With the nation’s major online news sites featuring at most one story on the ongoing crisis in Iran on their “front pages”, just how many stories are they currently devoting to the death of Michael Jackson?
At 2.20pm:
- ABC.net.au/news – eleven stories (although it’s a little unclear, since several of them have multiple links on the front page):
- The Age – twelve stories (careful clicking on the link – as with any visit to the increasingly visitor unfriendly Fairfax site, you’ll be attacked by pop-up video advertisements).
- News.com.au – one neat info box linking to nine stories.
- SBS – four stories.
- NineMSN – one neat info box with four linked stores.
- Yahoo Seven – one neat info box with two linked stories.
- Crikey – three stories. (Although when this post hits the main page, that’ll make it four.)
NineMSN, Yahoo Seven, SBS and Crikey are, at present, the most restrained. The Age and the ABC are going a little bit bonkers. The Age has the excuse of having recently sacked many of its casual technical staff – but what’s going on at the ABC?
Meanwhile – how many days do you think it’ll be before one of these sites again has more stories on the major upheavals in Iran than stories about Michael Jackson? And how many days, if ever, until they all do?
UPDATE: The fact that the Michael Jackson story is smothering news reporting of the repression in Iran is of serious import not because of the sad indictment it represents on the priorities of the world’s media – but because the protests are happening NOW, and to a large extent they will live or die (the protests and the protesters) on the attention they receive from the rest of the world. The protesters might not want direct involvement from the west – but they would like Ahmadinejad and Khamenei to know they’re being watched.
The Iranian regime must be thanking Allah for the distraction.
22 Comments
“Iran”? Yeah, like that’s a real place.
I wonder if their will be similar outpourings when Garry Glitter kicks the bucket? I suppose he wasn’t as talented as Michael Jackson but I reckon I prefer Glitter’s songs.
“(careful clicking on the link – as with any visit to the increasingly visitor unfriendly Fairfax site, you’ll be attacked by pop-up video advertisements).”
And remember, don’t leave a fairfax website open in a tab on your browser, it updates itself every five minutes, I guess they’re pitching to the lowest common denominator, those ignorant netizens who don’t realise they can refresh any page at any time of their own choosing. Fairfax websites like to stael your browser’s resources Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
“I wonder if their will be similar outpourings when Garry Glitter kicks the bucket? I suppose he wasn’t as talented as Michael Jackson but I reckon I prefer Glitter’s songs.”
I imagine there won’t be anywhere near as much Rob, I prefer Glitter’s songs too, but I have to admit — (and putting aside both of their umm, indiscretions ??) – he’s nowhere near the megastar status that Jackson was.
True Gavin…. He’s almost as notorious though
I wonder why it took Michael Jackson’s death for you guys to finally mention Iran, while your so called “watch list” has been discussing it for days.
BPobjie, “Iran”? Yeah, like that’s a real place”. Or “Iran”? Which team are they?
Because we’re not a news site, we’re a site about media dishonesty.
“He’s almost as notorious though ”
Yes he is — and I guess, unlike Jackson, he has a conviction..
Pedro, because there was little that we could add.
Although I could point out that there was an emphasis in the reporting by the mainstream media on the OMG Twitter Revolution!!!1!, rather than what was seen online, which was, as far as I could see, from the techie/lefty aligned: instructions on how to help the Iranians (which tags to use, which to avoid, how to help swamp authoritarian searches for dissidents, how to pass along useful (to the protesters) info without passing along identifying info to help Iranian security, that sort of thing); and from the right and clueless (not necessarily the same thing): exhortations to turn your blog/avatar/necktie green to show solidarity. And exhortations to Get This Right Before We Have To Nuke You. We Don’t Want To Have To Nuke You.
Why, Pedro? What cogent addition have you made to the situation?
I’m not a MJ fan and during the 80’s I down right hated the guy. But to argue that he is just one popstar is just wishful thinking. Whether you or I like it or not this guy is up there with Elvis, The Beatles and Bob Dylan. He contributed an enormous amount to popular culture in the same way that the above three did.
I can’t believe I’m defending MJ? Yes, it’s not in the same league of what is going on in Iran but then again neither is anything else in the news at the moment including Utegate or the State of Origin.
The TV stations were as bad today too. It was a Jacko-fest. A bit sick I thought.
I’ll say it again, Jeremy. Your “watch list” HAS been discussing Iran. For many, many days now. Our media has been conveniently burying it.
And here’s you, suddenly outraged it has been bumped. Good grief.
the same thing happend when princess Di died…on the same day as Mother Teresa. But because di was a *celebrity* there was blanket media coverage for weeks after her death and sweet FA about mother teresa, whose death arguably meant more to more people than Di’s.
As soon as jacko’s death was announced sky news left their regular programs and basically carried that story for hours on end. And what RobJ said on the open thread: the Liberals must be breathing a sigh of relief right now.
How is reporting on Michael Jackson’s death “dishonesty”? The fact that these sites have gone into meltdown today is evidence that this is what internet users want to read about. And it is also why you have posted a Michael Jackson blog today. This is what is known in the blogosphere as “hypocrisy”. Perhaps you would like to look up the meaning of the word in the dictionary – you know, one of those old-fashioned book things.
The news websites have reported on Iran, but obviously few people are interested or the stories would have scored more hits. That is the fault of the reader, not the website.
Considering your comments on Iran and what we should do Jeremy, I find that intellectually dishonest. (yes on your own blog……)
And cause more people will (rightly or wrongly) remember Wacko Jacko’s death more than the outrageousness that is going on in Iran (I know I spelt outrageousness wrong but I don’t care), its not a big deal to pank on people for covering his death.
He was good, not my favourite, but his talent was clear for all to see…ignoring the latter years.
Mark – I should’ve said, “…media dishonesty and foolishness”. This wasn’t dishonesty, but sites like the ABC and The Age certainly went way overboard.
Pedro – obviously Iran’s been discussed all over the place. I haven’t seen any particular media conduct on that story that’s seemed to me to qualify for Pure Poison, which is why we haven’t covered it here. Pure Poison is, as I said earlier, not a news site – we’re watching the watchers, as it were.
The point I’m making in this post is that developments continue, and there’s much more to be usefully explored (and reported) by news organisations on that topic than you’d guess by comparing coverage in Australian online media today of Jackson with that of coverage of the ongoing chaos in Iran.
Intitial autopsy results are out and the blame is being pointed at the boogie. It seems no blame is attached to the sunshine, moonlight or the good times.
Sorry, I will close the door on my way out.
confessions@13, in what sense? That more people might’ve been relieved by the death of Mother Teresa?
Read what Christopher Hitchens has to say about Mother Teresa. I’m being lazy, I guess, but Hitchens is meticulous in referencing the evidence in this case.
Well, I’ll be fucked
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/309080/michael_jackson_death_knocks_google_twitter_offline
Ethan Zuckerman, a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, said that Jackson quickly became the most popular topic on the micro-blogging site as soon as he was rushed to hospital yesterday.
“My twitter search script sees roughly 15% of all posts on Twitter mentioning Michael Jackson,” wrote Mr. Zuckerman on his Twitter page. “Never saw Iran or swine flu reach over 5%.”
@ stephenD: in the sense she touched more lives than Dianna.
confessions. Your sudden iterest in a Christian figure baffles me.
pedro: only because your own sense of humanity is skewiff.