William Powers believes we need a new name for star journalists like Katie Couric and Anderson Cooper. “Cooper is now unquestionably bigger than his own work. He is what Katie is,” he writes. “But what are they? Are they genuine newspeople, hacks of a higher order, or something else?” He suggests “media royals.”
“The journalistic establishment might even form a committee or board — just like the Pulitzer board — to decide exactly who qualifies. Crucial factors would include income (eight-figure contracts a plus), Nielsen ratings, number of magazine covers, size of retinue, fame level of spouse, and so on.” More…
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