The world’s biggest pop star Michael Jackson died 17 years ago on June 25 and nearly 20 years later, he’s still a pop culture icon. Despite his enduring career, allegations of child molestation dogged him.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney at the time Tom Sneddon charged Jackson with child molestation and the 12-week trial erupted into a circus of media and fans everyday outside of the courthouse.
Netflix earlier this month debuted “Michael Jackson: The Verdict,” a three-part documentary on the case. The Santa Barbara News-Press covered the trial daily at the reporter in the courtroom was former News-Press courts reporter Dawn Hobbs.
In the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina, Hobbs breaks down the trial, the moment she “locked eyes” with Jackson, and her experience reporting on the pop star.
Hobbs talks about her scoops, how she was hired by NBC to analyze the case, how her name became the face of coverage in Santa Barbara County.
Later on in the podcast, Hobbs talks about her career, how she got her start, her love for crime reporting, and her union fight against the former owners of the News-Press.
Hobb’s an award-winning journalist who worked at the Los Angeles Times before joining the News-Press.
Joshua Molina is a longtime journalist and college instructor who creates dynamic conversations with people on the topics of housing, culture, education, media and business. He teaches at Santa Barbara City College, and is a former reporter and editor at Noozhawk and the San Jose Mercury News. Visit Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina on YouTube.
