I’ve been asked by many people ‘What do I think of the news coverage given to the death of Michael Jackson?’ What would be a somewhat complex story in the past about the death of a celebrity who was known for being eccentric has become very complex, in part because of the competition between emerging technologies, traditional outlets and individuals using their social media to report, shape and interpret the story.
Personal media is driving many parts of this story, since we all come to it from different angles. I’ve notice some individuals on social media are still talking about little else a week later. The broadcast and cable networks are still putting this story in first segments. There are many questions being asked, and anyone who was within five feet of MJ in the last 20 years is being asked them, looking for answers. The truth is we don’t have a lot of concrete answers. So, something like an autopsy, a walkthrough of Neverland or an interview gives us a real concrete glimpse in to a life that was lived in and out of the gossip tabloids.
Pop stars will never grow old gracefully. From Rudy Vallee to The Jonas Brothers, our last 100+ years of mass media culture have been filled with a parade of icons who piqued our interests through performing their music, capture the hearts and imaginations of many and a good number of these performers that couldn’t keep the momentum going for several reasons. These include the sudden wealth and achievement for a person with no idea what this success all means, being surrounded by sycophants for assistants, support team and counselors and an idea that it will all last in a fickle marketplace. Appealing to a fourteen old’s music tastes last year is no guarantee of any success next year. I invoke the lyric again that I borrowed from MJ for this posting, “Why … why … its Human Nature …”
Because of the nature of celebrity itself, those of us who look from a far will always have questions. When someone is so well know that the mere mention of their name congers up an image or a strong memory, they do reach that iconic stature.
During the 1980’s, Michael Jackson was pop music. I was working at W-Light in Grand Rapids at the time when Thriller hit. When I would host my regular shifts, I would always get a number of calls for his songs. Unlike the other two 80’s icons, Springsteen and Prince, Michael seemed to reach across the spectrums of age, music taste and radio format. He could sing a heartfelt ballad and a rippin’ rocker with equal measure. We saw this performer who could make us groove one minute and cry the next. Everyone wanted to like him. I think is what initially stayed with people.
Whenever his unique behaviors came out, it ran contrary to our liking him. We know he was a spendthrift. We know that he wanted to control how he physically looked, and took steps to do so. We know he enjoyed segueing in and out of childhood. As for all reports of drug use and abuse, pedophilia charges and all the specific eccentricities over the years, I only know the stories I saw, heard and read. Yet, this fuels the coverage and social media like crisp and dry tinder. It is a perfect fire and the more we are curious, the more the coals of curiosity stay red.
Only Michael and God really know the truth and neither of them are talking much about it. So, we are left to wonder, ask, interview, post and publish. The truth is that we will always have more questions then answers when it comes to the private lives of celebrities. Why? Because this is human nature too.

She went from young and aspiring ‘Disney Darling’ to party scene princess to punch line. Lindsay Lohan is just another in the series of young starlets and pop divas who has had her career explode in a good way, and then her personal life implode in a bad way.
I don’t like to reverse myself as a matter of public practice, but in this case I have no choice.
On September 24, 2008, Matthew George Millen was reported to no longer hold his positions as President with the Detroit Lions. This announcement ended a reign that started with the highest of expectations and ended with the lowest demonstrated results of any pro football executive.