Michael Jackson (AP file)
An Austin-based think tank
Global Language Monitor ranks the story of
Michael Jackson's death at No. 2 on the internet for the biggest stories of the century, behind
President Obama's election.
The story is at No. 9 on the "Mainstream Media Ranking."
The group analyzes and catalogues the latest trends in word usage and word choices, and their impact on the various aspects of culture, with a particular emphasis upon Global English.
GLM reports that in the 48 hours after his death, Jackson jumped to the No. 9 spot for the global print and electronic media. For Internet, blogs and social media, Jackson jumped to the No.2, only trailing the election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States.
The results showed the growing disparity between the mainstream global media, and what is playing out for news on the Internet, and beyond, the group claims.
The citations for Michael Jackson in the Mainstream Media numbered in the thousands; his citations on the Internet, and beyond numbered in the millions.
Citations for the election of Barack Obama are five times greater than that of No. 2, Michael Jackson. In turn, the death of Michael Jackson is cited more than double than those for the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003.
Mainstream Global Media
Rank Story Year
1 Obama 2008
2 Hurricane Katrina 2005
3 Financial Tsunami 2008
4 Iraq War 2003
5 9/11 Terrorist Attacks 2001
6 Beijing Olympics 2008
7 Pope John Paul II 2005
8. S. Asian Tsunami 2005
9. Michael Jackson 2009
Internet, Blogs & Social Media
Rank Story Year
1. Obama 2008
2. Michael Jackson 2009
3. Iraq War 2003
4. Beijing Olympics 2008
5. Financial Tsunami 2008
6. Hurricane Katrina 2005
7. Pope John Paul II 2005
8. 9/11 Terrorist Attacks 2001
9. S. Asian Tsunami 2005
