Miami Student

Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: OpEd Page

I could tell you the names of Chicago City Council members, who Joey "The Clown" Lombardo is and the latest job-rigging accusation against Mayor Richard Daley.

I could tell you my take on big box companies moving into the Windy City and how Chicago still needs a police superintendent.

And if you catch me on a good day, I might even be able to rattle off some facts about this season's Chicago Bears.

But-much to my dismay-I could also tell you precisely what happened the evening Lindsay Lohan was arrested.

I could tell you the latest "The View" gossip and how Rosie O'Donnell oddly-and a bit disturbingly-posts poems on her blog. I could explain how tmz.com has some valued journalistic practices and how glorious Eva Longoria looked at her wedding.

This summer, I was sucked into the celebrity world, in all of its
trashiness.

Please forgive me.

I interned this summer at RedEye, a division of the Chicago Tribune. It's a free, daily newspaper for commuters in the city-geared toward 20- and 30-somethings-and pushes the envelope of what is traditionally considered journalism. It was a fun, lively newsroom and I was given assignments just like any other reporter. I had some wonderful experiences, from watching a television show filming to speaking with the organizer for Chicago's Pride Parade-all while honing in on my writing skills. It was a journalism student's dream internship.

And I also learned an obnoxious amount of celebrity gossip.

The back page of RedEye-called the RedHots-is a smattering of celeb news. It's a favorite for readers and the newsroom will pick the juiciest, most scandalous tidbits to highlight. Think arrests, allegations, and child custody battles. Think People magazine, US Weekly and In Touch. Think music, movies and the newest reality TV show. It was everything that I disdained.

I have always hated celebrity news. When my mom and my sister would sit and watch reality TV shows, I would scurry off and read my Barack Obama book. When my friends would pick up People magazine, I would opt for Time. When the girls down the hall would be watching "America's Next Top Model," I would switch over to CNN.

I would recoil at even the mention of Paris Hilton-to me she epitomizes all that is wrong with America.

The idea of Americans gushing over what Britney Spears did last weekend, instead of discussing politics or even the latest movie, made me sick. If the stars had the aura of Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly, I wouldn't feel such a disdain.

Continued...

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