A Different Take On Leaving Neverland

Much has been made of Dan Reed’s documentary of Michael Jackson’s alleged grooming and abuse of minors, but little of the legal ramifications and culture which the documentary and the discussion around it has reinforced has reinforced. It’s time to change the conversation.

Over recent years, with the #MeToo movement and the spate of accusations that came with it, as well as numerous accusations of child sexual exploitation and the ever-present political scandals, the ideas of trial by media and trial by public opinion have pervaded within society. The doctrine of innocent until proven guilty has been decimated, and, though this shouldn’t have any impact on the judiciary, that could soon change.

Trial by public opinion has been particularly important during the recent revival of the Michael Jackson saga. There are, naturally, a range of views, and these have manifested themselves in sophisticated propaganda campaigns.

This became especially apparent when an advertisement appeared on a red London bus declaring the late singer’s innocence, which was ridiculed as a result of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s ban on fast food adverts on buses in the capital.

Public opinion, though, is mostly relevant when it translates into a media presence, though, because this is where it becomes influential. There are two different ways in which public opinion can be expressed through the media: social media posts, or traditional media formats — even if this is a YouTube video, rather than a TV show.

Social media fuels a toxic and polarised conversation. TV and traditional formats attempt, by and large, to inform the conversation, but often fail due to two things. Firstly, these formats encourage verdicts and judgements, creating the problems associated with these formats. Secondly, people involved with these debates and discussions will often fail to understand key concepts, or otherwise misinform the public.

This has also been clearly evident during the public discussion resulting from the Madeleine McCann documentary, and it is perhaps here more alarming. This is a case which is…

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