Death of Michael Jackson

===Media and Internet coverage===
[[File:Mjackson-apache-load-spike.png|thumb|250px|[[Wikipedia]] spikes at 15:00 hrs in Los Angeles, June 25.|alt=]]
Jackson's death was first reported by the Los Angeles-based celebrity news website [[TMZ]]. Doctors at [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center]] pronounced Jackson dead at 2:26 p.m., and TMZ announced the death 18 minutes later.<ref name=Rayner/> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' confirmed the report at 2:51 p.m. PDT (5:51 p.m. EDT).<ref name="Rawlinson">Rawlinson, Linnie and Nick Hunt. [http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/index.html Jackson Dies, almost takes Internet With Him] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121063551/http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/index.html |date=November 21, 2009 }}, CNN, June 27, 2009.</ref> The news spread quickly online, causing websites to slow down and [[Crash (computing)|crash]] from user overload. TMZ and the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' suffered outages.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jackson dies, almost takes Internet with him|date=June 26, 2009|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/|last2=Hunt|first2=Nick|first1=Linnie|last1=Rawlinson|agency=CNN|access-date=March 16, 2013|archive-date=October 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022125418/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Google]] initially believed that the millions of search requests meant their [[Google Search|search engine]] was under a [[Distributed denial-of-service attack|DDoS attack]], and blocked searches related to Michael Jackson for 30 minutes. [[Twitter]] reported a crash, as did [[Wikipedia]] at 3:15 p.m. PDT (22:15 UTC).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8120324.stm|title=Web slows after Jackson's death|last=Shiels|first=Maggie|date=June 26, 2009|work=BBC News Online|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=October 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026163258/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8120324.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Wikimedia Foundation]] reported nearly a million visitors to Jackson's biography within one hour, probably the most visitors in a one-hour period to any article in Wikipedia's history up to that point.<ref>Phoebe. "[[Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2009-06-29/News and notes|The King of Pop vs. Wikipedia]]", ''The Wikipedia Signpost'', June 29, 2009; see [https://web.archive.org/web/20160125002320/http://stats.grok.se/en/200906/Michael_Jackson October 2009 stats]</ref> [[AOL Instant Messenger]] collapsed for 40 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0627/p25s09-usgn.html|title=Outpouring over Michael Jackson unlike anything since Princess Di|last=Wood|first=Daniel B.|date=June 27, 2009|newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=September 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922195855/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2009/0627/p25s09-usgn.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Around 15 percent of Twitter posts (5,000 [[wikt:tweet#Noun|tweets]] per minute) mentioned Jackson after the news broke,<ref name="crash2">{{cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/Entertainment/Internet+stretched+limit+fans+flock+Michael+Jackson+news/1736311/story.html|title=Internet stretched to limit as fans flock for Michael Jackson news|last=Skok|first=David|date=June 26, 2009|newspaper=[[The Vancouver Sun]]|archive-date=July 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703075357/http://www.vancouversun.com/Entertainment/Internet+stretched+limit+fans+flock+Michael+Jackson+news/1736311/story.html}}</ref><ref name="Wortham2">{{cite news|url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/michael-jackson-tops-the-charts-on-twitter/|title=Michael Jackson Tops the Charts on Twitter|last=Wortham|first=Jenna|date=June 25, 2009|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=May 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509013112/http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/25/michael-jackson-tops-the-charts-on-twitter/|url-status=live}}</ref> compared to the 5 percent recalled as having mentioned the [[Iranian presidential election, 2009|Iranian elections]] or the [[2009 flu pandemic|flu pandemic]] that had made headlines earlier in the year.<ref name="Wortham2" /> Overall, [[web traffic]] ranged from 11 percent to at least 20 percent higher than normal.<ref name="crash2" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10273854-93.html|title=Debate: Can the Internet handle big breaking news?|last1=Krazit|first1=Tom|date=June 26, 2009|work=[[CNET]]|last2=McCullagh|first2=Declan|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=August 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823224724/http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10273854-93.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[MTV]] and [[BET]] aired [[Marathon (media)|marathons]] of Jackson's music videos.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/the-michael-jackson-channel/|title=MTV's Jackson Marathon|last=Dtelter|first=Brian|date=June 26, 2009|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=May 31, 2015|archive-date=October 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019173151/https://archive.nytimes.com/artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/the-michael-jackson-channel/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Specials about Jackson aired on multiple television stations around the world. The British soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]'' added a last-minute scene to the June 26 episode, in which the character [[Denise Fox|Denise Johnson]] discussed the news with [[Patrick Trueman]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jacko news spreads to Eastenders|date=June 28, 2009|work=[[MSN|MSN Entertainment]]}}</ref> Magazines including ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' published commemorative editions.<ref>[http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20287787_20288156,00.html "Time Magazine to Publish Special Jackson Issue"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018223826/http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20287787_20288156,00.html |date=October 18, 2012 }}, ''People'', June 27, 2009.</ref> A scene that had featured Jackson's sister La Toya was cut from the film ''[[Brüno]]'' out of respect toward Jackson's family.<ref>Hill, Catey. [http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/06/26/2009-06-26_scene_with_michael_jackson_and_laytoya_jackson_cut_from_sacha_baron_cohens_bruno.html Scene with Michael Jackson, LaToya Jackson cut from Sacha Baron Cohen's "Bruno"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721195319/http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/06/26/2009-06-26_scene_with_michael_jackson_and_laytoya_jackson_cut_from_sacha_baron_cohens_bruno.html |date=July 21, 2009 }}, ''New York Daily News'', June 26, 2009.</ref>

According to an analysis released by the [[Global Language Monitor]] (GLM), 72 hours after his death, Jackson became the ninth-most-covered news item in global print and electronic media. For the Internet and social media, Jackson was number two, behind the [[Election of Barack Obama|election of President Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.languagemonitor.com/news/death-of-michael-jackson |title=Michael Jackson Now One of Top Stories of 21st century |work=The Global Language Monitor |date=June 29, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023034200/https://languagemonitor.com/global-english/death-of-michael-jackson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Commentators discussed Jackson's work and his "profoundly tragic figure".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldmeets.us/folha000020.shtml |title=Neverland Was Never Forever |author=João Pereira Coutinho |date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021175650/https://worldmeets.us/folha000020.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>  ''Le Figaro'' columnist Yann Moix said that although Jackson, like his [[Moonwalk (dance)|moonwalk dance move]], lived life in reverse, the world at his death shed "identical and universal tears".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000280.shtml |title=Michael Jackson: A Man Who Lived His Life in Reverse |work=World Meets |first=Yann |last=Moix |date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018220249/https://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000280.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[Pew Research Center]] survey found that two-thirds of Americans believed the coverage of Jackson's death was excessive, while 3 percent felt it was insufficient.<ref>"Most Americans believe Jackson coverage excessive" [[Pew Research Center]] July 2, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2010.</ref> In the UK, the [[BBC]] received over 700 complaints from viewers who thought his death dominated the news.<ref>Khan, Urmee. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5713187/BBC-gets-over-700-complaints-about-wall-to-wall-coverage.html BBC gets over 700 complaints about 'wall-to-wall' coverage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710211341/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5713187/BBC-gets-over-700-complaints-about-wall-to-wall-coverage.html |date=July 10, 2022 }}, ''The Daily Telegraph'', July 1, 2009.</ref> On June 29, [[Conservatism in the United States|American conservative]] commentator [[Rush Limbaugh]] said the coverage was a "horrible disgrace" and lent his support to activist-ministers Jesse Jackson and [[Al Sharpton]], who were fighting to stem the press' speculation about what caused the death.<ref>[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_062909/content/01125107.guest.html El Rushbo Supports Justice Brothers in Case of Media v. Michael Jackson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090702032137/http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_062909/content/01125107.guest.html |date=July 2, 2009 }}, ''Rushlimbaugh.com'', June 29, 2009.</ref> Other conservatives, including commentator [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]]<ref>{{cite news |title=O'Reilly provokes outrage with Jackson rant |work=[[Yahoo|Yahoo News]] |date=July 2009}}</ref> and Congressman [[Peter T. King]],<ref>[http://www.nypolitics.com/2009/07/06/congressman-peter-king-michael-jackson-is-a-pedophile-child-molester/ Congressman Peter King: Michael Jackson is a "Pedophile" "Child Molester" Video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122141419/http://www.nypolitics.com/2009/07/06/congressman-peter-king-michael-jackson-is-a-pedophile-child-molester/ |date=January 22, 2022 }}, ''NYPolitics'', accessed August 19, 2009</ref> also disapproved the receiving of the media attention about Jackson's death. Meanwhile, [[Hugo Chávez]], the [[President of Venezuela]], called the pop star's death some "lamentable news",<ref name = "AP_Chavez">[[Associated Press]] (June 26, 2009). [https://archive.today/20130104015416/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31561046/ "Fans around the world mourn Michael Jackson"]. ''[[MSNBC]]''. Retrieved April 6, 2010.</ref> but criticized [[CNN]] for covering the death more heavily than the [[2009 Honduran coup d'état|Honduran coup d'état]].<ref name = "El_Universal">''El Universal'', Mexico [http://worldmeets.us/eluniversal000038.shtml "Hugo Chavez Scolds CNN for Coverage of Michael Jackson's Death"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710211345/https://worldmeets.us/eluniversal000038.shtml |date=July 10, 2022 }}</ref><ref name = "AP_Chavez"/>

In 2009, Jackson's family paid social media marketing company uSocial.net to increase the numbers of followers on Jackson's Twitter profile.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Michael-Jacksons-Family-Planned-To-Pay-Hundreds-Of-Pounds-To-Get-People-To-Follow-Him-On-Twitter/Article/200908215357578?lpos=Business_Article_Body_Copy_Region_0 |title=Jacko Twitter Followers 'Bought For Cash' |work=[[Sky News]] |date=August 10, 2009 |access-date=March 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814165541/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Michael-Jacksons-Family-Planned-To-Pay-Hundreds-Of-Pounds-To-Get-People-To-Follow-Him-On-Twitter/Article/200908215357578?lpos=Business_Article_Body_Copy_Region_0 |archive-date=August 14, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> According to the ''[[New York Daily News]]'', uSocial was contracted to deliver 25,000 followers to the account.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/tech_guide/2009/08/10/2009-08-10_usocial_claims_to_have_worked_with_michael_jacksons_family_to_secure_over_25000_.html|title=Marketing firm uSocial claims it helped Michael Jackson's family buy over 25,000 Twitter followers|work=New York Daily News|access-date=November 27, 2015|archive-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018230213/https://www.nydailynews.com/tech_guide/2009/08/10/2009-08-10_usocial_claims_to_have_worked_with_michael_jacksons_family_to_secure_over_25000_.html|url-status=live}}</ref>