Nearly a half-hour of solid Michael Jackson coverage on CNN

[WilliamPitt]

Protests in Miami.

Protests in Britain.

Massive bombings in Turkey.

Couple of wars.

CNN does wall-to-wall coverage of a parking lot outside the police station where Jackson is supposed to surrender. Talking head after talking head digging into every concievable detail. Picture of reporters outside the station; CNN talking head mistakenly called them 'journalists.'

I feel an angry article coming on.

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Re-enact the Fairness Doctrine back

MJ wouldn't even get 2 minutes under that Doctrine.

Hawkeye-X

[RichM]

23. This is another of the delusions so popular on DU. The Fairness

Doctrine's loss is certainly regrettable, but even before it was scrapped, the US media was still shockingly shallow, dishonest, & chock-full of sensationalism.

Let me give you one little example - targetting another DU delusion: namely, that "back in the days of Walter Cronkite, the US media wasn't just a bunch of whores & propagandists."

Walter was famous for his signing off every night, saying, "And that's the way it is, the XXXth day of captivity for the American hostages in Teheran." In the entire 444 days of the Iran "hostage crisis," I don't think CBS even once mentioned the little inconvenient detail that in 1953, the US had overthrown the democratically-elected government of Iran, & replaced it with a brutal dictatorship. As though this little piece of historical background had nothing at all to do with why many Iranians might feel a tad unfriendly towards the US.

No, CBS omitted that, & cultivated instead the impression that the Iranians were just crazy Muslim fanatics, who had a purely irrational anger towards America and "democracy."

During the '80's, while Reagan supported death squads in El Salvador & Guatemala, & broke international law repeatedly in supporting violence against the Nicaraguans, the Fairness Doctrine was still in effect. Yet the US mainstream media made it quite impossible for the average person to understand what was going on down there.

IOW, the US media have been full of sh*t for many, many decades. The problem goes much deeper than just the Fairness Doctrine.

[nolabels]

41. Beat It, Beat It, Beat It (sorry , but it just sounded good)

The illusion of a FAIR and Balanced is just that. Thanks for spelling it out for them Rich. Be suspicious

We all know the media sucks, but who believes they engage in covert...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=729470

[davekriss]

44. RichM: I don't disagree with you at all

My guess is you've read and digested (favorably) Manufacturing Consent, too.

However, I think the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine and the Rule of Sevens has exacerbated the dysfunction of the American news media. But the overwhelming factor today is the near monopolization of the major media. The fact that, in 1980, approximately 2,000 firms owned almost all major media outlets -- and today these same 29,000+ outlets are owned by just 6 mega-corporations -- is today the far more important cause to the safe sameness of the corporatist choir slopped forward daily as "news".

As an aside, I learned of our Central American disgrace not through the news media (in the early eighties), but through the powerful voice of a poet, Carolyn Forsche. I think today, too, the truth will be outted through art and music, through the cultivation of (alternative) culture, not via the major media. Think "spectacle", as in "society of...", and work to create our own.

[0007]

62. You are so right and who even knows just a little bit ofthat ruthless.....

terrorist Orlando Bosch? Not many!

But we do hear a lot of whinning about Clinton pardoning Marc Rich. And Marc Rich was nothing compared to Orlando Bosch whom Bush Sr. pardoned.

[maddezmom]

2. yuck

it's on CNN International, too. They are showing airplanes landing.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[kentuck]

4. They're looking for viewers....

They know that the majority of people prefer to look at the Michael Jackson story, rather than pictures of war, protests, bombings... They know the American people.

What else would they be willing to sacrifice for ratings? How can we depend on the information from people of such questionable judgement?

[drfemoe]

39. It may be preference

but only if they would rather not be bothered with reality.

If the American people got a look at the real world, 'it' might change. But then they'd have to get up off their happy a**es and DO something. Sick ...

[davekriss]

47. That's precisely why...

That's precisely why I think RichM is wrong, above, for not fully appreciating the effect the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine has had on the news.

My understanding is, via the FD, broadcast media -- in exchange for the privilege of profiting from the commons of the public airways -- was obligated to present issues of concern and controversy to the communities in which they sit, and to present all sides of the issues. The judicial decision that repudiated the FCC regulation (and subsequent Republican veto of attempts to codify the FD into law) removed this burden "to report" from the broadcast media. Now, instead of delivering all sides of "issues of concern and controversy", the "news" was forced to compete for audience and profit in the same fashion as any other element in the media's portfolio. Thus the decline of "news" into "infotainment" -- and the rise of Fox. "Fair and balanced" ... uh huh. If you believe that I have this bridge I want to sell ya!

[nolabels]

53. Yea, but it seems the way they compete is to introduce another.......

Crazy or obscene channel like the "Knitting Channel" or "Today's SAVAGE S&M". They are only competing for market share, it seems to me, why else would they keep spinning out so much more junk instead of competing with putting out quality. Six Mega Media's competing, Five Golden Rings, Four Mega Mergers, Three Golden Parachutes, Two Talking Heads, and the Peacock on the Silver Screen

[LeahMira]

5. Go for it!

I feel an angry article coming on.

I noticed the amount of time given to Michael Jackson's troubles on early morning TV today... far more than necessary, or at least it seemed that way to a person only barely awake.

Do Americans really want to be that stupid, or is it a devious plot to keep us all stupid? I'll be interested to read what you have to say.

[newyorican]

6. Well if you going to discuss it...

Am I the only 40 something that has alarm bells going off in the back of their head?

The Kobe case rang the bell also, now it's growing louder.

They better have MJ cold, with no leaps of faith required.

I am old enough to remember what they did to people like Ali, Josey Baker and Paul Robeson. I am most uncomfortable with the gleeful, lynch-mob mentality displayed on show after show on every 24/7 news channel and the behavior of the DA and Sheriff. The DA has been after MJ for 10 years? Things that make you go hmmm....

[Ripley]

12. You think it's racist?

How do you explain the coverage of the white priest pedophiles?

MJ paid about 20 million dollars 10 years ago to settle a molestation case. That's why the DA has been watching him.

It's ridiculous to believe his race has anything to do with it.

[newyorican]

25. You ask that as if it's not possible.

I don't remember the media hounding "white priest pedophiles" or those responsible for enabling them. I don't remember helicopters circling overhead looking for "white priest pedophiles", waiting for police to arrest any of them.

But I suppose that MJ has done more harm than any or even all of those "white priest pedophiles", that paid their way out of going to jail. I mean, why else all the glee?

[Solomon]

28. And they didn't specifically change the law so that the catholic

priests and churches couldn't settle cases. Only for Jackson, or so the prosecutor boasts.

[Ripley]

31. What?

That Boston guy, Geogan was on TV every day for months. Then he went to prison and was killed there.

The glee by the reporters is that MJ is a big celebrity. Gee have you also not noticed the Peterson case? He is a white guy accused of a heinous crime and has been on TV for months. Why? He isn't even famous. The media preys on lurid stories to get people to watch. If it's a celebrity the merrier for them because Americans are celebrity-obsessed.

I knew this country went to hell when Dan Rather reported on the CBS news that J-Lo's wedding was off. (But I guess you'll just say he's harassing her because she isn't white.)

[Solomon]

46. You still ignore the fact that Jackson was considered more

harmful than the catholic priests because there was no outcry or felt need to change the law anywhere to compel children to testify against catholic priests who committed child molestation, nor was the law changed to prevent the catholic church from paying money to settle cases.

Besides. How do you compel a child to testify. Do you pull his fingernails out til he answers?

[alarcojon]

43. I've been wondering about this....

I'm not sure what I think about the race angle here. Racism is so ingrained in our society that I find it really hard to believe that it has nothing to do with the current obsession with MJ. I do see some of the "glee" that newyorican mentions, and it bothers me.

However, I think his celebrity (and his just plain weirdness) is the major factor here. But I could be convinced otherwise.

[Solomon]

49. I said nothing about race. It could well be the celebrity thing.

I do believe that race plays a role in it. But unlike the rest of you, I don't think the celebrity thing is the advantage you all seem to think it is. When hearsay evidence is broadcast all over the place before a jury is picked, you can't get a fair trial. And just because you have money to hire a damn lawyer, doesn't mean you are getting special advantages, it just means you are more able to make the system work the way its supposed too.

I just think it would be somewhat embarrassing for the prosecutor to go around crowing about how he succeeded in getting the laws changed just because of Michael Jackson.

[alarcojon]

55. All I was saying is...

I think celebrity is the main reason for the massive interest in this case. Whether or not it is beneficial to his case is another matter entirely. It definitely cuts both ways. On the one hand, Jackson's notoriety has really worked against him thus far. On the other, doesn't getting the system to work for you the way it is supposed to (when it doesn't work that way for those of lesser means) constitute a special advantage? B-)

[RobinA]

64. It's Not Race

Jackson is a traveling freak show that WAY transcends race at this point. And I mean that in the most empathetic way possible, the guy's a tragedy who probably never had a chance.

[BiggJawn]

61. It's not because he USED to be black...

It's because he's Michael Jackson!!!!
The guy who brought us the "moonwalk" and that affected "crotch-grab" dance move, and the Glove, and Neverland, and dangling babies, and documentaries about having little kids in his bed, and.....

In other words, he's a Celebrity. a WEIRD-ASSED Celebrity!

[LewisJackson]

7. well, he IS the king of pop

makes me glad i don't have cable anymore

[Drifter]

8. I would watch for hours ...

to see this piece of shit perp walked. I know its a distraction from AWOL, but MJ's chance at jail is WAY long overdue.

He paid his way out of molestation charges 10 years ago. That was a terrible injustice, that has probably resulted in the molestation of hundreds more. You can bet this kid (and the one 10 years ago) are merely the tip of the tip of the tip of the iceberg.

Cheers
Drifter

[chiburb]

27. ?

You could very well be right that 100's more children were molested by this "piece of shit", but I suspect that he'd have been brought up on charges at some point if that were true. But my real reason for replying is to ask you a question:
If it were you being charged with evil-doing, wouldn't you want and demand the presumption of innocence?

[blm]

9. Think 94, Will. A distracted public allowed the GOP takeover of Congress.

The distraction that election year....OJ. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from June 1994 and throughout 1995.

[tom_paine]

13. Y'know, I never made that correlation.

But you're right.

[blm]

40. It also divided the Dems at their base...

Jewish and women's groups from black groups. Those divisions were played up by the media, wherever possible. Sad, because the story was really about another rich man getting a brand of justice a poor man will never see.

[kentuck]

17. Good point, blm...

I never made tha connection.

[THUNDER HANDS]

10. Some days I'm glad

I'm stuck in an office with no television.

[nolabels]

48. Isn't "no television." a good thing ?

They say us people that know better should watch some of it. Then after they do watch it, write the folks that produce it to tell them to them to cool out. Tell them to stop the propaganda and the promoting the decay of the public’s moral character.

Sorry wish I could, but it would only bring me to the point of despising them even more. Can’t stomach the crap they spew out anymore :puke:

[Solomon]

11. Hey Will. Could you put in there about how they showed the

wrong plane? Ha. I hope they got all the cameras on the airport while he quietly slips in to be booked. The airport scene almost rivals the Bronco chase. Whoooo hoooo. This is the big one boy.

And could you put something in your article about what it does to the concept of fair trial? I mean they're all ready giving him his epitaph and funeral speech. Let's form the public opinion, divulge all the hearsay and rumors of evidence that will never be admitted at trial and THEN pick the jury. Shheeesh. I'm tired of seeing it.

(Suppose the plane lands and then takes off again? Now that would definitely top the bronco chase)

[TSElliott]

14. And your surprised.

40% of Americans follow politics regularly.
60% of Americans can locate Britain on a map.
25% of Americans think that Turkey bombings are a new Thanksgiving sport.
80% of Americans like to watch Celebrities fall.

Just look at the statistics Jackson is a sure winner when it comes to ratings.

[It was not a pretzel]

18. 60% of Americans can locate Britain on a map ?

I very much doubt that. More like 6 %

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tom_paine]

15. RAGE ON, SirWilliam!

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light!"
--Dylan Thomas

:mad: :grr: :grr:

[wndycty]

16. And he was not on the fricking plane. . .

LOL I think he is going to have fun at the expense of the press. Their bumbling will turn him into a hero! trust me.

[VelmaD]

20. Un-be-fucking-leivable

And what are you doing watching CNN? Don't you know that shit will rot your brain? :-)

[BigMcLargehuge]

21. Sickening isn't it?

I had to turn it off before I hurled the TV out into the yard.

[ellie]

22. I was watching MSGOP

and they had some talking head on discussing MJ's love of plastic surgery and how he may change his appearance and skip town and the charges. WTF?! Hilarious!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

45. reminds me of FOX

bringing in 'psychic'/susan esteridge sound-alike/Montel Williams Show recurring guest Sylvia Brown to use her magic powers to tell us that chandra levy was indeed dead about a year before the body was found

[Spider Jerusalem]

24. Bah.

Fuck CNN. Fuck Michael Jackson. Fuck the brain-dead scum who are more interested in celebrity scandals than in anything of actual importance. Fuck. (You can tell how I feel, huh?)

[maveric]

26. This is an all-time low for the "liberal media"!!

There is NOTHING HAPPENING!! Wrong plane, no MJ and the newsreader whores are just droning on about the aspects of the case, and MJ's popularity.... WHAT A FUCKING JOKE!

HEY, CNN,MSNBC, WHY DONT YOU SHOW FOOTAGE OF PEACEFUL PROTESTORS BEING NIGHTSTICKED BY COPS IN MIAMI?! OR PERHAPS THE ALUMINUM COFFINS OF SOLDIERS KILLED IN THE FAKE WAR IN IRAQ!!

THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST NEWS COVERAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN!

[kentuck]

29. Also, there is the simple logistics of this story....

It is much easier to send reporters and cameras to Vegas or Santa Barbara than it is to Istanbul or London.

[Solomon]

30. They're beating heads in Miami but they won't show it

to us.

[brainshrub]

34. If they won't, I will. (Link to video on my website)

www.brainshrub.com

[Solomon]

54. Thanks for the

link.

[moosedog]

32. No wonder they couldn't find------

the 9/11 hijackers. They can't even find M. Jackson. What a bunch of bullshit. This is going to keep your mind off of the protests in the UK isn't it???

[Tracer]

33. I was plonked in front of the tube last night ...

... just thumbing my "clickah" (Boston-talk, dontcha know).

6:00 - 7:00 Ñ Wolf Blitzer - one hour of MJ
7:00 - 8:00 Ñ Anderson Cooper - one hour of MJ
8:00 - 9:00 Ñ Someone (CNN) - lots of MJ
9:00 - ? Ñ That Abrams guy - lots of MJ

Every cable channel I surfed to (except Fox, which I NEVER go to) was an orgy-fest of MJ.

This is so pathetic.

Who's got the e-mail addresses of the top poohbahs at CNN, MSNBC, etc? I HAVE to tell them what I think of their so-called "journalism".

[jayfish]

37. Don't Forget...

Nightline (I couldn't believe it)and Snowball With Tweety.

I almost :puke:

Jay

[Military Brat]

65. Your contact info for the big media cheese-cutters

from Take Back The Media: http://takebackthemedia.com/directories.html

ABC News
47 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: [phone]
D.C. Bureau phone: [phone]
General e-mail: [e-mail]

ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings:
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Nightline:
1717 DeSales St., NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

20/20:
147 Columbus Ave., 10th fl, New York, NY 10023
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

ABC's Good Morning America:
147 Columbus Ave., New York, NY 10023
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

CBS

CBS News
524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
D.C. Bureau phone: [phone]

CBS Evening News with Dan Rather:
Phone: [phone] or 202-457-4385
Fax: [phone]

The Early Show:
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] or 212-975-2033

60 Minutes:
555 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019-2985
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

60 Minutes II:
Phone: [phone]

CNBC
2200 Fletcher Ave.
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

CNN Washington Bureau
820 First St. N.E., Washington, DC 20002
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Crossfire
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Larry King Live
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

MSNBC
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


Washington Bureau
4001 Nebraska Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]


NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw:
Phone: [phone] or 202-885-4259 Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]

NBC News' Today:
Phone: [phone] or 202-885-4231
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Dateline NBC
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]


Public Broadcasting

PBS
1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
3620 South 27th St., Arlington, VA 22206
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

National Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-3753
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: Jeffrey Dvorkin, Ombudsman [e-mail]

All Things Considered:
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Morning Edition:
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

National Newspapers

Los Angeles Times
202 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: [phone] or 213-237-5000
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

New York Times
229 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
D.C. Bureau phone: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

USA Today
1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22229
Phone: [phone] or 703-276-3651
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty St., New York, NY 10281
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW, Washington, DC 20071
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Associated Press
50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
D.C. Bureau phone: [phone]

Magazines

Newsweek
251 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Time
Time & Life Bldg., Rockefeller Center, New York, NY 10020
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

U.S. News & World Report
1050 Thomas Jefferson St., Washington, DC 20007
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

[bearfartinthewoods]

35. real gripping shit too! we were priviledged to see a plane land. eom

[gauguin57]

42. not like it's a slow news day

Too much going on in the world to waste ALL this time on Wacko Jacko.

But ... why is this guy getting such special treatment? Why does he get to choose his surrender time and place, and get to park the nose of his plane inside a hanger to stay out of sight, and get the big entouragesque police escort ...

BTW: Cops watching him for 10 years has nothing to do with racism. He brags about having kids in his bed; there's already been one investigation and out-of-court settlement; he dangles his own kid over the balcony ... I'd watch him too!

For another thing, he might as well be white. Sorry, but I don't even think of him as African-American anymore ... for whatever reason (and I don't believe the vitilago excuse for a minute), he chose to go super-caucasian. He chose to, essentially, change the appearance of his race -- carving off pieces of his face and bleaching himself to Kabuki proportions. Then he plays the race card when he gets pissed off with Tommy Mottola (who is now way darker than MJ!).

In addition, Pee-Wee Herman, Jeffrey Jones and Pete Townshend (all white) were all recently arrested on child porn charges.

[Solomon]

36. Wow! It's a black bronco.

What a new low day for the american media.

[Q]

38. Have you EVER witnessed the American media...

...give THIS type of coverage to ANY of the many Bush* scandals? They didn't have this type of coverage when SOMEONE in the Bush* WH betrayed a CIA agent or lied this country into war.

- The country...indeed the world is on fire and they're obsessed with Michael's whereabouts.

[theoceansnerves]

50. HLN

HLN just devoted about three minutes to the Miami protests. Showed some footage of the crowd, said the protest now is more peaceful than earlier in the morning, when "anarchists" clashed with police. Of course, didn't mention undercover cops pulling guns or anything like that. Reporter said it was odd to see "people from the AFL marching with quote 'anarchists'" I don't know if it he said "quote" because he doesn't believe they are anarchists or out of sarcasm. They followed the story with 30 seconds about protests in London, said crowd estimates were from 50,000 to 300,000.

[bigrootcanal]

51. Buy a major news network

It's that simple. Call Soros and get him to foot the bill.

[monobrau]

52. 125 - 150 "journalists" at Neverland

Look at all of the so-called journalists at Neverland waiting for a shot of a limosine driving by. Imagine the power of just that one gaggle of journalist turned loose on stories that matter.

[opihimoimoi]

56. Hey, its the Numbers thingy gang. Its the amount of people they feel

will watch their shit.

If the Public wants MJ Shit, the Public will get MJ Shit, its as simple as that.

We are an Emotional Species, given to what makes our hearts go faster. Common Sense, Sanity, Reality, Logic, even the Common Good, cannot compete with Fantasy/Delusion/and Bull Shit. We Humans believe what we WANT to Believe, nothing more, nothing less. The Pubs tell us what we should believe and guess what, thats what we end up wanting to believe. Dammit, there goes my mouth again,

sorry

was rambling.

Come, we go eat sushi

[maveric]

57. Its been over 2 hours now!

And they keep showing the black SUV driving through SB.
How do these newsreaders maintain their dignity and self respect trying to make this into a BIG NEWS story when they know damn well that its a smokescreen to cover all the violence and unrest in the world and the protests in London against bu$h!

Shame on them!!!

[zeemike]

58. Guess what is on Crossfire?

Oh that is too easy.

[SiobhanClancy]

59. The entire half hour of Crossfire..

wasted on this. I sent them a furious email complaining about it(not that it will do a bit of good). I also mentioned it would be nice to see more of Carville.

[zeemike]

60. I said

That if I were Paul Begala I would walk off the set.

[RobinA]

63. It's Bad

I turned on my all-news local radio station at about 2:45 EST. Obviously live "reporters" were reporting the second-to-second movements of an aircraft. I thought, "Oh holy hell, not again," thinking hijacking, crash, hostages, hostages in a hijacked plane that crashed.... Couple seconds later they started talking about it being Michael Jackson's airplane. I wanted to lose my lunch.

I was born in '58. "Breaking news" STILL means the President has been shot, or Apollo is about to bounce off the Earth's atmosphere taking three husbands/fathers with it into permanent orbit. I can't help it.