EXTRA! EXTRA!: "I WORKED AT THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER!!"

by

STEVE WINSTON


The recent announcement that AMI, parent company of “The National Enquirer,” had declared bankruptcy, struck me in a different way than it might have struck you. Because I once worked there. Yes, it’s true. I admit it. For two weeks, many years ago, I worked at “The National Enquirer.”

My story started in a raging blizzard that tied up the whole Northeast. We had three feet of snow n Hartford, CT. I was looking out the window at the blizzard that night, while talking on the phone with my younger brother in Philadelphia…who was looking out his window at the blizzard. And we both decided, then and there, that we were going to get jobs in Florida.

Bobby did, within a month. Just about that time, I was sitting in my downtown apartment on a miserable late-winter day, looking out at the city’s skyline, while glancing distractedly through an issue of “Editor & Publisher.” I came to the classified section. And then I saw it.

It was a half-page ad for an Editor. For “The National Enquirer.” In a place called Lantana. Lantana, Florida! And they were offering a salary of $52,000 – very big money for a young guy all those years ago.

I dashed off a resume and letter to them. And promptly forgot all about it. So, when they called a week or so later to invite me down to Florida for an interview, it took me a minute to remember.

I’ll never forget sitting on the runway at Hartford-Bradley International Airport a few days later at 6 in the morning, looking out at the pitch-black, watching the sleet and snow smash against my window. Three hours later, I landed in West Palm Beach, and walked out of the terminal into a day with 76 degrees, swaying palm trees, and the bluest sky I’d ever seen.

In those days, the executives at The Enquirer were mostly British (if you’ve ever seen the big newspapers in Britain, you know why). And so I found myself being interviewed by an Editor from Britain named “Ian” (which seemed to be the name of just about every other Editor there, as well).

The interview was not particularly scintillating, I thought. Until mid-afternoon.

Then, all hell broke loose. Police suddenly barged in from two sides of the building. Women started screaming. Men started running.

And the first hint I had that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore, Dorothy, was when I asked “Ian” what was going on, and he looked at me and said, “Oh, nothing.”

It wasn’t long before I was told – by one of the people there - that some of the Brits did not have green cards. And that one of the green-cardless Brits had apparently offered Elvis’ cousin a goodly amount of money if he would open the casket and let the Brit take a few pictures.

By this time I was having trouble keeping a straight face. Much to my amazement, Ian, at the end of the interview, invited me back for a two-week mutual look-see. They’d put me up in a beachfront hotel. They’d pay all my transportation, lodging, and food costs. And, oh, yes, they’d also pay me, at the pay-rate for the Editor job…a thousand a week.

So I took a two-week leave from my job in Hartford and found myself back in Florida.

It was an interesting experience, to say the least. Say what you will about the Enquirer, in its own way, it did push the journalistic envelope. It did have some talented – and very dogged – journalists. And it ended up “scooping” mainstream media on some major stories of the nineties and 2000’s…stories that often had an enormous effect on American society and politics. But I decided, while there, that I preferred traditional journalism…despite the $52,000 salary.

So, toward the end of the two weeks, during lunchtime, I walked in off the street to the Palm Beach Post. And they hired me as a reporter – for $12,000.

Soon after, I was on my way back down to Florida for the third - and last - time, in an ugly green Mazda with everything I owned hanging out the sides. And in a way, everything that’s happened in my life since then has been because of “The National Enquirer.” Without the Enquirer, it probably would have turned out very differently.

AMI and “The National Enquirer” may or may not survive reorganization. But they’ll always be a major reason that my life turned out as it did. And that the only snow I see now is at the top of the mountains I climb.

Steve Winston
www.winstoncommunications.com
steve@winstoncommunications.com

NEWS FROM WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS

NEWS FROM WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS


CONTACT: Steve Winston
President, WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS
(954) 575-4089
steve@winstoncommunications.com


TOP NEW YORK ATTRACTION HITS 7.5-MILLION-VISITOR MARK

New York, NY: August 30, 2010 – NY SKYRIDE, one of New York City’s top ten attractions according to attendance figures, reached a new milestone recently – the 7.5-million-visitor mark. That’s an average of more than half-a-million visitors a year since the attraction opened in 1996.

NY SKYRIDE is located in one of the biggest tourist draws in the world for the past eighty years – the Empire State Building. And it takes visitors on the most unusual ride in New York City – up, up, and away, over the Big Apple, while never leaving the ground. It’s a virtual helicopter tour of the city, from the comfort of a seat on the second floor of the world’s most famous building. You’ll feel the sensation of flight, as you lift off and then “fly” low over one great attraction after another. The ride is narrated by actor Kevin Bacon, a New York City resident. And you’ll get an aerial “tour” of the world’s greatest city.

“Reaching the 7.5 million mark really means something,” said Matthew Day, NY SKYRIDE’S Vice President of Business Development. “This is an attraction you won’t see anywhere else, and – combined with the fact that it’s located in the most famous building in the world – it really makes for a special experience. And while you’re ‘flying’ over New York, you can get a bird’s-eye view of thirty other attractions you may also want to explore.”

One of those attractions is about a hundred floors north of NY SKYRIDE – the Observatory of the Empire State Building. The two attractions offer a joint Combo ticket that not only gets you into both for a discounted price, but also gains you access to the “Fast Track” line for the observatory. The Fast Track allows visitors to bypass most of the regular Observatory line, which can sometimes have waits of up to three hours.

NY SKYRIDE (www.skyride.com) is New York’s only virtual aerial simulator, and it’s one of only a few New York attractions that also serves as a tourist guide to the city. This “aerial” swing over the streets of the Big Apple utilizes digital technology, moving platforms, and an 18-foot-screen. And it’s also proven a very big draw for local residents, as well, along with corporate, civic, and student groups that can get special rates.

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WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS (www.winstoncommunications.com) is an award-winning public relations, marketing, and communications firm in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Its Client List includes organizations such as CitiGroup, American Airlines, Alamo Rent A Car, The Florida Panthers National Hockey League Club, and The State of Florida. Steve Winston, President of WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS, was named by “PR Week” as one of the Top Twenty Public Relations Executives in America.

WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS SIGNS MAJOR NEW CLIENT

NEWS FROM WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS


CONTACT: Steve Winston
President, WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS
(954) 575-4089
steve@winstoncommunications.com


WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS SIGNS MAJOR NEW CLIENT

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: August 25, 2010 – Winston Communications today announced a major new addition to its client roster – NY SKYRIDE, one of the top ten attractions in New York City.

NY SKYRIDE recently hit the 7.5-million-visitor mark - an average of more than half-a-million visitors a year since it opened in 1996. The attraction is located in one of the biggest tourist draws in the world – the Empire State Building. And it takes visitors on the most unusual ride in New York City – up, up, and away, over the Big Apple, while never leaving the ground. It’s a virtual helicopter tour of the city, from the comfort of a seat on the second floor of the world’s most famous building. Visitors feel the sensation of flight, as they lift off and “fly” on an aerial tour of the world’s greatest city. The ride is narrated by actor Kevin Bacon, a New York City resident.

‘Winston Communications has a long and very successful history in the travel/tourism market,” said Steve Winston, President of the company. “For us, helping NY SKYRIDE tell its story is a natural extension of what we do. And it’s a very exciting addition to our client list – because it’s the only attraction of its kind.”

NY SKYRIDE is New York’s only virtual aerial simulator, and it’s one of only a few New York attractions that also serves as a tourist guide to the city. This “aerial” swing over the streets of the Big Apple utilizes digital technology, moving platforms, and an 18-foot-screen.

Winston Communications is an award-winning public relations, marketing, and communications firm that has worked with organizations such as CitiBank, American Airlines, Alamo Rent a Car, The Florida Panthers NHL Hockey Club, and The State of Florida. And it has regularly generated coverage of its clients in media such as CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX-TV, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, “Business Week,” “Forbes,” “Fortune,” USA Today, and The Associated Press. Steve Winston was named as one of the top twenty public relations executives in America by “PR Week.”

“Attendance figures show that we’re already one of the top ten attractions in New York,” said Matthew Day, Vice President of Business Development for NY SKYRIDE. “And now we’re going to really get our story out, with a partner that specializes in generating new business for its clients. We’re thrilled to hook up with Winston Communications.”