Scientific reports written by some big-name bodybuilder might very well be the work of a ghostwriter, so don't be surprised if you find a guy whose most common sound is "Duuh" supposedly writing an in-depth article about advanced biomechanics. As for training advice, just skip it. Everybody who's not taking in the quantities of drugs these boys are into won't have any interest in it anyway, as it's simply not applicable. It's like taking advice about competitive boat-racing when you're working on your pick-up truck in your backyard.
The gossip part is amusing. Just think of Venice as a little Wonderland inhabited with all kinds of crazies, and among the crazies you find a bunch of huge bodybuilders, male and female, who're all desperately trying to be the top 5 in the world. The main part avoid work, do drugs and only hang out with each other. Is the stage set for a marathon clown act or what? Once in a while someone gets busted, screws around too much or dies from the drug abuse, and in between they spend their time bad-mouthing each other, trying to become movie stars and promoting the supplement company that pays the most. It's actually pretty sad, but as they're doing it out of their own free will I can't feel too sorry for them. Think of it as a farce and you'll have the right perspective.
Research
The best part about the mags is that most of them have a good staff of scientists and doctors who are experts in the field and tell the latest research to you - in plain English! Again, beware of scam artists who might hold some Ph.D. or similar, but consistently push a certain brand. If you suspect someone to be paid off, it's not at all unlikely that the person is.
Fortunately, most of the people in that field are serious and reliable persons, so it should be pretty easy for you to weed out the scams. If they have a Q&A column and answer everything by listing a few recommended brands - but also add: "...but if you REALLY want your dollar's worth, go for the 'MegaTech' brand!" - you know there's something fishy going on.
Ignore anybody who claims that he found a supplement to be equally or more effective than a steroid.
Competitions, photo shoots etc.
Competitions are interesting as they tend to set the tone for the bodybuilding world in terms of the ideal. If BIG gets rewarded, BIG is the goal. If RIPPED gets rewarded - well, you get it. Photo shoots are mainly for inspiration, but ignore the poundages they're using. If you see someone doing shoulder presses with 400 lbs, don't assume that it's the normal workout-weight that the person is usually repping out with, but more likely something he's working his ass off just holding up for a few seconds for the shoot until the helpers are there to take the weights down again. Otherwise you might find interesting tidbits of information, suggestions for low-fat meals and ways to stay mentally sharp. Soak it up, be critical and weed out the 90% that doesn't make sense or doesn't apply to you. Keep the rest and use it to your advantage. After all, it's all about getting the tools for YOUR progress.
