How To Manufacture A Late December Story

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: In The News

(CBS)

There are plenty of reasons to be weary of Donald Trump – the relentless self-promotion, the tired catchphrase, the overwhelming narcissism – but the man is not without talents. Just look at how he's played the press corps for free publicity for his Miss USA pageant.

Trump announced today that Miss USA Tara Conner, who was being investigated by the Miss Universe Organization for "behavioral issues," would be allowed to keep her crown after a stint in rehab. Trump and Conner even shared a hug at the press conference. The story has gotten big play on CBSNews.com as well as other media outlets.

Which begs that most basic of questions – why? The Miss USA competition – a division of the Miss Universe Organization, and not to be confused with Miss America – isn't exactly a national obsession. Before her crown was in jeopardy, it's safe to say that most Americans had no idea who Conner was. So why has the story done so well? Here are a few reasons:

'Tis The Season: It's December 19th, and there's not much going on. The Mount Hood climbers story is coming to a conclusion, Congress is quiet, and most people are focused on the holidays. When the firing of a book editor is making headlines, you know it's slow out there.

The Pull Of The Narrative: Americans love a good rehab story. Why else would "Behind The Music" have had such a good run? We're naturally drawn to tales of successful people who've been seduced by drugs and/or alcohol and have made an effort to come out of the other side. Now, Conner isn't exactly a junkie – her main crime seems to have been going out and drinking a few nights in New York – but Trump has smartly played up the alcoholic angle anyway.

Girls Are Purty: If you had turned on MSNBC at a random point today, there's a good chance you would have seen a bikini-clad Conner walking across the Miss USA stage. Give producers an excuse to put scantily clad young women on television under the guise of "news," and they're going to take it. (The same goes for violence, of course. How many times have we seen the Knicks-Nuggets brawl in the past few days?)

Trump, one can safely assume, understands all this. He looked at media reports about Conner's partying and saw not a problem but an opportunity. And the press went happily along with him for the ride.

If I ever got that "if you could have one wish" question at a beauty pageant, incidentally, I guess I'd have to go with that most standard of answers: World peace. But if I had two wishes, well, let's just say I'd give serious thought to wishing for a press corps that covers real news instead of manufactured publicity stunts like this.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

4 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by bleeter December 19, 2006 8:16 PM EST: I agree with Peter -- in fact either of the Bush daughters would fit the bill for Miss USA.

And I would add -- if we're so cynical about Mr. Trump's manipulation why write about it at all?; Reply to this comment


by joycewest December 19, 2006 7:46 PM EST: So cynical! It's not as if Donald Trump made Miss USA behave badly so he could revel in the publicity. He decided to make lemonade out of lemons, and that's his right. What's really unappealing is watching the various anchors and commentators smirking, giggling half apologetically, or just flat-out laughing, expressing their oh-so sophisticated big-city opinions about pageant winners gone bad. They giggle about and bemoan their coverage even as they milk it for all it's worth. At least Mr. Trump isn't giggling.; Reply to this comment


by kmtice December 19, 2006 7:28 PM EST: Sorry, I'm with Trump on this one. I have my doubts about him too, but he did right by her and himself in this case.; Reply to this comment


by peter191612 December 19, 2006 7:16 PM EST: I keep reading about Tara, trying to figure out exactly what she did that harmed anyone. And all I keep seeing to criticize her for is violating the 21 drinking age and oversleeping. Imagine that - a 20-year-old single woman having cocktails and sleeping late. Lock her up and throw away the key. But let he or she who didn't have a drink before they were legal serve as executioner. What poppycock and nonsense this all is. Thanks for explaining the back story, Brian.; Reply to this comment