Secret journalism files: Negativity reads best

If you’re a fan of the mean-spirited, celeb-attack kind of story – and, from time to time, who isn’t? – you may want to read the story that
MSN posted today about the Top 10 movie stars who should retire. Some of them are obvious – Al Pacino in particular – but others are a bit surprising.

This, for example, is what the author has to say about Will Smith : “I humbly request his retirement, so he can go out on top, and so I can be spared the experience of seeing any more of his lousy films.”

Just to be clear: An important aspect to this kind of story is surprise. Amid all the standard suspects, you add one or two unexpected names. Doing so ups the story’s overall shock value and, presumably, keeps the reader turning the page (even online pages).

It works. Sometimes. I quit after Smith, who was No. 3 (the list begins with Tom Cruise ).

But, then, in a 30-year career, I’ve written a number of stories just like this one. So my interest was only marginal to begin with.

Below: Doing publicity for his film “Valkyrie,” Tom Cruise doesn’t look as if he’s ready to call quits to his career.

Associated Press photo