New Media Is First. Old Media Has Credibility.
I couldnt go with it on air as fact. TMZ is the digital equivalent of the National Enquirer – highly sensational, ambulance chasing, eager to be first ant not always right. It’s their aggressive approach that lessens the credibility.
Even after the LA Times had confirmed his death, I still wouldn’t say it. Then MSNBC, Fox News, The New York Times all jumped on, and I was still cautious in the words I used on air.
Why was I waiting for Wolf Frickin Blitzer to confirm the story?
Maybe because I didnt want to believe it. I didnt want it to be true. I didnt want the music to be turned off. I couldnt believe a bunch of stuff I read on the internet. I needed more proof.
It was a crazy afternoon with Twitter immediately discrediting itself as a reliable and true source for information with Jeff Goldblum falls to his death in New Zealand tweets spreading seconds after Michael Jackson news broke.
New media was first on this one, yes. But it wasn’t true until old media said it was true.
I was interviewed by old media newspaper, The Province, to talk about what I did on my old media radio program yesterday afternoon.
Vancouver’s Virgin Radio said goodbye in its own way yesterday, by playing non-stop Jackson from 3 p.m.
The Rush with Buzz and K.J. opened up their airwaves to let listeners share their memories.
Among their favourite listeners’ stories was a woman who recalled posing with her E.T. doll as a child for photographs, just as Jackson had.
K.J. remembered her first trip to India to meet her cousins.
They didn’t speak the same language but they had something in common — Michael Jackson albums.
“The music was always genius,” said Buzz, noting Jackson had an influence on not just pop, but rock and hip-hop music.
“Everyone does M.J. . . . He was past his prime. His influence was felt 20 years ago, but we’re experiencing” the impact he had through other modern-day artists, said Buzz.
The Blog According to Buzz. Spread the word, ya heard?
