Tried By the Media

We've done our best to ignore the media's latest feeding frenzy over singer Michael Jackson -- until now, that is. The filing of nine felony counts against Jackson "was orchestrated by a Hollywood public relations company, Tellem Worldwide," reports Tim Rutten. Tellem "is providing pro bono services to the Santa Barbara prosecutors. As special correspondent Linda Deutsch and reporter Tim Molloy of Associated Press reported last week, the company's other clients include the Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. The company will be handling all media inquiries during the case." According to District Attorney Thomas Sneddon Jr., the unusually long interval between Jackson's arrest and the formal filing of charges was necessary, "so that the county could set up a Web site to release information to hundreds of news organizations following the case."