[pod]

I've said it once and I'll say it again. One of the hallmarks of a free press is the freedom to determine what they want to cover.
It was perfectly within their rights to blow this story out of proportion.

Being that the news organizations in this country are commercial entities, they've gotta cover what is going to boost ratings, and thereby draw more advertisers. The only other alternative really is a state-controlled news agency, which is a worse option. A free press not funded or controlled by the government is essential to a free society. We simply cannot have a "state news agency". Leave that to communist and so******t countries like Cuba, Venezuela, some of Europe, etc.

Is it disrespectful, the coverage of her death? Yeah, I'd say so. Sure she was a trainwreck waiting to happen, but the way the coverage was handled, wasn't exactly what I'd call respectful. I would have reported it, but not sensationalized it.

But if we gotta live with scandals and an "if it bleeds it leads" mentality to maintain a free press, then I'm all for it. If we gotta take some trashy stories to enable the next Bernstein and Woodward to be able to do their jobs, then by god, let's line the celebrities up and expose all their dirty secrets.

To paraphrase Voltaire, I may not like what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.