by Jade Fitzgerald

Created on: July 13, 2009   Last Updated: July 14, 2009

Unless you've been living in a convent for the past few years, you know all about what Paris Hilton has been up to. In-fact, sometimes it seems that you know more about Paris, Lilo and co than you do about your own friends.

It's not surprising though. The day Anna Nicole Smith died the newspapers and news channels dedicated a huge amount of time and space to the ex model. CNN focused solely on her life nearly all day. For a whole day the death of a person who once posed naked for Playboy was the only news we were informed of. What about political issues? Or the war in Iraq? It seemed that the things that actually affect us were not deemed important enough to warrant any coverage.

However, the truth is celebrity sells. Upon hearing that Michael Jackson had died how many people tuned into a news channel and watched for hours?! The chances are the only time many of these people watch a news TV channel is when a big entertainment story breaks.

No matter how much people complain and insist 'nobody cares' the facts speak for themselves. Around 7 million celebrity gossip magazines are sold weekly. Add this to the number of hits that websites such as Perez Hilton and TMZ get each day and it's clear that in-fact people are interested and do care.

There are many reason for this celebrity obsession. One reason is we use celebrity gossip as a way to escape the gloomy reality. Aside from celebrity news, most of the stories that makes the papers are what can only be described as depressing. Headlines from today's news include "Girl, 6, dies from Swine Flu" and "Memorial service for the soldiers killed in Taliban held today." Add to this the stress of daily life it is understandable that people will want a little release. Watching celebrities make a fool of themselves on reality TV or reading about the latest celeb divorce in US weekly is that release.

Another reason for the level of attention we give them is because we want to be like them. At the height of the 'Friends' fame it was reported that Jennifer Aniston's hairstyle was requested in salons so often that it went down as the most popular female hairstyle of the decade.

Celebrities can also determine our style. Put Angelina Jolie in an affordable dress and it will sell like hot cakes. Many people believe that if they wear something that a celebrity has worn then it makes them cool: "You can't slate this dress, Kate Moss has got it." Although, many of us are confident and happy, there are still many people who seek approval. Wearing or doing something a celebrity does gives them this approval: "If it's good enough for Madonna, it's good enough for me."

Then of course there is the idol aspect. Many celebrities are idolised by people wanting to get into the industry, be it acting or singing or what have you. These people follow certain celebrities in their chosen profession in order to gain tips on making it big.

Then there are the celebrities who are inspirations to everybody because of what they do. Even though the whole world and his dog wanted Brad to stay with Jen, nobody could completely hate Angelina because she does so much for charity and humanity. She is an example of a celebrity using their fame to achieve good things.

Editors, producers and the paparazzi will say they're only supplying the pictures/TV footage/articles that the public want but it's the chicken and egg argument: Are we reading gossip magazines and watching E TV! just because they're there? Or are these publications and TV programmes in existence because we want them? I guess we'll never know....

Learn more about this author, Jade Fitzgerald.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.