Was he as famous as the Duke of Wellington?

There has been some debate about how much time a show like Channel 4 News should devote to a story like the death of Michael Jackson.

Both in the newsroom and, I imagine, among our viewers too. Is it really “our” kind of story? Is it really a lead story – night after night? Can it possibly be right that we currently have a bigger team in LA than we had in Tehran for the election? (But do remember you don’t need to get visas from a repressive government to enter Hollywood.) read more

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I dropped my son off at school this morning and all the eight-year-olds were talking about in the playground was the death of the 50-year-old King of Pop.

Last night I stayed up late to watch the curtain fall on Michael Jackson with fascination and bewilderment, largely because of the tiny walk-on part I played in his final tragic act.

I first hit the Jackson trail when he was arrested on the charges of child abuse which now cast a long shadow over his memory. Our editor had asked us to talk to the black community in South Central Los Angeles about the rise and fall of the superstar.

But my abiding memory is driving around the city with the car windows wound down and listening to Jackson’s Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough and rediscovering how fabulous his music was. read more

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Eddy Cochran, Jimi Hendrix, Lennon – death has only sanctified their contribution to rock music. Now Michael Jackson, presumably the most commercially successful musician of all time. Great far beyond his exuberant, mesmeric performance, but in his composition too.

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What is it about Wacko Jacko? Odd from the outset. I mean, Neverland, that fascination with children and with in some way returning to childhood…

Michael Jackson has been a persistent enigma, not least because both his performance and his music are exceptional – or certainly were.

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