2008 Woodie Awards
To the point
Is Britney Spears' personal life newsworthy?
Issue date: 1/28/08 Section: Opinions
Misty Lester
YES
People tell me all the time how they are sick of reading about Britney Spears and her personal life. I wouldn't admit to being Spears' No. 1 fan, but I will admit I read the articles written about her nearly every time I come across them.
I grew up listening to all sorts of music, Britney Spears included. Even though she is considered to be more of a train wreck than an artist, I, for some reason, am interested in her life. However, it shouldn't take precedence over certain important issues. If all the media attention she gets was redirected to more of the same coverage I see regurgitated in the online news sources I read, I would get really bored. That's not to say some of what I read isn't important, but the majority of it, however important it may be, I find to be boring and mundane. I've noticed a disinterest and disconnect from hard news coverage by many of the people I know, which I can't help but link to the increase in soft news coverage. Reporting on celebrities' lives, namely Britney Spears, is obviously pulling in revenue for news sources, and most of the people I hear complaining about it are still reading it. So as long as it doesn't take over completely, I'm all for it.
Dana Johnson
NO
Headlines at CNN.com read this week "Spears arrives at courthouse, leaves suddenly." Headlines at the Star Tribune also read, "Britney Spears' driver's license case delayed."
The coverage of Spears' life is excessive enough in entertainment magazines, how much coverage is necessary in "prominent" news sources?
None is necessary, and these "stories" shouldn't be published. The fact is our economy is suffering from a serious recession. America is preparing for a presidential election and many other very important issues are facing Americans.
Yet, a large population of Americans have no idea what actions to take or what opinions to have on these subjects. This is because there is not enough coverage by "prominent" news sources on these subjects.
No single person deserves as much press as Spears receives except maybe the president. Even entertainment magazines are ignoring artists to cover the Spears phenomenon. A large population of America is becoming ignorant, and who's to blame? The people, or the people who decide that an inside report on Britney's court case is more important than an inside report on economic recession?
YES
People tell me all the time how they are sick of reading about Britney Spears and her personal life. I wouldn't admit to being Spears' No. 1 fan, but I will admit I read the articles written about her nearly every time I come across them.
I grew up listening to all sorts of music, Britney Spears included. Even though she is considered to be more of a train wreck than an artist, I, for some reason, am interested in her life. However, it shouldn't take precedence over certain important issues. If all the media attention she gets was redirected to more of the same coverage I see regurgitated in the online news sources I read, I would get really bored. That's not to say some of what I read isn't important, but the majority of it, however important it may be, I find to be boring and mundane. I've noticed a disinterest and disconnect from hard news coverage by many of the people I know, which I can't help but link to the increase in soft news coverage. Reporting on celebrities' lives, namely Britney Spears, is obviously pulling in revenue for news sources, and most of the people I hear complaining about it are still reading it. So as long as it doesn't take over completely, I'm all for it.
Dana Johnson
NO
Headlines at CNN.com read this week "Spears arrives at courthouse, leaves suddenly." Headlines at the Star Tribune also read, "Britney Spears' driver's license case delayed."
The coverage of Spears' life is excessive enough in entertainment magazines, how much coverage is necessary in "prominent" news sources?
None is necessary, and these "stories" shouldn't be published. The fact is our economy is suffering from a serious recession. America is preparing for a presidential election and many other very important issues are facing Americans.
Yet, a large population of Americans have no idea what actions to take or what opinions to have on these subjects. This is because there is not enough coverage by "prominent" news sources on these subjects.
No single person deserves as much press as Spears receives except maybe the president. Even entertainment magazines are ignoring artists to cover the Spears phenomenon. A large population of America is becoming ignorant, and who's to blame? The people, or the people who decide that an inside report on Britney's court case is more important than an inside report on economic recession?