Some of the newspaper's claims may seem outlandish, but it is important that there is a public forum where alternative opinions on current events can be expressed. Some rumours, after all, turn out to be true and the majority of the readership are intelligent enough to make up their own minds, having seen events reported by various sources.

It is definitely true that some rumours reported by the tabloids turn out to be true, and the kind of determined reporting practised by their journalists is a valuable check on the actions of those in authority. But often, in what come to be the most 'high-profile' or important examples, the propagation of these rumours exerts a more powerful influence over the 'truthfulness' of the rumour than the facts themselves. How many instances have there been where 'public' figures have been 'exposed' by tabloids, and, regardless of the truthfulness of the claims, been told their position of authority 'has become untenable'. Whilst general opinion may not agree with Max Mosley's private life, calls for his resignation after his 'exposure' shifted the 'truth' claims of his actions away from fact and into influence and perception - that is, the 'rumour' became more influential than the facts. His position as President of FIA was deemed to have 'become untenable', but such an accusation can only have been seriously considered by those who placed greater importance on the hype over the report, rather than the facts of his behaviour, (regardless of its morality). His case was an interesting one for several reasons, not least his privacy victory in the courts, but also because the kind of real politics of spin and reputation normally reserved for Westminster scandals crossed into a different sphere, and without Mr Mosley's defensive actions may have extended the power of these rumours quietly into other spheres. It is this kind of slippage that is pernicious and discrediting to not just the tabloids but the broadsheets, broadcasters and bloggers, and most importantly why the valuable 'alternative opinions' of the tabloids are overshadowed by sensationalism.

There will always be a minority of members of society who react violently to issues without really thinking their actions through. Tabloids cannot be held responsible for this; they do not incite their readers directly to violence or demonstration. While their handling of issues may be a little sensationalist, they raise awareness of very real threats in the modern world.

They must however publish true and accurate stories. Freedom of the press does not constitute the freedom to spread lies and make false claims about people. There have been several recent court cases where tabloids and magazines have been forced to pay damages to famous people after publishing false stories about them.