<p>
With rumor and scandal dominating political coverage lately, publications known for celebrity gossip are honing their political beats. The <i>National Enquirer</i> recently made headlines after breaking the news of <a title=”the John Edwards affair” href=”http://www.nationalenquirer.com/sen_john_edwards_caught_with_mistress_and_love_child_in_la_hotel/celebrity/65193″ target=”_blank”>the John Edwards affair</a>. Now <a title=”Michael Calderone of Politico” href=”http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0908/Enquirers_Perel_We_triggered_Palin_announcement.html?showall” target=”_blank”>Michael Calderone of Politico</a> reports that the gossip magazine is also taking credit for influencing the story that Bristol Palin–daughter of VP nominee Sarah Palin–is pregnant. <i>National Enquirer</i> editor David Perel said, “I definitely think we triggered the announcement.” The magazine has three reporters in Alaska right now, uncovering more news of the Palin family. </p>
<p>Not content to let all the political gossip go to the <i>National Enquirer</i>, <a title=”the new issue of <I>US Weekly</I>” href=”http://www.usmagazine.com/news/sarah-palin-very-difficult-to-work-with” target=”_blank”>the new issue of <i>US Weekly</i>
</a> features Sarah Palin on the cover with the headline, “Babies, Lies, and Scandal.” The celebrity blog <a title=”Jossip comments” href=”http://www.jossip.com/us-weekly-takes-its-brand-of-scandal-journalism-to-the-white-house-20080903/” target=”_blank”>Jossip comments</a>, “All that’s missing? ‘Sex.’ But it’s implied.”</p>
<p>Also missing from the <i>US Weekly</i> story are the aliens, a beat that has gone virtually uncovered since the <i>
<a title=”Weekly World News” href=”http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/” target=”_blank”>Weekly World News</a>
</i> stopped publishing earlier this year.</p>
<p>(Thanks, <a title=”Media Bistro” href=”http://www.mediabistro.com/” target=”_blank”>mediabistro.com</a>.)</p>
