For years while standing in the grocery lines I have read the bold, blunt, bruising headlines of the National Enquirer. Funny, I can't recall even once seeing anyone actually purchase a copy. I think most people just read the headlines and peak at the first two paragraphs while checking their groceries.

My, how they crucified Jesse!

I have a problem with the National Enquirer, for three reasons:

1 - People tend to believe what they read - not everything, but enough to become confused as to what's true and what isn't. I have known many people who have, from time to time, referred to the psychics and sooth-sayers to try to figure out their future. Most of the time, these folks take the predictions and advice with a grain of salt. But there always seems to be an ounce of truth (even a broken watch is right twice a day) and people put weight on it.

I am unfortunate enough to have a close relative who is a "psychic". I say it in quotes because he is actually a fraud. He has written for the various scandal sheets in the past, and continues to bilk people out of thousands of dollars. He's a very intuitive person, and knows that people will believe what they choose to believe. If he's right once in awhile, he uses it to reel in more suckers.

2 - I spent a number of years as a member of the working press, and I know what a bad reputation the press has acquired. Most journalists (I was in print media) are hard-working, ethical and honest. But perception is 90 percent of the battle, it only takes one slip-up to ruin your reputation.

The blurring between the "legitimate" working press and the scandal sheets puts us all in the same boat, and that boat is sinking. When people can no longer distinguish between truth and fiction, they become cynical and believe nothing.

3 - The "legitimizing" of the National Enquirer comes too little, too late. It made its money on sensationalism, voyeurism and on ruining people's lives. The public has lost its sense of decency. When the Jesse Jackson scandal hit, it was a legitimate story (about an illegitimate child). What earthly good did it do anyone? Did it convince people to live better lives? It exposed the underbelly of a man who is supposed to be a spiritual leader and role model. It also showed us just how far we have fallen as a society, eagerly slurping up this story as though it were a television soap opera, clucking our tongues, making excuses for the man, condemning, condoning, whatever.



Recommended: No

Describe the newspaper's political views: It is liberal