Business Ethics Case

1.) What kind of paper is the National Enquirer?

The National Enquirer is a tabloid that was started in 1926 by William Radolph Hearst. When the paper was first started is was called the New York Enquirer. In 1952 Generoso Pope, Jr. purchased the paper and he used a lot of great marketing techniques by getting the newspaper into supermarkets racks across the country in the 1970's (Randall, 1986). Pope knew that he needed to pay top dollar to the top reporters and editors in order to be successful. He needed the paper to be the best out there. There were a lot of people that found the paper to be tactful and offensive, but at the same time it grabs people's attention. It provides readers with information that they might not find anywhere else.

2.) Was it ethical for the National Enquirer to try to avoid a lawsuit in California?

I actually feel that is wasn't very ethical for them to try and avoid a lawsuit in California. I believe that with this case the paper was trying hard to avoid a lawsuit in California because this is where most of their fan base is from. If the trial could be held out of California and somewhere else than it might be something to think about.

3.) Are the defendants subject to suit in California? Why or why not?

Yes, I believe that the defendants are subject to a suit in California because the plaintiff was emotionally hurt by this statement in the state of California. The National Enquirer did know that that they would be harming her in the state where career was and where it would cause her finacial stress.