Wacko’s passing prompts media madness

Okay I know it's easy and I know it's sooo obvious but I need my own form of closure and I promise to be brief.

Michael Jackson - the media aftermath of his death was probably the most spectacular for any celebrity death to date. And it’s not over yet! The bandwagon will rumble on for some time as reporters - professional and amateur - look for new lines and rumour to fuel the still smouldering fires.

The reason Michael Jackson’s death was the biggest news event - ever - was because it was the most high profile we have had since the dawn of serious internet social networking and the explosion of news content online and on TV.

Having digested about as much of this as I can take over recent days I have to ask the question, as I’m sure many others will be doing, ‘have we completely lost our sense of proportion?’

As a young journalist I was told never to use the word ‘disaster’ unless at least 50 people had lost their lives, and ‘tragedy’ should be reserved for much higher body count.

Some of the crazy copy we have seen being used to describe Michael Jackson and his passing leaves little in reserve for more worthy recipients when they slip away. At this rate we are going to need to invent some new words. I mean, what happens when Cliff Richard dies?

Jez