Saturday Sound Off: Good Money After Bad

_{*Saturday’s Sound Off is an open venue for speaking out on issues related to books, book publishing, magazines, etc.  The plan is that there will be no regular, sole contributor, but that this column space will serve as an online speakers’ corner, providing a platform for people passionate about books with something to say.}

Good Money After Bad by Sandra Ruttan

It’s been widely reported, in sources as reputable as The New York Times, that People Magazine paid ‘Brangelina’ $18 million for photos of their twins.

I guess a lot of people care so much about twins that they’ll trip over untied shoelaces in a mad dash to the supermarket to plunk down $3.99 to oooh and ahhhh over some glossy pics of babies.

Babies who haven’t proven string theory, cured Alzheimer’s, proven themselves musical savants or been born with two heads.  No, their only claim to fame is that their parents are movie stars, who committed adultery and gave gossip mags a lot of material to write about.

At $3.99 do you have any idea how many people have to buy a copy of that issue just to pay for those photos?  4,511,278.  And let’s not forget that there are actually other legitimate expenses, such as paper, ink, staff, to cover.

I think that’s a hell of a lot of people buying pictures of unremarkable kids.

It is the way of the world, isn’t it?  We’ve all seen the stories, heard the tidbits of gossip about celebrities.  I remember during the election cycle that one commentator said Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears were loving it as much as CNN because they weren’t plastered all over the front pages every day for a change.

Now, I will pick up People from time to time.  I bought the issue with the Elizabeth Smart interview, because that’s a compelling human interest story.  I bought the issue following Obama’s win, because it marks an historic event – just like I have the issue following the death of Diana, and 9/11.  I think full disclosure is necessary for it to be clear I’m not trying to pick on them unreasonably, but today I find myself wondering if I should ever buy an issue again.  Here’s why:

Reports that People magazine handed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie US $18 million for exclusive photos of the couple’s twins is a troubling example of a growing trend in journalism, one expert warns.

The deal, which was reported by The New York Times, also included promises to portray the couple in a positive way and to give the celebrity pair a say in the article’s editorial content.

Part of the deal was that the magazine abstain from using the “Brangelina” moniker, which annoys the couple, the Times reported.

While People has denied the report, Concordia University journalism professor Linda Kay said such deals are becoming increasingly common.

“It is a trend and it’s already starting to happen in other areas, not just celebrity journalism,” she said, adding that paying for interviews could erode public trust in unbiased reporting.

In my experience, if someone’s on the scene of breaking news and captures it on video, you buy the video.  If they snapped photos, you buy the photos.  Fair, because the person provided a service.

But buying the right to tell a story?  That used to be what we called a book deal.

If there’s any part of you that thinks it’s (shrug your shoulders) standard business to pay $18 million for photos of babies, who thinks it’s understandable that in these tough economic times millions upon millions would shell out money to see the snaps, then I’m guessing you’d argue that paying for entertainment is necessary as a diversion from the stress of the times.  $67 million for Quantum of Solace’s opening weekend.  Madagascar 2 has taken in over $100 million to date, in just a few short weeks.

And you know what?  I understand.  I like diversions from stress as much as anyone, so that’s why I’m challenging you to go and spend some money on something worthy, something lasting, this Christmas.

Buy a book.

Seriously.  In a few years Angie won’t look as good, and her and Brad will be sleeping with different people anyway.  I guess tabloids will write about how screwed up their kids are, but will any of us care by then?  Maybe yes, maybe no, but how many will be pulling out that issue of People to re-read the stories, look at the photos, or lend it to friends even a year from now?  That movie you shelled out money to see?  You can’t watch it a second time in your mind’s eye.  It’s two hours of entertainment that you paid for, but fades, until you spend more to buy the DVD with the extra scenes and commentaries that, if you’re like me, you never watch anyway.

So, go spend some money on something with substance.  Something that will last.  Something that engages you and entertains for hours on end.

Got Christmas presents to pick out?  Buy a book.  Next time you think about spending $3.99 on photos of some actor’s kids at least buy a book too.

It’s an investment.  It has resale value, and you can lend it to friends.

I don’t usually get so riled up about magazines squandering money that I write about it.  The thing is, this article at ctv.ca came the same day as an e-mail from a friend, who blogged yesterday about the book industry.

…we are living in desperate times, and they call for desperate measures. Surely you’ve seen the news, and you know just how desperate. You’ve heard the cries from Washington and Wall Street and Detroit. It’s a Global Economic Meltdown(TM), and just in time for the Holiday Shopping Season(TM).

Run and hide!

Okay, I know that we’re all in for some serious belt-tightening, but here’s the thing: You will probably buy a few Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa gifts for your loved ones this year. You may not be as lavish as in years past, but you’ll probably buy something, right?

Right. So please, make that something a book.

Doesn’t have to be my book (although I have no objection to that), just any book will do. Fiction, preferably. But as I said, any book will do. Fiction, non-fiction, hardcover, paperback, frontlist, backlist. Just so long as you give books.

Maybe give a book that had a big impact on the way you see the world, or simply a book that made you smile. A book is a beautiful, thoughtful, personal gift. And a book can be burned for heat when the entire economy collapses and we are all left freezing in the dark.

Really, there’s no better gift this year.

Those of you who read the publishing trades know that I’m not kidding around. Share prices of the largest book retailer in America just hit an all-time low. Some other bookstore chains and many independents may not survive the winter. Even the most optimistic economists project no economic growth until next spring. And that will be too late for many bookstores.

It’s that serious, kids.

Of course, if you’re so broke that you’re considering roasting the family pet for Christmas dinner, you get a free pass. But for the rest of us . . . for those who are going to buy something to give our loved ones this Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa. . .
Please, give a book.

I don’t even want to think about how many bookstores could be saved with $18 million.  These allegations have enough legs that The New York Times is reporting on it, side by side with the stories of record foreclosures, layoffs and global economic turmoil.  It’s really a sign of what went wrong, isn’t it?

There’s no economic bailout plan for the book business.  It’s down to us, who love it to save it.

And one would think the ability to read would matter more to some of these celebrities.  After all, if it wasn’t for the ink about them filling the glossy pages to sell enough issues week after week People wouldn’t have $18 million to pay for photos of anyone.

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About Sandra_Ruttan

Described as "one of crime fiction's hot new voices" by Rick Mofina, Sandra Ruttan is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Spinetingler Magazine and her short fiction has appeared in Out of the Gutter, Crimespree Magazine, Pulp Pusher, Demolition, The Cynic and Mouth Full of Bullets. She had her first newspaper column at the age of 13 and launched the Nolan, Hart and Tain series with her book, WHAT BURNS WITHIN, earlier this year. In November '08 the second book in the series, THE FRAILTY OF FLESH, will be released.