People, what are we even doing?

On info@amayzine.com we receive the most extraordinary emails. From press releases about new washing machines, headphones with heart rate measurements to invitations for knitting fairs. But we also receive a daily email from a photo agency containing the highlights of their paparazzi shots from the past 24 hours. Those photos are then provided with effective titles with the aim that editorial teams think: “OMG we have to cover this story, we are going to buy these photos.”

At least, I think that’s the intention, because by now that email has become the unspoken high and low point of my day for the wrong reasons. A selection of titles from last week: “Kelly Rutherford wants peace” (with a photo of a lunching Kelly making a peace sign). “Anne Hathaway sticks out her tongue” (with a photo of Anne Hathaway who, indeed, sticks out her tongue). “Malin Akerman is grocery shopping” (you can imagine the photo). “Sam Worthington is hiding” (with a photo of Sam just walking down the street wearing a cap). “Princess Beatrice pays at parking meter” (also here, you get the image).

But still, sometimes it bothers me. Then I really get tired of the nonsense.

Okay, I know that my field doesn’t exactly deal with solving world problems, but sometimes I find myself looking at the alarmingly low and superficial level of the things we do deal with. And that is very hypocritical, because I am a loyal visitor of the Daily Mail site and I really know more than is good for me about the ups and downs of a random Kardashian. But still, sometimes it bothers me. Then I really get tired of the nonsense. If Sylvie lets out a fart somewhere, we read that back in multiples (by the way, polished Barbie doll Sylvie farting in public would actually be news), if we see two friendly actors having a cup of coffee, the gossip press works overtime because MAYBE THERE IS MORE and apparently we are now at the point where paying parking meters and wearing caps is already news.

Again, I am aware of the hypocrisy, but still. And I understand that those photographers are just doing their job and that there’s nothing to be done about it, but I just had to get that off my chest. And now I’m going to read in-depth articles on NRC.nl as compensation. Okay okay, with a quick round of Daily Mail afterwards.