*UPDATE:  I’ve just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50…when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back. – TMZ.com

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Fire department paramedics who found him not breathing when they arrived at the singer’s home, the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday.

2 hours after the fact and as of 15 minutes ago, Michael Jackson’s hospitalization has taken the internet publisher scene by storm. Search Michael Jackson in Google News and you’ll see what I mean…this story has gone global in less than 2 hours minutes:

• Washington Post – Michael Jackson rushed to hospital: report
• The Australian – Michael Jackson Rushed To Hospital
• BBC News – Michael Jackson ‘in LA hospital’
• CNN – (Updated it and pronounced he is dead)

Jackson was due to start a series of comeback concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010, and has been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months. The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within hours of going on sale in March. BIG QUESTION: Where is all the money going?

How Will The Internet React?

In terms of marketing, I’m very curious to see how this story takes the internet by storm and by which mediums will more information leak out. Twitter, YouTube, Digg, Reddit, NewsVine…the list goes on. This is going to be HUGE!

According to TMZ, Celebrities are already Twittering about it:

• Lindsay Lohan: NO OMG … sending my love and prayers out to Michael and his family … i feel sick..
• Marlon Wayans: My prayers, my love, my heart goes out to michael jackson and the entire jackson family. I pray so hard for them. I’m crushed! Please pray.
• Pete Wentz: Prayers and thoughts with michael jackson … I haven’t hope in so long that news isn’t true.
• Kim Kardashian: Wow I am truly in shock that Michael Jackson has passed away! I love u Jackson family, my prayers are with the whole family!
• Ashton Kutcher: Pray for his kids.

Like I said, this is going to be HUGE! Let us now pay our respects before letting the media bastardize this tragic news.

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