Peter Utley Quotes

The gleam in their eyes telegraphs only too clearly that they are hoping for a headline, which of course means something disparaging, because nothing makes such good copy as a feud.

What draws the press is conflict, corruption and scandal.

We all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry.

Let's not kid ourselves. You pick up 'The Washington Post' and find O.J. Simpson on the front page; 'serious journalists' covered Anna Nicole Smith.

The British press has an insatiable appetite for making public things that should be private. It's a prurience that I've never understood.

Controversy sells books.

People like scandals.

Some of the best news stories start in gossip. Monica Lewinsky certainly was gossip in the beginning. I had heard it months before I printed it.

Everybody wants a sensational story.

People like controversy because that's what sells.

With the press there is no 'off the record.'

Muck-raker

American newspapers disregard principles to seize on people, following them into their private lives and laying bare their weaknesses and their vices.

TMZ is so disgusting.

I was sorry to see the News of the World go down, I think it was a great campaigning newspaper. Who can forget the News of the World's high profile campaign against child sex offenders which led to News of the World readers burning down the home of a paediatrician, throwing rocks at a pedalo, stamping on a centipede.

Scandal is news with a very human face, interesting to a high percentage of the American public.

Like many people when young I did things that I should not have done and regret it. But a politician is entitled to a private life and therefore I shall be making no comment on what has appeared in the press.

Investigative reporting is not a way to make friends.

You hope the American people are fair. We recognize journalists have to kill somebody each week.

Some talk shows have become so exploitive and tabloid, I wonder if I can believe some of their guests. Where do they find these guests, and why do they deserve air time?

People know I'll be sensational, not scandalous. There's a fine-line difference. Sensational means titillating the viewer. Scandalous means being condemned by the viewer for making unfair, uncouth revelations.

Scandal sells books; fidelity does not.

There is always sleaze in the news. And you know what? The news is always a combination of things that are interesting and things that are important.

For a while, my private life was the most talked about thing.

The media is always looking for a story of one kind or another.