A friend, also in the newspaper industry, posted in his facebook -
How should a newspaper with resources treat Michael Jackson story in print tomorrow? Everyone will know he's dead. What unique value does your print platform bring to this story?
I texted my two children, Rach and Chris, to have a feel of how teenagers react to this news - Michael Jackson dies.
Immediately, Rach responded - When, how and why?
After a while, Chris responded - How did he die?
Both of them refer the pop King as a "pop king who molested young boys", while I choose to remember MJ as the little boy with the Afro hairdo singing "I'll Be There" with his four older brothers as part of the family group Jackson 5.
I'll be there - isn't it comforting and beautiful to tell friends that you'll be there?
And later, I got to like “Man in the Mirror" which seemed to be gospel-influenced. I like the lyrics, I wonder whether MJ looked into the mirror though.
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change...
So, what unique value my newspaper would bring to this story?
Man-child, multifaceted, confused, messy life, talented, brilliant — Michael Jackson was all of those things - the world remembers him as such!
6 comments:
I will not look upon his "errors" but rather on those artistic talents that positively distinguished him from others.. only God will judge.
A talented young man he was!! I prefer to remember him .. like you ...in his younger days. When he sang the song "ben", that image still etched in my mind.
Joepsc,
Yes, who are we to judge?
I chose to see the beautiful side of MJ. Unfortunately, teenagers like my two children are only bombarded by his lawsuits in recent years, and his plastic face!
It's a sad story - MJ.
SAHM,
Talented indeed MJ was. A lot of times, I wake up in the middle of the night asking myself - do media has a part in the fallen celebrities?
My dad in law who devoted his whole life to journalism always said - journalism is about conscience, is about integrity. At best, I want to be guided by these!
there's no other like him, that's for sure. He will be idolised and iconised for many many many years to come.
He was a victim of circumstances - a lost childhood, an abusive father... We should feel sorry for him and not crucify him for all that they said he did...and let it be a lesson to parents! Don't put too much pressure on your kids, let them live their lives and enjoy the joys of their childhood...and LOVE THEM!
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