Today, a coworker e-mailed me an article with the headline "Former Miss America Co-Host Gary Collins Involved In Car Accident."

The article inspired me to write this blog post, which I guess really is all about how frustrating it is to see pageantry highlighted in the media negatively, for no reason.

The last time Gary Collins hosted the Miss America pageant was in 1989...21 years ago. But the wire service that broke this story chose to include his Miss America connection in the title of the story.

Why? I guess because having "Miss America" in a headline coupled with "car accident" is more...sensational? But it's almost inaccurate.  He isn't affiliated with MAO and he hasn't hosted the show in 20 years. He is, in the interest of full disclosure, married to Mary Ann Mobley, a former Miss America. But that still doesn't explain why - out of all his gigs during his entire career - the Miss America portion was expounded upon.

It's hard to improve the image of pageantry or even build an image to begin with when the only thing that is pounced on are negative things, or things that have no actual bearing on MAO.

I do not believe that any press is good press - although that's a popular idiom. I want our organization (and the volunteers and contestants) to be highlighted for all the good things they do.

I am dedicated to highlighting those accomplishments and I know that you are, too.

What are your thoughts on this?