It's Michael Jackson Funeral Day--How Would You Get the Media's Attention?
By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
The most important story in the world today is that Michael Jackson remains dead. That's pretty much what I can glean from flipping between the 24-hour news MJ networks this morning (I think one of them has officially changed its name to MJNBC). It makes me wonder what a politician would have to do to punch through the Jacksonalia and get noticed for more than a brief oh yeah, other things are going on in the world today moment. A member of Congress streaking the House floor? Barack Obama ceding Alaska back to the Russians (Sarah Palin really could see Russia from her porch then)? Click on the comments section below and weigh in with your idea of how a pol could get on the news today (without using Michael Jackson).
This much I know: If I were a pol hiding a scandal, I'd get it out today when no one is paying attention. Yes, it's true that I have on several occasions hunted the most dangerous game in Central Park, but...
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Reader Comments
media attention
Maybe some kind of a hate crime might do it. Something like a Jew attacks a busload of Muslims. Just saying.
Sensationalism sells
Let's face it. Most of America does not like politics. At least not to the point where they want to see politicians in the news every day. Unless that politician is stepping down, announcing a run for higher office, admitting an affair, or saying/doing something really messed up.
Sensationalism sells. And Jackson was a sensationalist's sensation. The media obsession with the MJ death story has been excessive. Especially in light of all the other news of the week (North Korea, Iranian uprisings, deadliest month in Afghanistan, kidnapped soldier, etc.). But today it's understandable since it is the memorial service. I just think they could have laid off it a bit for the past several days.
As for what could be done to get the attention back to politics, I propose two option:
1) Letterman could make another joke Palin doesn't like, but this time he'd have to go further and maybe make a Michael Jackson molestation joke regarding young Trig.
2) A Joe Biden sex tape.
Other than that, Washington will have to just beat it.
Turning them off
By fewer hits to their web pages and turning off the boob tube the media gets the message loud and clear! The hardest part for some is to contact those companies that advertise with the morons and let them know that your shopping habits have changed because...... Since credit card companies sell information through third party avenues, the media will get the hint that sometimes we dont care about a man who has slept with chimpanzees, openly admits to sleeping with little boys and liking it or has an peter pan complex for news. But hey, who says the media gets it right to begin with.
You get the picture I think.
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