Let’s face it, celebrity tabloids are not known for their credibility. However, North Central College professors are here to help students distinguish between fact and fiction while reading these guilty pleasures.
The most trustworthy tabloids, according to Dr. Emily Cramer, professor of speech communication, is a blend of People magazine and The Huffington Post, which both “seem to have at least some level of ethical consideration in the news that they report,” says Cramer.
One story in particular that both publications reported on is how Bruce Jenner is undergoing the transition to become a woman, which was first reported by In Touch Weekly magazine.
“In Touch has received a ton of criticism for the way that it broke this story. Not only is it just crude by actually putting lipstick on his image, but then also some of the language (used) is really insensitive to the transgender community,” says Cramer.
In her opinion, both The Huffington Post and People magazine were much more sensitive when they reported on the same story.
“It seemed like it was grounded, at least, in some truth and I think at least People had some connection with the family,” says Cramer.
Dr. Sabryna Cornish, a professor who teaches a number of courses in media studies, says, “TMZ often gets the breaking stories about celebrities correct. But if we are talking about journalistic quality, then you have to examine the sources they use which are often not credible.”
However, there is no legal definition to what a source can be.
