LCD Publicity

[talon]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20006215-503544.html?tag=cbsContent;cbsCarousel

Journalists and biographical authors get as close to their subject as they can - if it's a political campaigner, they often tag along, ride in the bus, stay in the same hotels, eat meals together, and so on. People writing about sports celebrities do the same thing and you don't see it splashed all over the news that the author is "stalking" their subject.

No, the correct term here is "researching" or possibly "investigating" because the goal is to write a well-informed book about the person(s). Authors conduct their research openly and let others know what they are doing. This particular author was very open about his intent- he contacted the mayor and local authorities and told them what he was doing - not the behavior of a stalker at all.

Stalkers, as we all know, seek prey and want to do so away from media and police/authority attention because they know what they are doing is wrong.

Given the publicity seeking ways of the Palins, I wouldn't consider this author's actions stalkerish or creepy.

What's creepy is the Palins' hypocrisy regarding publicity - on one hand they seek it out: book deals, interviews, even appearing in reality shows - the lowest form of publicity-seeking in my opinion, next to appearing on that day-time shock talk show (Jason Springfield? I don't know the name, sorry); and on the other hand they are angry when their "privacy" is invaded and lash out with extreme venom and viciousness - calling the journalist or comedian or whomever vile names and using the media to defame them.

They really can't have it both ways. They can't seek the lowest and (in my opinion) nastiest forms of publicity, then cry foul when loftier forms of publicity are offered. I consider a well-written biography to be a far loftier form of publicity than appearing in a reality show.

It appears their sole objection is the fact that this author might say something they don't want known - too bad, so sad for them since the Palins (or more specifically Sarah Palin) chose to become a public figure and to seek the media spotlight.

I personally think the Palins' behavior is petty and tacky and aimed at generating massive amounts of more media attention.

Of course, this could be a conspiracy between the author and the Palins to generate talk about the forthcoming book and this to boost sales when it comes out. I notice Sarah Palin wasn't above pushing her own second book coming out this fall in all of this.

It's just another Palin media circus.

Ho hum. Let's go do something interesting.