Yahoo goes off the deep end with Jon & Kate Gosselin

Oh this is just not funny. In yet another example of why I hate the way the media exploits situations today I saw one of the worst cases.

On Yahoo, in the front page news headlines at 10:27 am, there is a video clip of Jon and Kate Gosselin. The headline reads

“Jon & KatePlus 8 parents have open marriage contract?”

Such a headline is a surprise. It implies, in conjunction with the recent allegations by tabloids, that both the parents are swingers. Such a subject is taboo among the mainstream of America, and rarely ever mentioned in the news without negative implications.

The video clip then shows you the Good Morning America show, and Robin Roberts introducing a video report of the status of the show. We see that the new season has started, that Jon and Kate appear but separately, and that the children are now 5 years old. In that video report the allegation that the Gosselin’s are contemplating splitting up is covered. And it is stated that Kate requested Jon to sign a contract that he could date as long as he appeared for the shows taping.

So immediately we get one thing clearly set before us. Yahoo is sensationalizing the situation. They are taking a step towards a tabloid in creating a headline that has virtually nothing to do with the actual information. At best, the entire 6 minute video clip – which includes an interview with a black family that has sextuplets and an older son, and has had limited exposure to the pressure of reality television – covers all of 7 seconds on what the Yahoo headline proposes.

Only in Hollywood does the alleged contract equate to an open marriage. Only in the worst of news media is such a connection become the driving force of the story.

In fact, Robin Roberts covers how the media, and reality television itself, are major factors in causing the family to have difficulty. That is it the existence of the cameras non-stop that is harming every person, notably the 5 year olds, for no reason than the fascination of the public.

I understand that the Gosselin’s need the financial help to raise the 8 children, and to have any income left over. I understand the extremes that they undertook to ensure that their kids would be guaranteed absolute needs. But there is so much more damage that the media is causing here.

A friend of mine stated about this Yahoo headline and the show

“What is wrong with them [Yahoo]. That doesn’t help anyone. It just gets more people into their business, running around and jumping to conclusions everytime they do anything. If either of them walk into a store and ask for directions, and walk out with someone to show them where to go – there go the cameras and gossip about being up to no good.

And you know, when was the last time that they [Gosselin’s] had time together? I have never seen a show where the company [producing the show] say ‘Hey, why don’t you too just go off for a dinner or on a little weekend trip on us so you can have time to be together and alone.’ I have never seen that. There is always a camera on them. It’s not healthy.”

And there you have it. The family of sextuplets stated directly to Robin Roberts how they needed to get away from the reality cameras to save their marriage – which is not completely fixed years after the fact. My friend sees it. I think you my readers see it. Robin Roberts sees it I think, and thus the nature of her on-air discussion.

But Yahoo wants to exploit the Gosselin’s. It wants to take a serious question and turn it into tabloid fodder. Did the headline garner my attention? Yes. But it is my job to comment on the media and celebrity news. Beyond that it only furthered my anger. Especially as Yahoo actively sought to warp the situation. And think, if Yahoo will go this far with its reputation how far will a tabloid go?

I say again that the news media needs to get their noses out of this family’s lives. There is no positive in what is being done. There is no need for the virtual yellow journalism here.

If Jon and Kate Gosselin do split, I blame the media as much as the show and the pressure of so many children. In fact I blame the media and reality television more. The Gosselin’s deserve better, but paparazzi and ratings whores just won’t let them get that. It truly is a shame.

Book Giveaway Contest

Mr. Michael Vass, President of M V Consulting, Inc. and author of Black Entertainment USA (www.blackentertainmentblog.com) has announced a book giveaway of the book by Ms. Robin Roberts - From the Heart. Ms. Roberts is an Emmy Award winning sportscaster and co-host of Good Morning America. From the Heart is her first book, released this year.


Recently Ms. Roberts's book was reviewed by Mr. Vass on the Black Entertainment USA site. In conjunction with the book review, M V Consulting has joined with Authorsontheweb.com and Hyperion books to provide a 5 book giveaway. The contest is open to all United States residents, age 18 and above. Terms of the contest are as follows:

I am happy for the opportunity to share Ms. Robin Roberts's book with visitors to the sites of M V Consulting, Inc. This book provides inspiration and motivation for everyone, and to be involved in this book giveaway is quite gratifying.
1. Contestants need to answer the following question - Name all the stations that Ms. Roberts has worked for.
2. Answers to the abovementioned question should be emailed to e-mail protected from spam bots with a valid email address. A first name (at least) should be included with the answer. The title of the email should be "From the Heart book contest"
3. Only one response per household will be allowed.
4. 5 winners will be randomly drawn from the pool of successful answers.
5. Winners give consent to M V Consulting, Inc., and its divisions, use of their names in conjunction with this contest and all rights relevant to this contest.
6. Winners will be notified via email, and posted on the various sites of M V Consulting, Inc. at the discretion of the Company.
7. Contest will start on May 29, 2007 and will end June 10, 2007.

Mr. Vass stated, "I am happy for the opportunity to share Ms. Robin Roberts's book with visitors to the sites of M V Consulting, Inc. This book provides inspiration and motivation for everyone, and to be involved in this book giveaway is quite gratifying."

About M V Consulting, Inc. and Michael Vass

Mr. Michael Vass is a former securities industry account executive of good standing, and currently works in the field of investor relations. He has served in the US Marine Corps Reserves, as well as worked and studied in such diverse fields as entertainment, communications, philosophy and chemistry. He has lived abroad, in Moscow and Tbilisi, as well as in various cities throughout the United States.

Mr. Vass is President of M V Consulting, Inc. a diversified private company that maintains divisions in search engine optimization, an online store, political and entertainment celebrity blogs. It is the combinations of these unique experiences that have led Mr. Vass to the creation of M V Consulting, Inc. The Company owns Black Entertainment USA, VASS (www.mvass.com), a corporate website (www.vassconsult.com), and an online store (cafepress.com/nova68).

About Hyperion:

Hyperion publishes general-interest fiction and nonfiction books for adults. For more information on FROM THE HEART as well as our other titles, please visit us at: hyperionbooks.com

Reviewing Robin Roberts book From the Heart - 5.21.2007.1

I have recently finished reading the book, From the Heart by Ms. Robin Roberts, and I must say it was quite interesting. The book reads well, its 170 pages having the feel of a warm conversation more than anything else. Ms. Roberts comes off as genuine and caring, her re-telling of tales in her life adding a perspective most books of this genre don’t seem to convey well. At least to me.

Ms. Roberts’s book covers a great deal of her life, from early youth to recent times. The focus includes her life from high school to working at Good Morning America. There may be many Americans, and people across the globe, that might be familiar with Ms. Roberts from her time at ESPN. I can honestly say that I am not one of them. Being a fan of football, golf, and soccer I rarely watch ESPN. Even rarer is the number of times I’ve watched Good Morning America. As a result Ms. Roberts name was unfamiliar to me. Yet once I finished this book I felt as if I knew her for quite some time.


This book is not so much a “how to” book, as Mr. Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich can be, nor would I say the rules are exactly that. Rather this is an understanding being passed on that some may get.

Those that may get the most out of this book might be women, Black White or otherwise. That is not to say that men would feel left out when reading the book, I felt that sections of the chapters were targeted to, and could hold deeper meaning for, a woman reader. To the credit of Ms. Roberts even those sections were enjoyable for me to read. I think a similar statement could be made about sports fans. There are multiple sports events and personages mentioned through the book. While a fan might gain greater impact from them, the casual observer will not be overwhelmed.

Speaking of sports, Ms. Roberts has had a lot of contact with various noted sports figures in addition to celebrities and world renowned individuals. Ms. Roberts has no problem dropping their names either. I will say that though there are several names dropped; most are relevant to what is being discussed. I never felt overwhelmed or distracted by this.

The most prevalent names in the book are not celebrities or athletes though; they are in fact the family of Ms. Roberts. Her connection to her family is obvious and strong. Many of her examples circle around her mother, grandmother, and father. Their influence on her life and choices are apparent.

I want to detract for a moment. Ms. Roberts’s father was one of the Tuskegee Airmen. I have great respect for all military personnel, especially those that served in a war. The Tuskegee Airmen stand out for me though, and I suggest anyone not familiar with them to learn more about of what they did.

Going back to the book, I’ve mentioned I enjoyed it. I consider myself moderately successful and have no lack of self-motivation. So in a manner I lose some of the impact that the book provides. Equally I don’t agree with a few thoughts mentioned. We all have different experiences and goals, so that is to be expected. Of the points I agree with, I feel strongly on them. One such thought is that I think more parents should behave more like Ms. Roberts's, and my own.

So depending on how you live and where you are (internally) Ms. Roberts words may mean more or less to you. Given that I still feel this book should be read.

This is what I think, what do you think?