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A homeschooling mother of one teenager and a little. In 2001, I resigned from my 13 year position as a case manager to homeschool my oldest who was a preschooler at the time, and later a daughter who came along in 2005. This is by far the hardest job I've ever loved. My husband of nearly 20 years supports us as a fire fighter and EMT.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Tabloid Valley: Supermarket News and American Culture

My aunt is the author of this book, and it has gotten a good review at Amazon...thought I'd give her a shout out.

Tabloid Valley: Supermarket News and American Culture by Paula E. Morton, University Florida Press.

Product Description from Amazon:

"With sensational headlines and scandalous photos, supermarket tabloids dish out the dirt on everyone and everything from space aliens and Bat Boy to Elvis and Britney. Although they were once the pariah of traditional journalism, tabloids have gained credibility in recent years and today their lurid style - and sometimes their reportage - is even imitated by mainstream news outlets. In "Tabloid Valley", Paula Morton explores the cultural impact of the sensationalist press over the years, focusing on Generoso Pope Jr.'s decision in 1971 to move the editorial offices of the National Enquirer from New Jersey to Florida. This bold step initiated a mass exodus of similar publications to the Sunshine State where six of the largest circulation weeklies - the "Star", the "Globe", the "Weekly World News", the "Sun", the "National Examiner", and the "Enquirer" - were eventually consolidated under a single owner, American Media, Inc. Florida's favorable business climate and a booming southern frontier created the perfect environment for the tabloids and their writers to flourish. Morton goes behind the scenes to examine every facet of modern yellow journalism: what headlines sell and why, how the journalists gather the news, the recent and ongoing downturn in circulation, what the tabloids are doing to maintain their foothold, and, most important, what the tabloid news says about American culture. This title presents the truth behind supermarket tabloids."

3 comments:

Lola said...

But how often does the 'regular' news smatter of that smarmyness?

Probably too much.

BTW, I watched Farrah's Story, and she basically called for people to not pick it up. Lies Lies Lies. So now, I try not to even read the covers at the checkout.

I might actually read this book. I

Alexandra said...

I should get it as well. I've not read it yet!

Elizabeth G. said...

I'd like to read this book. It is on a subject about which I think a lot.