July 8, 2029—CNN.com announced yesterday that, after two decades of non-stop coverage, it will cease daily Web TV reports about the late pop icon Michael Jackson.
“It’s been 20 years since his death, and we’ve milked everything out of his demise that we possibly can,” said CNN.com President Wolf Blitzer. “It saddens me to say it, but it’s time to move on to coverage of other celebrity scandals and deaths.”
CNN.com is the second major media outlet this year to shut down its Michael Jackson coverage. NBCNews.com in March said it would cease all Jackson stories following a special June 25 program commemorating the 20th anniversary of his death.
Blitzer said CNN decided to wait to close down its Jackson coverage until after yesterday’s special program marking the 20th anniversary of the singer’s memorial service in Los Angeles, and another special marking the 20-year anniversary of anchor Anderson Cooper’s interview with Jackson’s chimp, Bubbles. Those shows remain available for download in the CNN archives.
CNN.com said it will start layoffs of all reporters assigned to the Michael Jackson beat beginning immediately.
. at 1:32 pm |
Oh damn, I thought this was going to last at least another 30 years to make it one year of coverage for every year of his life!!! Say it ain’t so!
. at 4:36 pm |
Brilliant.
. at 8:50 pm |
Thanks, Mark.
. at 12:54 am |
Michael Jackson is DEAD??
Stumbled.
. at 3:46 pm |
Thank you. Now I have something to look forward to. (And I can celebrate the anniversary of the official death of Anderson Cooper as a semi-journalist.)