When News Is Entertainment Is News

The back-scenes dealing between Michael Jackson and CBs that resulted in a 60 Minutes interview and the airing of an MJ music special this week further blurs the lines between TV “news” and entertainment. “Critics regularly warn about the narrowing line between news and entertainment. Now that line is downright disappearing. The news and entertainment branches of the network are mere offshoots of much larger corporate enterprises, in this case, Viacom. News and entertainment are equally engaged in the pursuit of profits. The news division, once a special enclave with a higher calling, is now a cog in the business machine. The “divisions” are less divided than they are team players.”