in '96 MSNBC was an interesting network, with an entertaining late afternoon, early evening technology show.
Then Princess Diana died, and they turned into a 'round the clock tabloid.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
