Gossip columnist A gossip columnist is someone who writes a gossip column in a newspaper or magazine , especially a gossip magazine , that prints gossip stories , spreading news of a personal , private nature , and/or rumors and lies , usually about show business , the motion picture , theater , and television industries , celebrities , movie stars , superstars , people of politics , sports , and of wealth and society . Some gossip columnists broadcast segments on radio and television . Famous gossip columnists include : Cindy Adams Rona Barrett Ana Marie Cox ( also known as Wonkette ) Nigel Dempster Jinx Falkenburg Jimmy Fidler Luke Ford Sheilah Graham Hedda Hopper Dorothy Kilgallen Elsa Maxwell Louella Parsons Liz Smith Ed Sullivan Walter Winchell Categories : Writing occupations 