After the sudden passing of Michael Jackson, the Internet exploded with 24/7 coverage of every aspect of the pop star's life and death. We - and the rest of the media - followed the developing story of his children's custody arrangement, the impact his death had on his fans and colleagues, the emerging picture of Jackson's deteriorating health, and every other possible angle. But has the coverage delved too deep?
Some say yes. British tabloid OK! chose to run a cover photo of Michael Jackson, which they purchased for a reputed $500,000, that showed the King of Pop either already dead or dying.
Michael Jackson starred as the Scarecrow in the 1978 film 'The Wiz.'
Tom Zimberoff, Getty Images
Oprah Winfrey interviewed Jackson in February of 1993.
AP
Time showed off an Andy Warhol portrait on a 1984 cover at the height of his 'Thriller' popularity.
Time & Life Pictures / Getty Images
Michael Jackson is photographed with Brooke Shields in 1988.
Ron Galella, WireImage
Michael Jackson hit the court with Michael Jordan during the video shoot for 'Jam' in 1992.
FOX / AP
Jackson attends a Pepsi press conference on February 3, 1992. Jackson accepted the largest individual sponsorship deal in history from Pepsi-Cola in 1983.
Steve Allen, Liaison / Getty Images
Jackson performs during the halftime show at the Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena in 1993. The halftime show was a ratings smash.
Rusty Kennedy, AP
Jackson and his wife Lisa Marie Presley kiss on the stage of Radio City Music Hall at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. "And they said he wouldn't last," Jackson joked.
AFP / Getty Images
Wearing a black surgical mask, Jackson arrives with companion Debbie Rowe, mother to two of his children, at a performance of the play "Sisterella" in 1996.
Chris Pizzello, AP
Michael Jackson with baby son Prince and mother Debbie Rowe on cover of OK! Magazine in 1997.
Sarah Ivens, OK!'s editorial director, defended publisher Richard Desmond's choice to use the shocking image, saying, "It's a photo that captures the surprise and the upset and the moment of this breaking news story. I hope the cover will provoke readers. It celebrated the man, but it also does expose that he was an eccentric character who lived a very controversial life."
The magazine's staff was less certain about the choice, according to Gawker, and they're not alone. An editorial in the Vancuover Sun questions the judgment "of whoever decided this photo should be flaunted on every grocery store checkout line in the U.S. and U.K."
According to the Pew Research Center, graphic imagery of Michael Jackson isn't the only thing rubbing people the wrong way - it's the amount of coverage itself. 64% of Americans polled felt that news organizations provided too much coverage, while only 29% were pleased with the level of reporting (and a nearly nonexistent segment of Americans felt the coverage was insufficient).
When the polls questioned the actual content of the coverage, 26% of respondents said there was too much focus on the scandals and personal problems in Jackson's life - while 11% said the coverage focused too much on Jackson's successful musical career. Shortly after his death, PopEater asked readers what they would remember the most about the late King of Pop -- his solo career, his time with The Jackson 5 or his controversies? With over 472K votes cast, 55% said his solo career, while 31% said they would primarily remember his troubled life.
In a separate study by the Pew Research Center, it was determined that coverage of Michael Jackson's death in the last week actually matched the level of reporting on the violent aftermath of the elections in Iran. However, in the 24 hours following Jackson's death, his story eclipsed all others, taking up an astonishing 60% of all news coverage in the United States.
