Abbreviated Pundit Roundup: The Trump trial continues to make news
Abbreviated Pundit Roundup is a long-running series published every morning that collects essential political discussion and analysis around the internet.
Mark Jacob/”Stop the Presses” on Substack:
Why headlines matter and news outlets fail at them
Out of laziness or fear, some media think small with the big type
David Pecker, the opening witness in Donald Trump’s first criminal trial, explained his top priority when he ran the National Enquirer:
“The only thing that is important is the cover of the magazine.”
Which means the most prominent headlines and photos.
Pecker understands the importance of headlines. Donald Trump does too. That’s why Trump arranged for Pecker’s slimy rag to write headlines during the 2016 campaign such as:
“CRUZ’S 5 SECRET MISTRESSES!”
(with a subhead reading “IT’S OVER FOR PERVY TED”)
and
“HILLARY: 6 MONTHS TO LIVE!”
The dubious claims behind the headlines didn’t matter. The headlines mattered.