The Public Interest V. The Public's Interest

[andy-hughes]

Is the fact that Megan Markle has spent the night with Prince Harry at Kensington Palace really 'front page news'?

Is it in fact 'news' at all?

Where does the line between something that actually merits front-page national newspaper coverage, and something that cannot be seen as anything but 'celebrity' gossip lie?

[Zacs-Master]

I think your asking the wrong question. Isn't the question; 'Why do stories like this sell newspapers' because they still clearly do.

[jackthehat]

Things that interest the public are not the same as things that are in the public interest.

Apparently, *we* want to read this stuff and so the papers keep on printing it.....at least that's the justification regularly trotted out.

[andy-hughes]

It is an interesting aspect of our modern culture, that nonsense and bare-faced lies about 'celebrities' fund an entire empire of magazines and websites.

I am unsure whether people read them because they are there, or they are there because people read them.

[naomi24]

Well someone must be interested in these stories. You've started three threads on the saga.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - I freely admit that I am interested, because popular culture interests me, but I do not buy The Sun, so I am curious about the interest to people who do.

[naomi24]

I imagine popular culture interests them too.

[Zacs-Master]

Andy, the fact that 'nonsense and bare-faced lies about 'celebrities' fund an entire empire of magazines and websites' is worrying. Many of these people have a vote and can influence democracy. I wonder how many voted 'leave'?

[naomi24]

^Or Remain?

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - //I imagine popular culture interests them too.//

I'm not sure I'd put it at a 'culture' level - titillation is probably nearer the mark.

[naomi24]

andy-hughes, that's your assumption.

[Zacs-Master]

define popular culture?

[aelmpvw]

where is the evidence that non-news stories like this sell newspapers in this day and age? i'd be astonished if it were true

[andy-hughes]

aelmpvw - The clue is the placing of the story, and the text of the headline -

if you don't want casual or even non-readers to be drawn in by your major story, you don't splash it on your front page.

They did - because they do - because it sells newspapers.

[Zacs-Master]

If it weren't true they wouldn't continue to do it. Much of a newsapaper's income comes from advertisers. If those advertisers felt that headlines weren't bringing in readers, they'd soon stop.

[aelmpvw]

i don't know anyone who would buy a newspaper just to find out the latest gossip, they'd just google it

[youngmafbog]

Personally I dont care but clearly millions do and it sells the papers.

If it didnt they would not do it.

[agchristie]

> Is the fact that Megan Markle has spent the night with Prince Harry at Kensington Palace really 'front page news'?

Possibly, if it was an undercover exclusive? :o)

[ToraToraTora]

unfortunately Andy, it's the same reasons people watch soaps, their lives must be so dull that this sort of thing interests them.

[hereIam]

^ Cheeky git !!

[Baldric]

I think Andy is just plain jealous of Prince Harry.
;o)