How we hear about things today

Where were you when you heard that X had died? For "X" there, you can insert Elvis Presley, Lady Diana, Kurt Cobain, Pope John Paul II, Marilyn Monroe, Sid Vicious, Janis Joplin, Che Guevara, Heath Ledger or Michael Jackson — to name but ten famous people whose deaths shocked millions of people around the world. Did a colleague tell you? Did a friend call you? Was the radio on in the background when the announcer suddenly said, "And here's some breaking news. According to Reuters, the death has taken place of..."

Actually, I should say that the better verb to use these days might be "see" or "read" instead of "hear", because most people learn about dramatic events now from television or the internet instead of the radio. I was online on Thursday night when I got a Google Alert saying that Michael Jackson had been taken to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. After that, I began listening to the radio —  to KCRW, a station that broadcasts at 89.9 FM across Los Angeles and online to the world. The coverage of the tragic story was superb, and if you're a fan, KCRW's Remembering Michael Jackson page is well worth a look and listen.

While I'm at it, I should add that KCRW is also one of the world's most important independent music radio stations. In July 1993, an unknown singer named Beck appeared on its "Morning Becomes Eclectic" show. Since then, the station has become essential listening for everyone interested in new artists. But if you prefer talk to music, I can recommend Marc Porter Zasada and his thoughts on life in Los Angeles. You can really hear the city living and breathing when he speaks.