When News Events Compete for the Headlines

Another memory that will stay with me when I reminisce in the future about Michael Jackson's death is  the death of Farrah Fawcett, which occurred earlier the same day (she got about 12 hours of full attention before the news about MJ broke). And although it appeared her passing would be marginalized it may actually turn out that it will become even more memorable as it will be linked by many to MJ's death.

Farrah's death is just one instance of a high-profile event occurring during the same news cycle and competing for top-billing in the headlines. Here are three other examples I remember:

The Ayatollah Khomeini died the same day that the student rebellion was crushed at Tiananmen Square (June 4, 1989). It was Sunday afternoon and I was watching the tanks advance on the students when CBS' Dan Rather mentioned the Ayatollah's death almost in passing. (I'm sure it got more attention in Tehran.)

Mother Teresa died during the week of worldwide mourning for Princess Diana  in the first week of September 1997.  (However, being the humble servant that she was,  I'm sure she was happy not be be the center of attention.)

Frank Sinatra died the same day as the final episode of Seinfeld, on May 14, 1998 (which also happened to be my birthday).  Since his death was reported that evening Sinatra was able to get the benefit of the next day's news cycle (although there was  plenty of discussion about Seinfeld's unsatisfying conclusion for the next few days.)

(And as American history buffs know, former presidents and Declaration of Independence signees Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the very same day, July 4, 1826.)

Comments

[Nina]

Another example is related to your 1st blog - JFK's assassination. Authors Aldous Huxley (Brave New World) and C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Nardia) both died on that day, but their deaths were overshadowed by the events of the day.