Televisions across the country were tuned into news programs last Thursday as the biggest story of the week unfurled. Yet newscasters weren't discussing the Iraq War, North Korea or the 2008 presidential race -- the top story was the death of Anna Nicole Smith.
Many University students are only vaguely familiar with Smith. Born in Houston, Texas, Smith was named Playboy Playmate of the Year in 1993 and married 89-year-old billionaire J. Howard Marshall in 1994. Smith later gained notoriety for her reality program "The Anna Nicole Show," her 80-pound weight loss and her embarrassing American Music Awards Appearance. Students said they do not know much about Smith, but they knew enough to look at the television screen and laugh.
"I thought it was kind of absurd that I was flipping through the stations and it was everywhere: CNN, Fox ...," first-year College student Elizabeth Newins said. "I wondered, 'Is this worth the time?'"
Newins said there is too much celebrity gossip coverage on news programs.
"I think it's gotten worse -- it's gotten on prime time," Newins said. "What used to be political programs are now like E! News."
While many Americans are fascinated by celebrities, celebrity gossip is not often considered a source of respectable interest.
"I like to follow celebrity gossip, but I know I'm ridiculous for following it," first-year College student Shana Wrobel said.
After the divorce of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, People magazine Managing Editor Larry Hackett said, "We treat this stuff as if we're reporting on arms negotiation treaties or sports or politics. That's the way we tell a story."
Is Anna Nicole's death worthy of front-page news, in lieu of actual negotiation treaties, sports and politics? First-year College student Rowan Webster said he does not think so.
"Celebrity events should not be front-page news," Webster said. "If you want to find out about celebrity goings-on, read People or US Weekly."
He said since Smith was a "quasi-celebrity," he would expect her death to be given newspaper coverage, but not to the point of excluding "real stories." He said the United States' inflated celebrity coverage is understandable from an economic standpoint.
"America loves entertainment, and pop culture is our biggest export," Webster said.
According to political Web site ThinkProgress.org, CNN mentioned Anna Nicole Smith 522 percent more frequently than Iraq last Thursday. The Web site noted the Smith story overshadowed coverage of the sixth helicopter downing in three weeks and the deaths of four Marines.
While many students said Smith's media coverage was unnecessary, they also said it was unlikely the country's celebrity obsession would disappear.
"We have really short attention spans and pretty things hold our attention longer," Webster said. "Brad and Angelina are pretty."
Details of Smith's death remain a mystery. Photographs have emerged of Smith in bed with the immigration minister of the Bahamas, and several men are claiming to be the father of Smith's five-month-old daughter. Whether Smith's media coverage is inflated or understandable, it is most likely here to stay -- at least for a few more weeks.
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