Star stoops to gutter journalism with trashy Beckham-Malaysia Boleh story

So it looks like The Star is playing up the alleged Beckham affairs just because one of the women happens to be a "Malaysian-born" model.

One would expect this sort of reporting from the gutter tabloid press. For The Star to put this sort of trashy news on the front page of the daily yesterday speaks volumes about the mentality of the paper's editors. Or maybe the tabloid believes this news item lives up to the spirit of "Malaysia Boleh".

The screaming headline "Sarah tells why" is followed by the rider: "Beckham said he loved me, says Malaysian-born model" Sarah Marbeck.

It is almost as if the paper is taking pride in the fact that the model is "Malaysian-born", even though the family has long since migrated to Australia and Sarah Marbeck intends to remain in Australia.

Inside on page 3, in another report titled "Differing views on Marbeck", The Star embarks on its own brand of "investigative journalism" in obtaining comments from Marbeck's friends and former associates. If only the paper showed this much initiative when investigating human rights violations, abuse of power and cases of corruption.

The Star's only consideration seems to be increased circulation, never mind if the paper caters to the lowest common denominator. It would seem that the paper probably believes that sex sells, more so if there is a cultural pop icon involved.

The sad part of it all is that real issues and news items are marginalised so that "infotainment" can take centrestage. It's not as if there are no serious issues worthy of frontpage attention. There could have been serious discussion on the government's anti-poverty drive. Or there could have been some response to the Selangor government's outrageous proposal to allow the rich to buy low-cost houses and rent them out to the poor. Or the paper could have highlighted the ongoing massacre of Iraqis in Fallujah and serious human rights violations in Palestine.

But no, The Star's editors think Beckham is worthy of frontpage coverage just because some "Malaysian-born" model wants to go public and make a fortune from her revelations of Becks' alleged infidelity. What kind of values are we imparting to the young here?

Regular blog visitor Lucia adds: "Yeah, I suppose The Star is mighty proud that a Malaysian had made world news so it just had to headline the news and give so much attention to it.

"Well, sex always sell, and coupled with a famous name AND with a Malaysian to boot, The Star lost no time in sensationalising it and capatilising on it. You have to hand it to The Star - they are smart. :) "