Friday, November 21, 2008

Celebrity "journalism"?

Or further adventures in the oxymoronic.

On which I don't even know where to begin. Read this NYT piece on the manipulation of the celebrity press by Brangelina's female half.

* Sources dictating the way they are covered -- and assuming they have the right to do so?

* Magazines paying for the privilege?

* Media companies throwing out serious cash for staged celebrity photos with one hand -- and laying off real journalists with the other?

Really?!

None of this comes as a surprise. But yet. Read it and weep. Then trade in your subscription to People for a newspaper or magazine that could use your support. bk

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh great. thanks for making me feel even guiltier about my guilty pleasure (*cough* people magazine *cough*). but i also subscribe to newsweek!

Anonymous said...

It seems that celebrities are able to form their identity the media gives them by selling major magazines information the public truly wants. Major magazines are buying pictures and going along with what the celebrities want because they know they will be able to make a large profit from the pictures they receive. If journalists only focus on the good things celebrities are doing the public is not truly informed and they are not truly portrayed. With all of that said, it is interesting to see how Ms. Jolie has played her the media in forming her identity.

A. Robinson

Anonymous said...

It seems that celebrities are able to form their identity the media gives them by selling major magazines information the public truly wants. Major magazines are buying pictures and going along with what the celebrities want because they know they will be able to make a large profit from the pictures they receive. If journalists only focus on the good things celebrities are doing the public is not truly informed and they are not truly portrayed. With all of that said, it is interesting to see how Ms. Jolie has played her the media in forming her identity.

A. Robinson

Anonymous said...

I have to say that I definitely take the time to follow Brad and Angelina. I know it's kind of sad, but I like hearing about great things celebrities do, and try to clear away from all the negative gossips. I don't read People, or other tabloid magazines,so I guess that I would rather hear from New York Times about their life.