One+of+the+Most+Shameful+Episodes+in+Journalistic+History,+Rachael+Edwards

PHASE 2: Precis One of the Most Shameful Episodes in Journalistic History By: Charles Thomson In this Article, Thomson started off with the Michael Jackson’s trial on the allegations of child molestation, conspiracy, and apparently giving alcohol to a minor. He brings this up to expose the Media Industry’s distortion and misinformation that was provided to the public. The bias news cuttings and selective TV coverage did not resemble the actual trail in the courtroom. This was the outlet that the media had been waiting for and jumped on it even before the verdict, even before Jackson was arrested. Anything to do with the “Michael Jackson Scandal” was considered prime news that just //had// to be publicized. However, that was the least of the world’s worries because during that time for example, there was a terrorist attack in Turkey that was almost completely unreported! The major media networks were so obsessed with this explicit Michael Jackson story that they threw out their schedules to have 24-hour coverage and hour long specials on this case. Thomson justified the Michael Jackson Scandal as propaganda by quoting the //Daily Variety//. They described this as “a godsend for… media outlets, particularly cable news and local stations looking to pump up Nielsen numbers in the final week of the all-important November sweeps” (Thomson, 2010). To point out the obvious, it worked. The media and the audience simultaneously encouraged ridiculous and bantering headlines like “Wacko Jacko” “ex-black ex-superstar” and “freak”. Thomson continued by calling out attention to the fact that throughout the trial, the press did not discuss the “victim’s” cross-examinations or anything that would justify Jackson. Reporting “lurid allegations” and ignoring anything that would discredit the press seemed to be a habitual trend throughout this trial. At the end of this trial, Michael Jackson was not guilty on all charges. After the ridicule, Michael Jackson was not apologized to. Instead, the press moved onto a juicier story, the death of pop culture’s king, Michael Jackson. Thomson, C. (2010, August 21). One of the most shameful episodes in journalistic history. //Vocies In Wartime//, Retrieved from http://voicesinwartime.org/content/one-most-shameful-episodes-journalistic-history