Page Six
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| Page Six | |
|---|---|
| Name | Page Six |
| Type | Column/Section |
| Format | Print and online |
| Owner | News Corp / New York Post |
| Founder | Col Allan (as editor) |
| Foundation | 1977 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | New York City |
Page Six is a celebrity gossip column and entertainment section published by the New York Post, known for celebrity news, rumor, and paparazzi photography. It combines short items, exclusives, and tips about public figures in film, television, music, fashion, and politics-adjacent personalities. The column has influenced tabloid journalism in the United States and internationally.
History
The column began in 1977 during an era shaped by publishers such as Rupert Murdoch and editors like Col Allan, rising alongside publications such as The Sun and National Enquirer. Early coverage intersected with stories involving figures like Andy Warhol, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, and Elizabeth Taylor, reflecting 1970s celebrity culture in Manhattan and the Hamptons. In the 1980s and 1990s it paralleled the careers of Donald Trump, Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Princess Diana, while adapting to the tabloid strategies of rivals including New York Daily News and Daily Mirror. Digital expansion in the 2000s aligned it with online outlets such as TMZ and social platforms like Twitter and Instagram, transforming circulation dynamics involving readerships around Los Angeles, London, and Hong Kong.
Format and Content
The column typically comprises short bullet items, one-line quips, and longer investigative exclusives that often feature paparazzi images and tips from celebrity handlers, publicists, and insiders like agents at CAA or WME. Coverage spans personalities from Barack Obama to Kim Kardashian, entertainers such as Beyoncé Knowles, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and directors like Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese. It reports on events including Academy Awards ceremonies, Met Gala appearances, Cannes Film Festival premieres, and courtroom matters involving figures such as Harvey Weinstein and litigations in New York County Supreme Court. The section's web presence integrates multimedia, embedding videos from YouTube and photo galleries relevant to storylines about brands like Versace and Chanel and venues such as Studio 54 and Carnegie Hall.
Notable Coverage and Impact
Items have broken or amplified stories involving politicians and celebrities including Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, RuPaul, Adele, Taylor Swift, and Prince. Coverage has influenced publicity for films like The Godfather Part II retrospectives, television series such as Friends, and music releases from Madonna and Michael Jackson. Page scoops intersected with major cultural moments—reporting around the Monica Lewinsky scandal era, the posthumous narratives of Marilyn Monroe, and celebrity legal battles like those involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Its reporting has affected publicity campaigns staged by studios such as Warner Bros., record labels like Sony Music Entertainment, and fashion houses hosting shows during New York Fashion Week.
Controversies and Criticism
The column has faced libel and privacy disputes involving figures such as Winona Ryder, George Clooney, Gwyneth Paltrow, and families of public figures in high-profile lawsuits in New York courts. Critics argue its methods mirror practices used by tabloids like News of the World and National Enquirer, raising ethical questions cited by commentators at outlets including The New York Times and The Guardian. Accusations have included reliance on anonymous tips, invasion of privacy relating to paparazzi practices near locations like LAX and LaGuardia Airport, and errors prompting corrections involving politicians and entertainers. Debates around press freedom, defamation law, and celebrity privacy have referenced precedents set in cases involving publications such as Gawker and disputes adjudicated in venues like the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Contributors and Editorial Staff
Notable editors and columnists associated with the column include senior editors drawn from the New York Post newsroom, freelancers, paparazzi photographers, and tipsters from agencies such as Getty Images and WireImage. High-profile journalists and media figures who have appeared in or critiqued the column include writers from Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, New York Magazine, and broadcasters on Fox News and CNN. Ownership and editorial directions trace to executives at News Corp and editorial leadership experienced in tabloids and broadsheets such as The Wall Street Journal.
Cultural Influence and Legacy
The column has been referenced in films and television series depicting media cultures, including satirical portrayals on Saturday Night Live, cameos in Sex and the City, and plotlines in Entourage. It contributed to the rise of celebrity-driven publicity models used by publicists servicing stars like Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West, and shaped paparazzi aesthetics influencing photographers such as Ron Galella. As gossip dissemination migrated online, the column's format informed celebrity sections at outlets like BuzzFeed and HuffPost, while ongoing debates link its practices to broader discussions involving media ethics, defamation law, and the politics of fame exemplified by figures including Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.