John Stossel: Why Celebrate the Enquirer?

Nov. 14 -- America's most popular newspaper, the one with the most readers, is celebrating its 30 years in the business. Unfortunately, that newspaper is The National Enquirer.

I say "unfortunately" because I think some of what they do to attract all those readers is not what reporters should do.

Sure, they've had big scoops. They were the first to demonstrate that O.J. Simpson wore those Bruno Magli shoes. They were the first to report that Jesse Jackson had a mistress and a secret child. But I still think some of what they do is disgusting.

Caught on Camera

They're celebrating their anniversary by publishing a book of photographs. The book has some great pictures of celebrities at some of their most interesting moments, including Princess Diana cuddling, Britney Spears at an awards show, Tina Turner playing rugby, and Christie Brinkley at her wedding on a ski slope.

But if you look more closely at the Enquirer's reporting on celebrities, you sometimes have to wonder, is this newspaper just mean?

For example, they seem to like taking pictures of the famous when they look bad.

They've featured Oprah Winfrey and Mary Tyler Moore without makeup, Dean Martin when he wasn't well, Jack Nicholson in an unflattering bathing suit, and more of Monica Lewinsky than many ever wanted to see.

And they celebrate embarrassing moments, like the Queen of England picking her nose.

Getting What They Want

Still, there's often news value in their pictures. It's the techniques that the Enquirer often uses to get the photos that can be sleazy.

Many celebrities feel harassed by the Enquirer. One of their favorite targets was the late John Kennedy Jr., who once got so fed up that he had a heated confrontation with a photographer. The paper ended up calling him "berserk," which they've also called Bill Clinton, Kathie Lee Gifford, and ABCNEWS' Barbara Walters.

The Enquirer even goes after the children of celebrities.

"They stalked me," said Maggie Kirn, the daughter of Margot Kidder, the actress who played Lois Lane in the Superman movies. "It was hard not to come at them screaming, looking like a nut. And then there they have a photo of me looking like a nut."