Reporter's Note: President Obama has not said much about Michael Jackson, which distinguishes him from pretty much everyone else in America. I’m saying plenty, however, in my daily letters to the White House.
Tom Foreman | Bio
AC360° Correspondent
Dear Mr. President,
Want to guess how many e-mails I received about Michael Jackson by 4 o’clock this afternoon? More than a hundred! You could chase Kim Jong-Il across the Korean peninsula with a ping pong paddle and I wouldn’t get that many updates. Unbelievable. One of the greatest weaknesses in my sense of judgment (and there is a lot of competition for that trophy) is my tendency to underestimate the public’s interest in celebrities, and how we, the media, will react to that.
This nationwide tendency for star gazing is worse now (or better, depending on your point of view) than I’ve ever known it before. And you know who I blame? Tanya Harding. That’s right, the figure skater.
Back when she and her thuggy pals tried to break Nancy Kerrigan’s knee to thin the competition at the Olympics, I was dispatched to Oregon to chase down the elusive Tanya. So around 2 in the morning, I and a large mob of newsfolks found ourselves huddled in the dark outside of a shopping mall/ice rink where she was practicing, calculating our odds of getting a statement as she left. As it was, she slipped out a back door, we never saw her, and I rode back to my hotel thinking, “This is a bad sign.” It was the first time I felt like my profession had utterly caved to public “interest” versus public “importance.” Come to think of it, I guess that wasn’t really Tanya’s fault.
Now, I’m not just heaping scorn. Beating up on the media is way too easy and not always fair. Kind of like pretending to throw a tennis ball just to watch your dog jump.
And I know celebrity stories in the past have sparked media storms. The Lindbergh kidnapping, for example. And hey, I covered Jon Benet as much or more than any reporter in the country. So I’m not blameless. It’s just that this age of the mega-news story, combined with our celebrity obsession, combined with our cell-phone-tweeting-texting-instant messaging-Facebook posting culture creates a runaway train at times like this; with part of the public screaming “more, more more,” and another part yelling, “less, less, less.” (I have to admit, btw, I’m in the latter category; fascinating guy, great entertainer, important cultural icon, but enough already…)
So as long as that is going on, my advice to you is pretty simple: If you are interested in the latest MJ news, stay tuned to just about any media outlet you choose. If, however, you want the rest of the news…be very, very patient. It will come back, but not in force until this hurricane has passed. And that’s assuming some other big name doesn’t wind up “hiking the Appalachian trail” (if you know what I mean) setting off another media frenzy.
Call my office if you have a moment or any additional information about Michael Jackson. Like the song says, for the foreseeable future, I’ll be there.
Regards,
Tom
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Dear President Obama:
I too am very tired of turning on the T.V. and being fed Michael Jackson for breakfast, lunch, and diner. Sure he was a one-of-a-kind star, but I think that enough is enough. The last time I saw similar coverage was during the invasion of Irak.
Now that we are talking about wars... What about Honduras, my native country? Is it time for my dear Anderson to talk about that instead? How the removal of Ex-President Zelaya was not a coup? We need someone of weight like Anderson to look into it. I bet that he can show you how there was not such a coup and that most of the seven millions of Hondurans don't want Zelaya back. If Zelaya comes back, guess who's comming to help him govern... That's right! Hugo Chavez.
For all of you who fell the Michael Jackson stories are overkill or not new, then turn to Headline New. Remember there are other channel you can watch. But instead of doing that you all would rather complain. Simply turn the channel, better yet just turn off the
TV,. You all sound like haters, HOW SAD. It was okay when Anne Nicole died, who was a nobody, but they showed that 24/7. Talk about a drug addict..... Let's not forget the chick who just had the 8 kids, that she can't take care of.. But we had to see her everytime the new came on.... Michael Jackson was THE KING OF POP, show some RESPECT..... R.I.P MICHAEL WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blessed are he that mourn, and also blessed are he or she that has bad things to say about MJ. You need to be trying 2 get, your souls to gether instead of dipping in the Jackson familey business. God is the only one MJ will have to answer to, not you me or anyone eles.So get out of the jackson business and let them mourn in peace. MJ did not need your help be for god took him out of this world ,so you know he don't need your help now.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted,I 'm very disappoint in us as , we sat down all day watch the TV about Micheal Jackson. And we judge him for what he did. The man was Bad..He made millions of dollars... if he wanted to do drugs that was his business..We all have some skeltons in our closet, And also if the children wasn't his he took care of them. Didn't ask nobody for Dime..
He destroy his body but not his SOUL... The Soul is goe back to his CREATOR..THAT GOD..Matt: 10:28 And fear not them which kill the the body, but are not able to kill the Soul:but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell....The Doctors, His Soul reach mine... I will remember like That...NOW THAT ABC....(SONG) REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER....
While I think MJ's death is tragic, I think it is time for the media coverage to cease. To have media camped outside the gates of the house he lived in when he passed, in front of Neverland, in front of his childhood home, 24 hrs a day and continue to report the same lame info over and over again is just OVERKILL. Yes, it was news when he passed, the rest is ALL just SPECULATION. His family is a bunch of leaches w/Joe being the king. Just let this go already. There are more important news items that need to be aired.
I think that all the celebrity gossip and BS should not even be aired on a "NEWS" show. That is what gossip shows like entertainment tonite and TMZ are for. Those interested in that kind of crap can watch it there. For the rest of us who tune in to see what is going on in the real world, leave the celebrities out of the NEWS!!!
It was great to have my coffee this morning and have to watch the bedroom where MJ died displayed across the screen! Come on now! Enough is ENOUGH!!!
I think Stephen Colbert had the best line to sum up the coverage of the Michael Jackson story:
'I'll never forget where I was the first 20 times I heard about it"
With all due respect Tom are you not adding attention to what "you" consider to be MJ overload????? One would think you would remain "SPEECHLESS" like the songs says.
Why is it that it takes a celebrity Icon to die of a "Legal drug" overdose for the FDA to get involved?? You can bet that thousands of regular people are dying anually of the very same abuse and authorities don't get involved.
Once again, Tom, I am in complete agreement with your views. Enough on MJ, already. There's a great cartoon at Slate.com where someone from the Pentagon is asking the news anchor if he'll feature the troop withdrawal from Iraq in the news, and the news anchor asks if they're doing the moonwalk.
TMZ has already proven to be unreliable again. CNN's reporting is at least fact checked. I think CNN has been doing a good job of balancing the news, personally. Thank You, CNN Team.
Honestly, I think the trend this week is to bash the MJ reporting, lol. People, think for yourselves, he was major and no one like him will ever exist again. He's a legend and people are still mourning. Have some respect for his legacy, he hasn't even been laid to rest. Have some respect, please.
Dear Tom
Do you know anything of the latest situation of Jon & Kate +8? I read that the show wouldn't film for the month, Kate's latest book deal and her clothing line were also put on hold! How will Kate be able to support those kids after her divorce from Jon?? They haven't even been in the new $1.25 million house that long.......
I enjoy all the MJ coverage but wish CNN would verify facts before they start parading all these kooks (the nurse) on LKL&AC360. That nut has been on every show changing her "story" and after she lays out her whooper, Anderson says "we haven't been able to confirm this". Confirm b-4 you give them airtime. Good letter.
Well his fans/family stole his childhood and now they are stealing his peace in heaven. In heaven he might have a chance to have the childhood he never had on earth. I feel for him and wish they would put him to rest and they can have all the memorials they want after he has been buried. God Bless his Soul. I wonder what he would say if he saw all this circus going on.
Sandy Hughes
There is a news story that is definitely newsworthy. Both Michael Jackson and Heath Ledger were afflicted with insomnia. I, too, had suffered for 10 years of sleepless nights and exhausting days, weight loss and mental confusion. I did find an Asian remedy, melatonin, available in health food stores. An enzyme that is not toxic, minimal cost and inconvienice, and in varying strength to suit one's needs. There are no side effects. My question is why this simple solution eluded me for 10 years and eluded these very knowledgeable men?
Dear Tom,
Please make it stop!!
I had to watch The Philanthropist last night. The Philanthropist for God sake, because I couldn't take any more Michael Jackson. Of course, I keep switching back to CNN to see when gossip time all ended so I could find some real news.
I hope tonight will not find any more MJ news. It's not news!!
My thoughts exactly! I have no idea what has happened to people that they forget everything else that matters and become alive and interested only when an opportunity to learn some gossip about a certain celebrity comes up? Michael Jackson's passing was shocking and yes, he was a great entertainer and I'll be listening to his songs until the day I am not longer able to hear (and then probably just sing them in my head:), but the truth is that at this point, we should just let him rest in peace and really not pay attention to all these people coming out and claiming they are his secret wife, kid and so on. The media should let go, but since this is the news most people want to hear/read, I am afraid, the story will keep inundating the cyber/print/tv space.
This is just great! Really enjoyed reag and feel that lots of folks share this sentiment. Or, maybe all this attention to MJ's passing is a strange sort of way of escaping the harsh reality of all that's been happening in the world lately....
WILL IT EVER END????????? I want to know what is going on in the world that will affect our lives, but most of the news is about M. Jackson-enough already.
I love this story. As I posted to Rick Sanchez yesterday, "We need a little more news, and a lot less Jackson"
Tom,
Let's face it. Newspaper were ALWAYS based upon what was titillating. We think it is quaint to read about Ben Franklin and his early publishing of made-up stories and people, but that is what sold. So is it any surprise that today a large portion of the public clamors for 'news' about MJ? No. Is it sad? Maybe, but not unexpected. Thoreau said in 1854 that "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." Is it s bit out of the original context here, but still relevant. People are desperate to know that someone else's life is more messed than their own. Sigh. It is the human condition. Keep up the great letters and thank you for your work.
Here, Here! Death is a tradgedy, but so many celebs have died recently, why does MJ get all the news? As I write The Today Show is getting ready to show his bedroom, Really??
Does this column qualify as another MJ story? There's the old saying, "People will pay for what they want, not what they need", applies. People aren't interested in information that directly impacts their lives in some tangible manner. They're more interested in being distracted from their lives by the life events of others.
Tom,
If memory serves me correctly, I was about 10 when Princess Di was killed in a car accident. Before her death I had never heard of her. Now, I feel as if I knew her personally. How do you get to know someone after they've died? As you said, through this hyper-mediated culture we live in. And Diana's death came before twitter, facebook, blackberries etc. It is exhausting but addicting. It is also optional. I found the situation in Iran fascinating, tragic, and incredibly significant.Mikey Jackson was without a doubt fascinating, tragic and incredibly significant as well but I'm over it. I pray for his children and die hard fans and that's about it. So I guess I'm saying I agree with you. This all feeds into the ultimate question-does society fuel what the media covers/obsesses over or does the media dictate what society focuses on? I think that the media doesn't tell us what to think, it tells us what to think about.
Cheers!
I think I'm in the "less, less, less" wagon, because I'm truly sick of the MJ thing everywhere I turn. I get it, It's sad that MJ died because of his own stupidity (apparently celebrities are the dumbest segment of the population, since none of them quite understand the tremendous damage the use and abuse of prescription or non prescription drugs have on them, despite the numerous deaths and pathetic outcomes in the celeb circles), but for the love of God, just stop it! 3 other people have died and little or non attention is paid to them.
Everywhere you turn on TV and even radio is all about MJ this, MJ that, not even when he was alive we would hear so much about MJ! and it's amazing to see the same people that pointed their finger at him when he was accused of child molestation is the people that now is sobbing and wanting more and more news or anything MJ related.
He died, is a shame, I truly admired him as a singer and performer, but I think is already time to move on, and the media should stop milking this news already. There are more important and live changing news out there.
I respect your view, but I have to say it is like anything else ignore it if you do not like. It is what the majority of the public wants to hear. Michael has touched many generations and he is international. The other stories are still out there to find.
Respectfully,
Anne of Trinity Fl
When the death of MJ was actually news (ie. within 24 hours of his death), I could understand CNN following it closely - but I think it's time to move on now. Let TMZ handle the celebrity stuff.
hi tom
what made Michael Jackson take these drugs when they were not good for him did he snap inside or what?