Nearly two in three Americans believe the media went over the top with its coverage of Michael Jackson's death, according to a new poll.

A survey found 64% believe there was too much air time and column inches dedicated to the singer's demise, although half agreed news media struck the right balance between his music and private life.

Just under a third of respondents to the Pew Research Centre poll of 1,000 adults said the story received the right amount of coverage, with 3% left wanting more.

Meanwhile, journalists were beginning to brave the anger of fans by coming out against the star in a big way.

Under a headline of “Shed no tears for this twisted sicko”, the New York Post's Linda Stasi, let the late singer have it with both barrels.

Describing Jackson as a “drug-addled, creepy-beyond-words, accused pedophile who literally bought his children,” she hit out at the “madness” that has followed his death.”

“Everyone is acting as though the world has lost one of its greatest men,” she wrote adding: “The King of Pop turned into a disgustingly depraved man who hung an infant off a balcony and forced his kids to walk around with masks over their faces.”