Email sent to CBS.News on 16 June 2005 after reading your article - re: Bad Evidence June 14, 2005 by CBS) Attorney Andrew Cohen analyzes legal issues for CBS News and CBSNews.com. - I am wondering if there is any honesty left in journalism. I have already posted an email about the lack of honesty in journalism, particularly in reporting the Michael Jackson trial. Unless you haven't noticed, in your polls online, the majority of people support the Not Guilty verdict, because there was NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CHARGES, and for every claim made, there was a counter-claim to dismiss that claim. Your organisation, I am sure, had a reporter in the courtroom, listening to all the evidence, so you are not ignorant of what was said. You are a news organisation, that people all around the world rely upon for the facts. YOu continue to persecute this famous man, and keep the idea alive, that he is STILL GUILTY, even after 12 people, who have nothing to gain from being on the jury, have found him NOT GUILTY. Your writing style is dishonest, and I am apalled that an organisation like CBS can dish up such devious information. When truth is presented, then the verdict is based on truth. When lies are presented, and they are not substantiated and even in some cases, shown to be nothing but lies...you have an obligation to be truthful, and tell it like it is. I am certain even more, that the media have suddenly realised that their months of campaigning to have MR Jackson imprisoned for trumped up charges, has backfired, and now they (which includes CBS) are presently engaging in trying to turn the verdict around. I would hate to think that the high tv ratings of 30 million viewers for the Jackson Verdict, would be the reason for the media's sudden surge in trying to turn the verdict around, so that the high ratings continue. I would hate to think that the media would try to make the Arviso family the victims, when it was shown how they sponged off Mr Jackson, running up enormous bills, as they lavished their snouts in luxury. Lies are only as long as a moment. The media have had their snouts in the trough of deception for so long, noone can tell if they're the good guy or the bad guy. In Michael Jackson's case, you guys are the bad guys. History will prove that to be so, and I don't doubt that in the future, documentaries and movies about this famous man, will cite your organisation as playing a part in this man's persecution. I can even visualise your future bosses, announcing at a press conference (a little like the Pope did when he apologised for the Catholic Church's past failings) announcing how sorry your organisation is/was/are for the tragic circumstances surrounding Michael Jackson. Yes, it's not hard to imagine it. Maybe you should take a look at the polls again, and ask yourself why so many people agree with the verdict, and not with your imaginative reporters. Why not do the world a favor, and actually investigate the truth of the matter, and win back some credibility. I am sure, your ratings will soar even more.

About polls: 1) They don't matter to the issue. The don't make truth. 2) The *scientific* (not on-line) polls show a minority who support the verdict. http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/06/13/jackson.poll/index.html "In the survey, 48 percent of respondents said they disagreed with the verdict, while 34 percent said they agreed with the decision." Again, as a I side verdicts are not made right, or wrong by polls. Contrary, to your suggestion, CBS should *not* change its reporting to accomodate polls. Prediction: Upon seeing an anti-MJ poll, you'll suddenly agree that polls don't matter after all. note: The "online" (non-scientific) polls you mention are silly. They vary wildly, since a devoted group can easily make them swing one way or the other. Many on-line polls show Linux and Mac as the major operating systems in use. Fringe political candidates, like Nader often do well. However, such "respondant push" polls mean even less than nothing.

um you are quoting a poll taken by CNN. I am quoting from CBS polls, and sorry but apart from one poll so far, all have supported the decision of the jury. I suggest you check out ALL THE POLLS, which incidentally, are either taken daily, or are "unscientific" according to some news sites. And polls, are an indication, that something doesn't quite stack up, with the stories being told by CBS and other organisations. If the news media are reporting the FACTS, then people would naturally vote against the verdict given, in all polls taken. I have taken a record of nearly every poll taken by the news organisations like CNN, CBS, ABC, etc...and apart from one poll that I looked at, all were in favor of the jury's decision. And yes, I agree, polls should not influence the truth. But what is the truth? What truth have the media been sharing, with us all? Go through their articles and see how they deceitfully mislead readers to come to conclusions that they have no eivdence for. All the claims made by the prosecution, were SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED, by witnesses who were able to dispute what was being said. Lies are not truth. When someone claims they were kidnapped, and it is proven that they were lying, because more than one witness was able to confirm it was a lie...then it is a lie. Frankly that is perjury - or lying under oath. And yet, I don't see the media crying foul. No. LIke everything in the Michael Jackson case, the media keeps the myth alive...even to the point of supporting known liars, like the Arvisos. They have been proven to be liars. They have admitted to being liars. And yet the media, are still trying to portray them as victims. Don't talk to me, about truth, mate. ASk the media why they aren't clamoring for justice, for Mr Jackson, after the Arvisos were shown to have lied about being kidnapped. I rest my case.

You misread my comment about the polls. I don't suggest CNN does better polls than CBS. There are two main types of polls used: 1) Web Polls - Anybody can choose to particpate. You can call all your friends and ask them to take part. One person can often vote many times. There is no "random" sample. Whole population segments can be skipped. Typically, whoever is the most fervent, wins these type of polls. 2) Scientific Polls - This is where the pollers, usually over the phone, actively go out and contact randomly selected people. The get a broad cross-section of the population by geography, gender, etc... The poller chooses the pollee. Every person has an equal chance of being contacted for such a poll, if done properly. I based my comments on the fact you said it was a poll online. You failed to include a url which would clarify what type of poll it is. Please post the url of your poll. I want to see it. People can come to their own conclusion by using google to search for polls. When looking at polls, always check the methodology. That's the key issue. If you find a poll, and it let's you click a button to vote, that poll is trash! "And polls, are an indication, that something doesn't quite stack up, ..." That's absurd. You should listen to other MJ supporters, who correctly have said that opinion polls mean nothing about facts. On that, I agree with them. If MJ was tried by polls, he would be in jail. If you support MJ, you should be encouraging people to *ignore* the opinion polls.

Even in scientific polls, the wording may be ambiguous to the respondent even if it seems clear to the researcher. We bring to our responses some background linguistic concepts that may make some poll responses in accurate. If any of us were tried by polls, even without evidence, we would likely be in jail, too because many people are cynical enough to believe someone is guilty simply because the question is raised.

Nelbrewster => "Even in scientific polls, the wording may be ambiguous to the respondent even if it seems clear to the researcher. We bring to our responses some background linguistic concepts that may make some poll responses in" I actually agree with this. All polls are flawed to some degree. Scientific polls when executed *perfectly* have a measurable error level. Other polls, even if done perfectly, have an unlimited error margin. Of course no poll is done close to perfectly. So, we should never blindly trust them. Also, even if you could do a *perfect* poll, that was exact, it still says nothing about the facts of this, or any other court case.

From the CBS Web Site http://www.cbsnews.com/poll/jacko061305/results.html "NOTE: This is not a scientific poll. The results above are for information purposes only, and should not be confused with the results of the scientific polls conducted by CBS News."

I would like to amend the above email and state that the line which reads: 'I am certain even more, that the media have suddenly realised that their months of campaigning to have MR Jackson imprisoned for trumped up charges, has backfired, and now they (which includes CBS) are presently engaging in trying to turn the verdict around.' When I originally wrote the email, I meant to say that CBS and other news organisations have led a cammpaign against Mr Jackson that raised questions about his innocence. When Mr Jackson was acquitted of molestation, people around the world were shocked, and rightfully so. Afterall, hadn't the media and the many liars and opportunists who have crawled through his doorway, painted a picture of a man that is dark, twisted and a sexual pervert? At last the truth is being told.

Aslanthebrave, you put a LOT of information in your post, which is great. But it would make for much easier reading if you could break your ideas down into seperate paragraphs. It would also be helpful to back up your point of view with a link to the article or articles you reference. I don't want to dispute your ideas, but I find it difficult to agree without backup. Very frankly, I've supported acquittal throughout most of this trial. I've read news from a variety of sources, and found some biased in favor of the prosection, and others biased in favor of the defense. In general, I've found CBS to be pretty neutral. So please send a link to the article that you feel is deceptive, devious and destructive. Let me put your mind at ease about one thing. A not guilty verdict CANNOT be overturned by a news organization (or anyone else, for that matter).

Let me put your mind at ease about one thing. A not guilty verdict CANNOT be overturned by a news organization (or anyone else, for that matter). ------------------------------------------------------ Unfortunately, this holds true only within the court system, not in the court of popular opinion which does count. We live our lives in the court of popular opinion. Should that matter? Well, many people have told me it doesn't. Get on with your life, they say but with so many people repeating false accusations over and over, you cannot get on with your life. If it is difficult for the ordinary person, with so many crazy, fame-seeking people out there, it is next to impossible for the celebrity. That is why one does not have to be a fan to feel compassion for anyone who is falsely accused!

Unfortunately, this holds true only within the court system, not in the court of popular opinion which does count. We live our lives in the court of popular opinion. Should that matter? Well, many people have told me it doesn't. Get on with your life, they say but with so many people repeating false accusations over and over, you cannot get on with your life. If it is difficult for the ordinary person, with so many crazy, fame-seeking people out there, it is next to impossible for the celebrity. That is why one does not have to be a fan to feel compassion for anyone who is falsely accused! --------------------------------------------------------- Well put Nelbrewster. For your information I recently employed a Russian born and trained engineer. I have always been impressed by this guys enthusiasm for life in this his new country. (NZ) I found out why when he told me what it was like to live under a dictatorship of fear. The guy also told me about a trick he played on his University room mate. One day he carefully printed a fake KGB card with a name and telephone number. He then wrote the following note on the back of the card: "Alex ...... I called to speak with you about something important. Can you call me immediately!" My employee then told me that his room mate went missing for two months. When he finally found him he learned a lesson about his fathers country. His room mate on reading the note on the back of the fake card, left and hid for 2 months in a forrest. That is what it was like in a country with no fair system of justice. That is what made him leave and that is why he is happy now. Hey he also thinks MJ is innocent despite the bias Media. These guys lived with that sort of crap for so long. Even in this country some media folk were making jokes and saying some evil things about MJ. At one point they were having a feeding frenzy of mockery and hate. Now many are still trying to find the guy "Not Innocent" I say send them to Russia, send the to Zimbabwe, get them a ticken to North Korea. Give them a taste of their type of justice.

Even in this country some media folk were making jokes and saying some evil things about MJ. At one point they were having a feeding frenzy of mockery and hate. Now many are still trying to find the guy "Not Innocent" I say send them to Russia, send the to Zimbabwe, get them a ticken to North Korea. Give them a taste of their type of justice. -------------------------------------------------- Yes, indded. It seems the same people who talk about fighting for our freedom, don't really value it when it counts most. Thanks for sharing this story.