Michael Jackson Again drives Media Narrative

In a week when the U.S. withdrew in Iraq and attacked in Afghanistan, when the governor of California declared an economic emergency and the governor of Alaska stepped down, it was Michael Jackson who drove the news agenda. The dominant story ever since he died on June 25, the fascination with Jackson's life and death filled 17% of the newshole from June 29-July 5, according to the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism. That narrative was driven by several storylines. While part of the coverage continued to focus on his legacy as an entertainer and his still vibrant fan base, more ominous strains emerged including growing questions about whether drugs played a role in his death and the prospect of a legal wrangle over his estate and children.