Thursday, November 26, 2009

Opinion

Robert Schlesinger

It's Michael Jackson Funeral Day--How Would You Get the Media's Attention?

July 07, 2009 12:03 PM ET | Robert Schlesinger | Permanent Link | Print

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.

Let's just ask the media tomorrow

to go back a few days and also cover in retrospect whatever else happened between Michael's passing and his burial.

It's too bad that Elvis died young, and then again, how would we cope with a 72-year-old Elvis today? Same with Michael. We do not "wish" such stars early deaths, but when it happens---my goodness, what legacies then remain larger than life for longer than life. As for the media, they just go with what sells. Today, that's all things Michael.

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Robert Schlesinger is a deputy editor at U.S. News and World Report and oversees all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters.

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