The media pundit's pundit. Written by NYC insider Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine covers news, media, journalism, and politics.
Gross
: Last night, driving home and listening to cable news (thank you, Sirius), I heard the breaking news that Michael Jackson had thrown up.
Do we need to know that? Do we want to know that? No? Then why do we know that?
I repeat that the news judgment of the people and of big media splits here. They think we want lots of Jackson and cheap trials. I don’t think we do.
michael jackson makes me throw up
Thank God one of my local PBS stations runs BBC World News against the local newscasts. It’s a refreshing escape from the pathetic sweeps period “investigative reports”, celebrity fluff, and constant “health beat” type stories that dominate local news.
People tune in. They say they don’t but they tune in. You think the entertainment rags and tabloids are exercising some sort of evil voodoo news judgement? They’re responding to market research.
Having worked on those magazines, I can say there’s less market research than you think; it’s about cover sales and cover research. I’m not saying there isn’t a ceaseless market for celeb gossip, of course. I’m saying that in the case of Jackson particularly, I think there’s less interest and I”m basing that on the lack of chatter. I also think there was less interest in Scott Peterson (or more accurately that the country got sick of the Scott OD) than media coverage would indicate.
But research is always flawed.
When I was at People, they tested a cover of Brooke Shields (in younger days) in flimsy attire atop a camel vs. Diane Sawyer looking newsy. In the testing, Diane won big; in sales, of course, Brooke won big. Who wants to admit to lusting after a teen?
I totally agree. Tune in to private radio stations in Germany and you’ll see the same thing. Top news you really don’t need, sold as the only thing you need to know. It’s fun to listen to where the majority is headed.
Michael Jackson specials still get CSI/American Idol ratings, don’t they?
Celebrity trials have been huge since Fatty Arbuckle. No use in complaining about it.
Who cares if Michael Jackson threw up? He is a normal human being, of course he threw up! I hate the way celebrities’ lives are such a big deal! They are normal, like you and me. I threw up the other day after looking at Michael Jackson’s picture, do you see anyone posting that information on the internet? :)
Michael Jackson & his boy love jumped the shark a long time ago.
The Bush white House is linked with Gay porn. I want 24 hours of news about that! The gay hating, self proclaimed moral values thugs have been giving a day pass to Gay hooker. That is a good story!!! That is just the tip of the iceberg..this is going to be the political drama to end all drama.
Follow the Gay hooker around town & camp outside of his house. Dig in his trash, harass his clients, friends and family. Tell us when pukes. He needs the security.
I think Jeff’s totatly right to call this one out and be pissed as hell.
I personally think there’s one of two explanations: 1) as a race, we’re imbeciles and we do enjoy this coverage and the media is reacting to that demand.
2) the people who decide the media are morons and we don’t want to see this.
of course also possible that both of the above are correct.
Can I hear an Amen, Brother, on that one. I could personally care less about Michael Jackson in any way, shape or form. I really don’t even want to know whether he wins or loses the case because, frankly, he is so far off my radar screen and the radar screen of anyone I would want to know as a friend that he does not exist.
I am, to tell the truth, so sick and tired of all these “celebrity” stories about who broke up with whom and who got shafted for some arbitrary meaningless award and look at the best dressed (or usually undressed) and worst dressed on the red carpet. The only thing good about it is that it gives Joan Rivers and her daughter something to do so that we don’t have to pay welfare for them.
In the meantime where are the stories about the Congressional Medal of Honor that was awarded for that soldier last week and where are the stories of the good things our young people are doing. I would a lot rather see stories in detail of the way the military stepped in after the tsunami and the things they did to help those people or the schools they are building or the water supplies they are installing where none were before or the affect they have on the Marsh Arabs in Southern Iraq where the ecostructure is being saved. That means a whole lot more to me that Paris Hilton or Michael Jackson or Tara Reid or Colin Farrell. Maybe I’m just out of step with the rest of the country.
I think that’s funny. It’s sad that when you’re a celebrity, everything you do, the media is right there watching it, and in this case, tells everyone who is listening. It’s kind of sad that radio and media in general have come to this. Oh well.