Politicians are so much better known now, which is good for magazine sales.
Tom and Nicole getting divorced might be a very good story to read, but when you uncover a Bill Clinton pardon scandal, that does have an impact on people's lives. A Los Angeles Times reporter had been banging on Hugh Rodham's door in Florida, and Associated Press writer John Solomon independently broke the story Wednesday, including a statement from the Clintons that smelled of damage control. Similarly, some payments were made on the Jackson story, but not to the reverend's mistress. Clearly, the tab has come a long way since the New York Times kicked up a fussby deigning to quote from one of its O.J. Simpson stories. Of course, there's always Tom and Nicole.