Michael Jackson coverage - TMZ says he's dead, nobody else does

[write then drink]

been at least 30 minutes since TMZ reported Michael Jackson died

did they jump the gun?

or did they beat everybody?

is anybody else reporting MJ's death?

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

TMZ is usually right on with this stuff.

 

[steveu]

Put it this way, they're either gonna look like fools or geniuses.

 

[sportschick]

I think E! has it as well.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

TMZ can take chances the networks can't.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

And now Wolf says "Multiple CNN sources report Jackson is in coma."

CNBC crediting LA Times for a death report.

 

[SouthernStyle]

AP, FOX News and L.A. Times now confirming death. Looks like TMZ whipped everyone.

 

[SF_Express]

Two things:

1) TMZ breaks a lot of things before anybody else these days, in the athlete/entertainer realm. On a lesser note, for example, they had MMA star Rampage Jackson's car chase and related events ahead of the curve. They DEFINITELY broke the story of the young Angel pitcher being killed in the car crash earlier this spring.

2) From my experience -- the reason I know about this is I somehow got on some kind of breaking TMZ e-mail alert list because of some sports story a while back -- they might be out on a limb with some gossip deal. But when it comes to something serious, if they've broken it, it has been right. They haven't, to be blunt, gotten a death wrong.

They're a gossip site, but they're extremely well connected, and you have to give the devil its due.

 

[HejiraHenry]

or did they beat everybody?

They, um, beat it.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Amazing fact: The hospital managed to keep Jackson's death secret for two and a half hours. Reports now say he was pronounced dead at 1:07 Pacific.

 

[schiezainc]

That's pretty good actually.

 

[mustangj17]

Amazing fact: The hospital managed to keep Jackson's death secret for two and a half hours. Reports now say he was pronounced dead at 1:07 Pacific.

With cardiac arrest you could be dead and brought back to life, or even a coma for a significant amount of time

 

[mediaguy]

Is the 1:07 time correct? I'd heard like 2:25 PT earlier tonight ...

 

[bagelchick]

I think obviously TMZ has someone in the hospital who fed them the info. I have to give them credit for having it, however. And they had it for a long time before anyone else did. It was fascinating to watch the whole thing unfold.

Also, this is one of those instances where the news is big enough that people will save the newspaper. I know I will.

 

[anonymousprick]

SF basically said everything I was going to say here. TMZ is rock solid on breaking celeb news.

 

[write then drink]

I wonder if TMZ has a paid contact in every major LA & Manhattan hospital.

 

[schiezainc]

If they do, they got their money's worth today.

 

[Cadet]

I wonder if TMZ has a paid contact in every major LA & Manhattan hospital.

Without a doubt. And UCLA hospital has had problems with celebrity info leaks in the past. I believe that's the hospital that had to discipline a bunch of people after a Britney Spears meltdown.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

tmz reported the story at 5:20 eastern. did they ever say what time he passed for certain?

 

[Mizzougrad96]

There's a reason why newspapers are folding and sites like TMZ bring in millions and millions.