NYTimes, Seeking Page Hits, Finds Backlash

For me, the best part of yesterday’s New York Times article about Angelina Jolie is seeing so many of their readers ridicule the Times for stooping to the same supermarket tabloid scandalmongering it pretends to “investigate.”

[UPDATE: And as if by dark magic, right after The Times hands the poison apple to Angelia Jolie, look who they conjure up to dominate the cover of the The New York Times Magazine this Sunday — why it’s Jeniston Malificent! What a strange stroke of serendipity for her.]

2. As a PR professional, I find Ms. Jolie more adept at messaging and consistent use of talking points than many who have been in our industry for years. Should she decide to leave the motion picture industry, she’d surely be in high demand as the head of her own agency. Other public figures would do well to study the way she has developed her philanthropy and image – she is a total professional. ‚Äî Marsha, Santa Cruz, CA
6. Audrey Hepburn’s humanitarian spirit, finely tuned to the 21st century, lives on in Ms Jolie. I can think of no greater compliment. ‚Äî jordyray, Minneapolis, MN
15. Who cares? It seems to me that your petty account of this is a greater testament to the deplorable state of contemporary culture than a woman who should by any reasonable standards be left alone. Great investigative journalism, pal. ‚Äî mopface, new york
18. When I started this article, I wanted to snark. But when I ended it I thought, wow, she’s got the beast under control. The media beast didn’t eat her. It’s wearing her collar. Who else can say that? Nobody else in the world. ‚Äî Patricia, Pasadena, CA

There’s a lot more.

30. I don’t have a problem with this. The magazine money is flowing back to their charities and helping people in war-torn countries. Rock on, Angie. ‚Äî deb1632, Torrance, CA

34. This story only reminded me that the Times, equally concerned about access to its subjects, has published stories that sell ideas like WMD in Iraq. It’s hard to get worked up about People when the result is celebrity photos. ‚Äî NoDogInThisFight, Canada

52. Bravo to Angie! She’s put a lease on the monster. If at times they resent it they’ve only themselves to blame. ‚Äî Peggy, Glens Falls, NY

78. Maybe Angelina should run for VP. At least she has a progressive worldview and doesn’t need protection from witchcraft. Though… I understand Jennifer Aniston is not too pleased with her. ‚Äî Diane, NJ

82. Ms. Jolie is an amazing actor who is adept at managing her persona. No one should expect they are getting real insights in to any public persons life through People magizine and the like. All media is manipulation. The wise know how to use power to their advantage. Clearly Ms. Jolie uses her power to get what she wants out of life. Good for her. ‚Äî Thomas, Mansfield, TX

84. Why is this article so prominently placed? It should be buried in the Arts and Leisure section. Unless I sense an editorial shift at work, in which case can we expect tomorrow’s page to feature profiles of WWF celebrities… ‚Äî Gerald Denis, Boston, MA

108. I admire the tenacity of Angelina Jolie in knowing the limits she wishes to set on her privavcy and on the public image she creates for herself and family. Her humanitarian devotion, love for family and partner and tremendous talent is all that anyone needs to know. We should encourage the press to bring out the positive in everyone. Wouldn’t that change the world and isn’t that what Ms. Jolie is really all about? ‚Äî LS, Costa Mesa, CA

110. No, this isn’t really news. However, the Times would do well to start documenting the carefully crafted messages and images that the Bush administration threw upon the American people, and the world, for the last 8 years. Now there’s some fancy PR work. ‚Äî thinkinghurts, los angeles

119. I’m guessing the author of this is an all-American girl type who is still angry that her fellow all-American girl Jennifer Anniston was dumped by Brad Pitt. This article reeks of both jealousy as well as pathetic journalism. This so-called author has turned the New York Times into The Enquirer. ‚Äî Savi, Chicago

127. Whoever has taken over the front page of this paper must have been hired from the Sun. This actress seems to take the world more seriously than one of the oldest papers in the country. ‚Äî Inish, America

Tags: Angelina Jolie