Blogs Break the Story of Heath Ledger's Passing
The tragic death of actor Heath Ledger has drawn nationwide attention from grieving fans and friends as well as the national media. While major television networks, including ABC, CBS and NBC ran segments yesterday regarding Ledger's unfortunate passing on their nightly news broadcasts, other sources of news actually broke the story to the public. Indeed, the Internet -- specifically, viral-based New Media -- appears to be challenging the mainstream media as the primary source for coverage of rapidly developing high-profile events.
The Huffington Post reports that even though cable news programs like 'Larry King Live' ran the story, Web sites like Radar and TMZ were responsible for first informing the public of Ledger's demise. Interestingly, timing issues rendered the New York Times and celebrity publications like US Weekly unable to report the story in print. Even the mainstream media, then, relied on the real-time capabilities of blogs to publicize the story. At the same time, Web-based outlets including TMZ were streaming video from the street outside Ledger's New York apartment, and blogs such as Gawker are constantly updating their sites with new information.
It is clear that the press coverage accompanying the 28-year-old actor's death is a sign of the times and of things to come. Members of the public deeply interested in particular issues will increasingly rely on digital media for more exhaustive and timely coverage. As we all take a moment to observe Heath Ledger's passing, let us notice the ever-changing world he left behind.
From The Huffington Post
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