This disgusts me. And no, I'm not talking about Michael (though that would probably work too). The media coverage and surrounding buzz is pretty revolting in my opinion. No one seems to appreciate that this is an actual court proceeding. I mean for crying out loud, the story was filed on Yahoo News under "Entertainment." As written, the story is categorized quite appropriately, but giving readers all the "juicy details" is not what this should all be about. This trial should be about determining whether or not Jackson is guilty of child molestation. There's nothing entertaining about that.
Obviously in a case involving a celebrity of Jackson's status, there's going to be plenty of extracurricular stuff floating around, but this shouldn't be treated as if it's no different than a story covering a family picnic. This particular story seems to be written as a fun little piece, like a weekly gossip column. And that's not right. Look at these excerpts (all quotes from Yahoo News):
- Dressed in a bright white suit and a jewel-trimmed vest and belt...
Fans danced and sang a Jackson song attacking the district attorney and booed a woman who held a sign backing the accuser.
Other prospective jurors said they had to care for sick relatives or had too many job responsibilities. One woman said that at 75, she was "just too old."
"You don't look a day over 60," the judge replied.
One man said he couldn't serve because his employer wouldn't pay him while he was on jury duty. "Your employer doesn't pay jury service?" asked (Judge) Melville.
"He's an attorney, no sir," the man said.
This really shouldn't be a laughing matter. If this was about some man from my neighborhood being accused of sexually molesting a child, guilty or not, I wouldn't be all that amused reading about what he wore and reviewing the cutest quotes from prospective jury members. I think that at least this writer in particular needs to tone down the Hollywood spin and do some real journalism. I don't claim to be an expert, and I'm probably being a little harsh, but with the atmosphere that the media is creating for this case, I don't see how a legitimate verdict can be returned.
- "'I know my son, and this is ridiculous,' his mother, Katherine Jackson, said in an interview broadcast on CBS' 'The Early Show.' She said people who believe her son is guilty 'don't know him.'"
I don't claim to know Michael, but I do know that this is indeed pretty ridiculous.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
CJ, good point about the disconnect between the seriousness of what is at issue and at stake here, but celebrity trials have become mass entertainment, perhaps they always have been - it's the original reality TV (no TV in this case, but..), thanks and welcome!
2 - Ronan
The fact that this is being presented as "entertainment" is more a reflection on American culture than Journalism. Regarding the story being posted under "entertainment", Michael Jackson is an entertainer, the section by its nature is stories regarding entertainers, not stories that are specifically entertaining.
I am disguisted by the Laci Petterson story being made into entertainment, but Michael Jackson is an entertainer, he entertains people, he can't help it and we can't help but be entertained by him.
3 - Angela Chen Shui
Different angles will be reported differently... he is an entertainer. Don't worry the child molestation issue will get serious coverage as the case progresses.
Thanks.