…Tabloids are a Waste of Paper
1. Tabloid journalism’s sordid reputation is a mark on journalistic integrity. Who comes up with the crap that is peddled on the pages of these rags? The often aggressive and usually mean-spirited tactics to sell newspapers fall well blow acceptable standards for any media outlet with a moral compass. Fantastical, yes. Newsworthy, no.
2. While it is easy to scan headlines while in line at the supermarket, how much value to one’s life does tabloid news add? Do we really need to know what depraved behaviour some b-list celebrity has demonstrated? Yes, Brittney’s life is a disaster right now, but do you really need to know about it? If you want to be entertained, there are much better forms to occupy your time. Read a book. Watch an interesting movie. Comment on a blog. Talk to your neighbour.
3. The tabloid industry profits from our inherent curiosity about people who don’t really want to be stalked, followed or violated. Turn the tables and ask if they would read about you. Even though your life is most likely interesting in many respects, my guess is that they wouldn’t As noted here, save your money and go do something that will make people care more about you and less about Brangelina.
4. Think of the volume of paper that is consumed for the production of tabloid news. If we really must have such sensationalist news outlets, make it all web-based and save a few trees.
5. As noted by Slate, citing a survey by the Pew Research Center, no matter how accurate tabloids may become, readers and non-readers will never forgive them for their dubious past. Couple this with declining circulation numbers similar to broader newsprint media and you have to wonder whether it is really worth the effort.
