Chung: We are about to take you on a tour through the notorious world of tabloids.
The tabloids are more than good gossip, they are a major influence on life.
In 1989 tabloid journalism took off.
Povich: Where a serial killer has robbed families of their loved ones.
We weren't traditional news.
Smith: It was almost like some kind of tv catnip.
Narrator: 1989, it was a year when salacious crime reporting hit new extremes.
And the line between news and entertainment...
Really began to blur.
Clark: In 1989 there was a real shift.
Narrator: A shift that would transform america's relationship with the media
When a sensational style of journalism caught fire.
Povich: This is the most eye-popping tv show on cable that makes the playboy channel
Look like the disney channel.
Narrator: Tabloid tv was as much about theatre as it was about information,
And it gave us a glimpse into the future of news.
Burns: 1989 serves as this beginning to where we are today.
Facts that contradict people's perspectives get tossed out.
Reporter (over tv): It was one of the city's most heinous crimes,
But the five men convicted in the central park jogger attack case
Have now been cleared.
King: Are my facts your facts?
I worry about where we're going.
(theme music plays)
Reporter (over tv): There is a hot debate in show business and in front of television
Sets across the land, it centers on what is called reality based programs,
Not reality, but reality based, or tabloid tv.
Its fans say it opens up the medium, others say 'it's time to take out the trash.'
Narrator: The news is always changing.
But there was a time when the way the news was delivered did not.
For decades americans knew when to tune in to their newscasts and who would man
The anchor desk; journalists like walter cronkite who was known as the most trusted man
In america.
Cronkite (over tv): And that's the way it is, Monday September 11th, 1972.
Narrator: That all changed in the late 80s, when one program decided to lead with very
Different stories, making many of us wonder what kind of news we were watching.
Povich: Tabloid television, this show is rampant anarchy.
People are still asking, who killed cindy james?
She needs a man, to father a baby.
Good evening everyone, I'm maury povich and welcome to a current affair.
I was thrown together with the most creative, ambitious,
Just knock-your-socks-off producers who had no conception
Of not getting a story, and so we started doing all these
Stories that nobody else was doing.
The sleepwalk killing.
The hidden james dean.
Pit bull terriers, kid's pets or killer dogs?
Network newsrooms were putting these stories in the garbage cans, we were taking them out
And making unbelievable television, and using the classic shakespearean themes:
Lust, conflict, drama, betrayal.
Everything that happened historically in any great story.
Little by little, we got a lot of traction.
Chung: I can't say that tabloid journalism was my husband's fault,
But it was my husband's fault.
He and his cohorts at a current affair created this genre.
They took it to a another level.
After that, tabloid journalism took off.
Povich: Rupert murdoch had the greatest line to me when a current affair was nominated
For an emmy in 1989,
He said, 'you know don't worry, we're no interested in trophies,
We're interested in viewers, that's all we care about."
Narrator: Being in murdoch's favor would come in handy when one of the stories of the
Century was breaking.
A current affair's crew needed a way to get to berlin fast, so,
Murdoch lent them his private jet.
Povich: Maybe the biggest event in 1989 was the fall of the berlin wall.
Tom brokaw is there from nbc, dan rather is there for cbs,
Peter jennings is there for abc.
And here comes maury povich from a current affair.
And they looked and said, 'what are you doing here?
I mean... This is our story.'
There is a lot of joy, there is a lot of celebration, but when we get
Through all of this, there is going to be a hard look at what the future is.
The great picture of the fall of the berlin wall was everybody taking hammers and
Axes, so we decided we gotta really do a big job.
So gordon elliott, our indefatigable reporter, goes to a fire house in west berlin
And gets a fire axe, one of those huge, none of these little things, this huge fire
Axe and brings it to the wall.
And gordon's got this thing and he starts banging on the wall.
And then, of course, all the west berliners are there and say, 'can I have that axe?'
So gordon gives this guy the axe and this guys's got this axe
And this guy's picture iconically shows up on
The cover of newsweek.
We never expected that the traditional media would ever accept us, but those network
News people were fascinated with what a current affair was doing, and would ask
"so what did you do here?"
And "how did you get that?"
And "how did you do this?"
Narrator: A current affair's success did not go unnoticed, and competitors emerged.
O'reilly: We'll do it live, (bleep) it!
Do it live!
I can, I'll write it and we'll do it live!
Narrator: Bill o'reilly was the audacious, mold-breaking host and
It was on inside edition,
Where o'reilly would develop the brash persona that made
Him a cable news juggernaut.
O'reilly: The murder last November was brutal and sudden, and authorities
Say it could happen anywhere.
Narrator: A current affair,
Inside edition and hard copy became the
Unholy trinity of tabloid tv.
Low production costs, less competitive timeslots and loyal followings gave
These shows huge profit margins.
And then one story would put them on the map for good.
Clark: In 1989 there was a real shift into these tabloid shows.
There was a huge appetite in america for these kinds of stories,
And especially true crime stories.
The more bizarre the crime the more public interest there is.
The menendez story in particular is fascinating because it is the
Juxtaposition of great wealth and privilege with heinous crime and abuse.
It looked like this beautiful fairy tale life in this beverly hills mansion.
Tennis courts, pools, fancy cars and lifestyle.
You don't imagine that lurking just beneath the surface is so much ugliness.
Reporter (over tv): On August 20th 1989, jose and kitty menendez were
Shot to death in their beverly hills home.
The bodies were discovered by their two sons, lyle and erik,
Who told police they had returned from the movies to find the massacre.
But the investigation quickly centered on the sons.
Povich: The menendez story, it touched every base that we would ever want.
Rich people, brothers turning against their parents, killing them!
I mean you had every aspect of shakespeare in that story, oh it was perfect for us.
A movie executive and his wife were brutally slain in their million dollar mansion.
Narrator: Sordid tales of greed, sex and murder were mostly found while
Waiting in the checkout line,
Until 1989 when the world was introduced to the menendez brothers.
Smith: At the sensational menendez brothers murder trial in california,
The jury is now hearing from friends and witnesses...
What people in the television news business began to realize is that
These more sensational cases would move the needle,
Almost like some kind of tv catnip.
You do that story and you realize; oh we got an audience bump.
Narrator: Stories like the menendez brothers didn't fade from the news
After a week or two.
They could hold the public's interest for years.
Clark: People loved to read about these true crime cases, they certainly did sell
Newspapers that's for sure.
And then court tv came up with a good idea, 'let's film the trial.'
Narrator: Live cameras would be in the courtroom from gavel to gavel,
Covering the trial of lyle and erik menendez.
Some prominent voices in the legal community were concerned,
Saying members of the jury should be concentrating
On the evidence, not worrying about how they looked on tv.
But the american public?
They just tuned in, and for some, watching the trial turned into an obsession.
One that would foreshadow the current fascination with true crime and reality television.
Miller: Bringing cameras into the courtroom reset the tone and tenor
Of what a trial meant.
The courtroom became an altogether different venue.
The courts were uncomfortable with it, they thought it would create a circus.
The legal community was uncomfortable with it, except some lawyers understood,
'maybe this will make me famous'.
Everyday there would be a new installment and people became attached to
It the way they become attached to a soap opera,
'I have to see my episode today.'
This was all before oj.
Reporter (over tv): The beverly hills brothers who admit to killing
Their rich parents are attracting a following.
Woman: I'm kind of obsessed with the trial, it's a real interesting trial,
Cause' when you watch on tv it looks like a movie.
Man: I'm sucked into it.
I'm as interested as you or anybody else is.
Clark: Should there be cameras in the courtroom?
I've gone back and forth on this.
You run the risk of misinforming the public, skewing public opinion.
Abramson: This case has been treated like a soap opera by you all for a long time,
And it isn't a soap opera, this is real life.
King: Did we sensationalize the menendez brothers?
Or was that in and of itself sensational?
The answer to both questions is yes.
Narrator: If the menendez brothers brought in ratings,
"real" celebrities in trouble would create even bigger events,
And the mainstream media had no choice but to
Give the viewers what they wanted.
Chung: Each news story that came along, ranging from oj simpson to tonya harding,
Was turned into insanity.
Respected newspapers like the the new york times and even nightline,
Would cover these stories.
Williams: The event has become a spectacle,
A tv series on cable all it's own.
Narrator: And these spectacles would be produced like pro football games.
Woman: As to the charge of first degree murder, we the jury find the defendant
Not guilty.
Narrator: Live coverage from all the angles, highlights, and of course
Color commentary from the experts.
Clark: True crime has always been a fascination, but now we have outlets that create true
Crime stories that make it more entertaining than just the journalistic effort to,
'the facts ma'am, just the facts.' now it's about creating theatre and drama.
In order to make it entertaining, they take a point of view and they're
Making the news a product, and that's problematic.
Grace: Somewhere out there, the devil is dancing tonight.
Chung: After 1989, when tabloid journalism was first introduced, there was a whole
Sea-change in the media.
What emerged was the proliferation of news outlets.
Msnbc came along, fox came along, and news organizations began competing viciously for
The latest story, the latest flavor of the week, which is where we are today.
Accuracy, balance and objectivity just fall by the wayside.
King: You conceptualize that what you are doing is very important,
It may not be very important. Do you agree what that?
It may be designed to titillate, by the way, which you have every right to do.
Pittman: By the way I'm arguing not for mort downey,
I'm arguing for let's look at the environment we're in.
We're in an era in which tv is diversifying.
The last ten years of cable tv we've diversified entertainment, the next ten
Years we're gonna diversify news and information, and the styles in which you do it.
King: I think journalistic standards are way down,
Because there is too much of it,
There's too many channels.
They all want to get it on first, not get it right.
We're all interested in gossip.
I covered it because the producers said we had to cover it; I still try
To do the best job I could.
But the public is insane for it.
Smith: That was the beginning of a trend that only became worse and worse and worse.
Burns: The central park jogger case in particular was this great
Opportunity for the tabloids.
Everyone really assumed that these guys were guilty,
And the tabloid shows,
The tabloid papers really made these kids into villains.
An eye-splitting barrage fueled by a high-octane mix of
The stuff that sells newspapers.
Narrator: In the late 1980s new york tabloids were engaged in an all-out war,
Vying for the city's attention with as much sex, crime and hyperbole,
That was fit to print.
But one shocking story inspired a level of fear-mongering that would show
Just how dangerous sensational words could be.
Reporter (over tv): Well another crime, a crime that outraged
The decent people in this city.
Simmons (over tv): The pack of teenagers charged in the vicious beating
And rape of a woman jogger in central park.
Povich: Anything that happens in central park is great news for us.
Reporter (over tv): Police believe a gang of young hoodlums is responsible for
The vicious rape and beating of a 30-year-old investment banker,
Trisha meili, who was jogging in central park last night.
Reporter 2 (over tv): The woman who suffered the mob's attack remains unconscious.
She is a white wall street investment banker.
Her black attackers being called 'animals' in the media.
Reporter 3 (over tv): A gang of about 30 youths who were on a wilding attack...
Reporter 4 (over tv): Wilding in the park.
Brokaw: Wilding, new york city police say that's new teenage slang for
Rampaging in wolf-packs, attacking people just for the fun of it.
Burns: Right away you get these headlines, 'wilding', 'wolf pack' they were called.
And there was all this animal language and imagery,
Assuming the guilt of these kids and making them into villains.
Chung: Tabloid journalism had created a good-guy, bad-guy format.
The black and white of it was, was very clear,
And that's what sensationalism is all about.
Burns: There was a lot of pressure to solve the case, to close the case because it was
Such a sensational tabloid story and everyone was paying attention to it.
Newspapers, the media just ran with it.
They bought the police narrative that came out and very few people
Questioned the story.
This is a case that really could have used some good journalism.
We didn't get that, so the dominant narrative was this,
Was the tabloid version of the story.
Narrator: In 1989, the murder rate in new york city was nearly
7 times what it was in 2017,
And the storyline was clear: Out of control animals were running rampant
In new york city, putting its citizens at risk.
And one surprising voice emerged, demanding justice.
In page six he was known as 'the donald,' and more of a socialite
Than social justice crusader.
But in 1989, he went from media-hound to media buyer.
Povich: Donald spent $85,000 to take a full page ad out in the newspaper saying that we
Should bring back the death penalty for these people.
Trump: I am strongly in favor of the death penalty, I'm also in favor of bringing back
Police forces that can do something instead of just turning their back.
You better believe that I hate the people that took this girl and raped her brutally,
You better believe it.
And it's more than anger, it's hatred, and I want society to hate 'em.
King: He was convicting people.
Didn't know the case, and that was terrible.
We don't know who did that crime, and the court's gonna
Decide who did that crime.
Were you pre-judging those arrested?
Trump: No, I'm not prejudging at all, I'm not in this particular case,
I'm saying if they're found guilty, if the woman died,
Which she hopefully will not be dying,
But if the woman died I think they should be executed.
Narrator: Fortunately, trisha meili survived.
As for her alleged attackers, their case ended with a dramatic twist.
Reporter (over tv): It was one of the city's most heinous crimes,
But the five men convicted in the central park jogger attack
Case have now been cleared.
Reporter 2 (over tv): The five teenagers who spent 5 to 13 years in jail
For her attempted murder and rape were not involved.
Narrator: But the confession of a serial rapist already in jail for
Murder didn't move donald trump to recant.
Reporter (over tv): In a statement to cnn, trump not only didn't apologize, but
Said 'they admitted they were guilty, the police doing the original investigation say
They were guilty, the fact that the case was settled with so much evidence
Against them, is outrageous.'
Burns: Donald trump's reaction to this case serves as this beginning to
Some of where we are today.
Trump: They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime.
Burns: Creating an other and blaming that other for problems.
Facts that contradict people's perspectives get tossed out and instead we go with the
Story that we like the narrative we want to believe.
I think that's exactly what happened with the central park five case.
King: The donald I knew in 1989 wanted to get on page six of the new york post.
Of course he told mistruths, that was apart of him.
He'd be on my show the next day and said, 'top ratings ever, right?'
Chung: Do you know why you do it?
Trump: Why? Tell me. Chung: You love the publicity!
Trump: Oh I hate the publicity.
Chung: Oh come on, get out of here!
Trump: No I'm telling you I hate the publicity.
Chung: Oh please! Trump: I hate it.
Narrator: Once a man who loved to see his name in print,
The leader of the free world now calls the free press, the enemy of the people.
Trump: I'm not going to give you a question.
You are fake news.
Man: Cnn is fake news!
Woman: We are here to protest cnn and their fake news!
Narrator: And who are the members of the fake news anyway?
Today we can all be in the news business.
We can all collect facts, make references, and share our opinions as we see fit.
But in today's crowded media landscape, many resort to being loud and bold.
Jones: Every page, every headline screams deceit,
Corruption, evil, lies.
Uygar: You guys are the ones who are constantly like 'don't do that!'
Reporter (over tv): Maybe he's just stupid, maybe he's just dumb, maybe he's ignorant.
Hannity: It's about how to tear down this president by any means necessary.
King: Most of media now is 'me,' it's a 'me media.'
The host is more interested in the host.
As a broadcaster I wasn't a fan of that kind of pompous,
'I know it all, you don't.'
Right now you have three cable news networks that don't cover anything but trump.
Other things are going on in the world, they don't cover them.
It's not journalism.
I worry about where we're going.
Smith: I don't remember a time in my life as a reporter, which is over 30 years now,
That we've ever had this kind of contentious atmosphere where there's a whole group of
People in the country who thinks what the mainstream media does is a total hoax.
It's like folks have their own version of the facts, versus just the facts existing.
Narrator: Despite all of our modern choices for news,
Many of us choose to stay in our own echo chambers,
Making facts as elusive as ever.
And if we're not informed to know where a report ends and an editorial begins,
How will we ever know where the truth lies?
Jones: And it says overthrow trump, overthrow the government!
Clark: People have forgotten that there is such a thing as a truth, the truth.
And it's not just your take, my take, his take.
The public has a right to know the truth, not (bleep)
Narrator: 30 years ago,
Tabloid tv changed the face of news.
A transformation some have embraced and others continue to reject.
But what is undeniable is that it made sensationalism mainstream,
Gave journalism an edge,
And gave us all an appetite for real life drama.
Povich: You might not consider them news, but I'll tell you this, since 1989 more
Newscasts are doing stories we did on a current affair
Then they ever did.
And you know, we have a president,
24 hours a day we got tabloid journalism!
Captioned by cotter captioning services.