Worst. Headline. Ever.

[Lowerdeck]

The Worcester (MA) Telegram and Gazette over recent years has been shrinking in quality. Like many newspapers, they are struggling with lower revenue and dwindling circulation. They were bought several years ago by the New York Times Company, which introduced more changes. Articles are written more formal, but now more for a 5th grade audience. Meanwhile, sister paper the Boston Globe supplies at least half the Sunday paper now and is extending its grip in Massachusetts for being a much superior publication.

And last Saturday, in a further sinking of the T&G's quality, we get the New York Post moment...

As a writer for a college newspaper (until I graduated a month ago) and aspiring journalist, I consider this to be an incredibly shameful issue. There are far more important things in this world than Paris Hilton violationg probation which can have the top headline of a major (legitimate) newspaper. Hilton doesn't belong in the front section whatsoever.

[tamias6]

That's American Media for you. It's all about Shock Value, Witch Hunts, and Gossip. What happens to a celeb's sex life or the lonnacy of the rich man's idiot daughter is going to grab more attention than news that really matters.

The Worcester (MA) Telegram and Gazette over recent years has been shrinking in quality. Like many newspapers, they are struggling with lower revenue and dwindling circulation. They were bought several years ago by the New York Times Company, which introduced more changes. Articles are written more formal, but now more for a 5th grade audience. Meanwhile, sister paper the Boston Globe supplies at least half the Sunday paper now and is extending its grip in Massachusetts for being a much superior publication.

And last Saturday, in a further sinking of the T&G's quality, we get the New York Post moment...

As a writer for a college newspaper (until I graduated a month ago) and aspiring journalist, I consider this to be an incredibly shameful issue. There are far more important things in this world than Paris Hilton violationg probation which can have the top headline of a major (legitimate) newspaper. Hilton doesn't belong in the front section whatsoever.

[Cadeho]

You mean... Paris Hilton is not news? YOU LIED TO ME ACCESS HOLLYWOOD!

[Charlotteman]

Interesting my partner had never even heard of Paris Hilton until this jail stuff started hitting the news. The only time I had ever heard of her was when her homemade porno film hit the web......

Besides being an heiress, why is she even famous?????

Seeing her on the headline of a newspaper made my tummy turn over.......the American people are more interested in a socialite going to jail than the people being killed in Iraq every day. It's not a pleasant thing to consider.

[tamias6]

....

Seeing her on the headline of a newspaper made my tummy turn over.......the American people are more interested in a socialite going to jail than the people being killed in Iraq every day. It's not a pleasant thing to consider.

[NCB]

Besides being an heiress, why is she even famous?????

[michaelskis]

I loved a skit on SNL where Jimmy interviewed Paris Hillton, about the Hillton in Paris. He asked if he can come and go anytime he wanted, if he could go in the back door

[Gusterfell]

I loved a skit on SNL where Jimmy interviewed Paris Hillton, about the Hillton in Paris. He asked if he can come and go anytime he wanted, if he could go in the back door

[Charlotteman]

So she's famous for being famous......Zsa Zsa Gabor used to be considered famous, simply because she was famous. However Zsa Zsa did a couple films, and was a TV game show personality here and there.

The only film I know to be associated with Paris Hilton is her homemade porno film that became public.

Whoever gave the go-ahead to put that story as the headline for the day should be immediately fired. This issue has surely hurt the newspaper's prestige. Hard to have respect for journalism that stoops that low. You expect it from the Globe, or the National Enquirer, or the Weekly World News (my personal favorite!) but from a main stream newspaper????

[Cadeho]

The first time I had ever heard of her was when the comedians were making fun of her for the porn. And I love how South Park treats her.

[Lowerdeck]

That South Park episode was great.

[Captain Worley]

The Worcester (MA) Telegram and Gazette over recent years has been shrinking in quality. Like many newspapers, they are struggling with lower revenue and dwindling circulation. They were bought several years ago by the New York Times Company, which introduced more changes. Articles are written more formal, but now more for a 5th grade audience. Meanwhile, sister paper the Boston Globe supplies at least half the Sunday paper now and is extending its grip in Massachusetts for being a much superior publication.

And last Saturday, in a further sinking of the T&G's quality, we get the New York Post moment...

As a writer for a college newspaper (until I graduated a month ago) and aspiring journalist, I consider this to be an incredibly shameful issue. There are far more important things in this world than Paris Hilton violationg probation which can have the top headline of a major (legitimate) newspaper. Hilton doesn't belong in the front section whatsoever.

[Pillsbury]

Haha. The State is a pretty decent newspaper though (usually). Anyway, at least it doesn't cover groundbreaking pieces like "Pimp My Golf Cart" like the Augusta Chronicle, where golf carts "pimped out" with spinning rims, sound systems, et al are covered as exciting news.

Paris Hilton was also in a horrible film set in England a few years ago.

[Captain Worley]

Oh, gosh, The State is horrible. If a state legislator set up a meth lab in the State House, the Greenville or Charlotte paper would break the story. The State wouldn't say anything.

Pimp my golf cart sounds pretty bad. I'm sure its nothing but an ad for that golf cart company down there (EZ-go?).

[Pillsbury]

^ Is it that bad? I had no idea. Well we've got EZ Go and Club Car, but this was an actual piece that ran in the paper by an actual journalist. Other exciting pieces include a daily "column" by a guy named Bill Kirby which consists of the dumbest topics you could ever think of, sprinkled with corny jokes, and, of course, stupid postcards sent in by Augustans on vacation: "Hey, this is John and Brenda from Augusta. We're in Orlando this week. Here is a picture of John standing beside the Hard Rock Cafe!!!" And they charge money to read this thing?

Honorable mention goes to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which covers stories about Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton on a daily basis. Want to know where Lindsey got drunk last night? Read the AJC, they'll tell you. Also, AJC is on my hate list because they cancelled their service to Augusta because of rising gas prices. Whatever. I can get the State, Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times delivered to my house, but not the local big city newspaper up the road? What a rag!!!

[Charlotteman]

^^^Gosh I must be living in the cultural dark ages---I've never heard of Lindsey Lohan either~~~

[tamias6]

With all the B.S. being pumped in all of our heads by the media, being in the cultural dark ages sounds like a good vacation on some quiet tropical island right about now.

^^^Gosh I must be living in the cultural dark ages---I've never heard of Lindsey Lohan either~~~

[Cadeho]

Is anything related to Hollywood's stars really news? Why should I care if Britney wears no underwear, drives with her kids on top of the car, and sleeps with 30 guys in one night? And so what if she Lindsay and Paris go out and party. No one has gone to a party? And what about if someone has a baby... good for them... move on!

[Captain Worley]

^ Is it that bad? I had no idea. Well we've got EZ Go and Club Car, but this was an actual piece that ran in the paper by an actual journalist. Other exciting pieces include a daily "column" by a guy named Bill Kirby which consists of the dumbest topics you could ever think of, sprinkled with corny jokes, and, of course, stupid postcards sent in by Augustans on vacation: "Hey, this is John and Brenda from Augusta. We're in Orlando this week. Here is a picture of John standing beside the Hard Rock Cafe!!!" And they charge money to read this thing?

Honorable mention goes to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which covers stories about Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton on a daily basis. Want to know where Lindsey got drunk last night? Read the AJC, they'll tell you. Also, AJC is on my hate list because they cancelled their service to Augusta because of rising gas prices. Whatever. I can get the State, Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times delivered to my house, but not the local big city newspaper up the road? What a rag!!!

[Pillsbury]

^ Haha. Now that's too funny!

^^^Gosh I must be living in the cultural dark ages---I've never heard of Lindsey Lohan either~~~

[torgo]

Is anything related to Hollywood's stars really news? Why should I care if Britney wears no underwear, drives with her kids on top of the car, and sleeps with 30 guys in one night? And so what if she Lindsay and Paris go out and party. No one has gone to a party? And what about if someone has a baby... good for them... move on!