Facts, Fallacies and Fears of TABLOIDIZATION

"Mainstream journalists should not "emulate the seedier tabloid tactics," Kurtz admonished in a March, 1999, column. The only thing Kurtz and Steyn agreed on is that tabloids did a better job covering the O.J. Simpson trials than the mainstream press.

I agree that tabloid news should never interfere with - or considered as - news with journalistic integrity and so I'm like many others, that when I hear The National Enquirer got it right, I am disappointed - when I shouldn't be. The truth should be valued and celebrated. It's when the tabloids are too busy spreading rumors and sensationalizing juicy stories that we shouldn't give them any credit for.

With that said, tabloids - in my opinion - shouldn't be held responsible or taken seriously on a daily basis. If anything, their rumors, speculations and research can - and should - be used by other, serious journalists as grounds for further investigation. That's the only time I can think of this sort of information coming in handy. And not the stories about Lindsey Lohan being a lesbian or Britney Spears going to rehab.
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An interesting side note: The other day, an article written by Steve Friess for the New York Times titled, "The Final O.J. Story for Dominick Dunne" accompanies the idea behind sensation in the media. However, in this case, it's from the inside - out. Usually, subjects - like celebrities - are attempting to avoid tabloids exploiting their stories for sale.

Not Dominick Dunne. He was honest about his disappointment when his latest O.J. Simpson trial wasn't slapped across every newspaper and TV screen. I guess he got a little too used to the idea during his murder case - and now, a few stolen figurines just isn't as juicy. Ironically enough, Dunne is retiring after this case.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/fashion/21dunne.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=O.J.&st=cse&oref=slogin