About 2,200 journalists received press credentials to cover the Michael Jackson trial – more than the O.J. Simpson and Scott Peterson trials combined.
Major TV networks have committed dozens of staff members and some news organizations have even installed land lines, fearing that the explosion of phone calls following a verdict could jam the region’s cell phone networks.Reporters from every continent except Antarctica are covering the story, a reminder that Jackson's popularity remains intense outside the United States. News organizations from more than 30 countries are here.
"The appetite for Michael Jackson is insatiable," said Graeme Massie, who has covered the trial for Splash, a British news agency. "In the U.S., people may believe that Jackson's star has fallen, but in Europe it still shines brightly."
The case is being closely watched in Japan where they are thinking of moving to a jury system.
"People in Japan are interested in the King of Pop, but they also want to know how the jury will treat celebrities," said Wataru Ezaki, who works for a Japanese news organization in Southern California. "They want to see if jurors can be fair. It's a very unique case."
Deliberations will resume Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET).
Source: AP/CNN/eMJey