Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Back to the tabloid roots

Psst, Saipan Tribune, there's something on your shoe.

Nope, it smells and it's still there.

Gossip is not news. I don't know how you can justify putting a nasty rumor about Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez on the front page. The Commonwealth won't fall if you wait for at least one source.

Press Secretary Charles Reyes was too kind when he called the "allegations and hearsay" troubling. He should have been meaner, particularly to the Tribune.

What makes a tabloid?

A short newspaper refresher: Historically, tabloids were about half of the size of the 'broadsheet' papers. Paper was cheaper and they could use smaller presses. They were scurrilous scandal mongers looking for sensational stories with little regard for the truth or the people they wrote about.

Believe it or not, modern descendants like the New York Post and the National Enquirer have actually raised their "standards" somewhat over the years. They deserve no credit, it's our legal system at work.

Tabloid means bad credibility; that's why network news shows were called tabloid when they moved into sleaze and sensationalize territory.

I've always given the local papers a pass: it's purely economics and they've had pretty good standards. (Besides, it's easier to hold a tabloid when the wind is blowing.)

But this one, and I'll throw in the reporting about Patrick Calvo, is classic tabloid journalism.

10 comments:

Bruce A. Bateman said...

I noticed that even in the seamy world of anonymous blogers, the subject was left alone by all except the cowardly punk that spammed most of the local blog sites with the tabloid style rumor in the first place.

I was aghast that a credible and professional paper would run a rumor as front page news.

Now I must admit that they covered their asses by making the story about the 'buzz' and not about the so-far unfounded accusation. It was a pretty sneaky way to sneak trash onto the front page. I was pretty disappointed.

Will UFO sightings be next?

KAP said...

Shrug, I'm not interested in rating bloggers.

A "reliable source" at a party was cited on Unheard No More!.

Not something I'd run with, though I made a couple of cursory internet searches. Personal preference that, but I expect newspapers to have rules if they expect to be taken seriously.

Buzz is not a source.

Bon said...

Nope it isn't, buzz is just noise. I'm surprised that the editor didn't forbid that piece to be printed. I suppose, like everything else here, politicking is involved. Oh well, so goes life in the Marianas. By the way, did you hear....

Lil' Hammerhead said...

All the PIO said in that report, if you read it closely.. was bolster the idea that something actually might be going on.

I do agree that "the rumor" was not suitable for the paper. Leave the "unsuitable" to my blog.. and Pork's of course.

They could have carried it in some new "Gossip" section.. "The Buzz". Their readership would blossom fourfold if they incorporated a gossip section.

Remember, that's my idea Tribune.. I expect royalties.

Lil' Hammerhead said...

"The seamy world of anonymous bloggers" :}Hahaha..

As opposed to what..

"The seamy world of Casino peddlers and snake oil salesmen"?

:}

Reccommended reading: "A Boy Called Noni: The Dark Underbelly of Blogging"

Bruce A. Bateman said...

As opposed to those with the balls to stand behind their stated convictions. As opposed to those who would try to promote new ventures in the CNMI to replace those lost to us instead of flailing their bibles.

Seamy? A perfect description of those nameless cowards constantly pandering to the lame, flag waving, naive but oh so gung ho set of 30 or 40 that bubbles around this local blogsphere.

Isn't that snake oil dribbling from around your dick filled mouth, knucklehead?

Lil' Hammerhead said...

I feel for your 30 visitors Porks. My 500+ and recent spike to 720.. are well and good.

Bruce A. Bateman said...

Yours are the same 30 or 40 repeated ceaslessly, dick licker. (With half of those probably you logging on as a nony nony)

You live in a fantasy world, knucklehead. Sad, as you are so fond of saying.

Same sad group, same sad, naive message.

Lil' Hammerhead said...

You're a sad sad man.

Bruce A. Bateman said...

And you are a sad excuse for a human being. Cowardly, a liar and duplicitous. Quite the combination.