I used to be a tabloid reporter AMA

[AprilONeil]

Been meaning to offer up a thread on here for a while but tbh have been too nervous, since I know how people round these 'ere parts feel about the tabloids.

Anyway, I used to work as a showbiz reporter on a British tabloid newspaper (would rather not say which one because potentially outing) and have since moved into a more 'worthy' area of journalism.

AMA...

(Dons hard hat)

Is there anything you've done you're ashamed of? Written something that's had a consequence on someone's life?

@yoyoyooo

Is there anything you've done you're ashamed of? Written something that's had a consequence on someone's life?

Yes, unfortunately. When I started and was eager to prove myself. Both times they were about private individuals who had an association with a celebrity but they turned out to be the focus of the story.

Is Cowell gay?

I don't know if the stories had a consequence on their life (they were small stories and I hope they didn't) but I'm not proud of them.

@TheSpottedZebra

Is Cowell gay?

Sadly I've no inside knowledge on this but have heard the rumours!

How did you justify to yourself making people's personal business public?

I don't mean the famous for being famous type who tip off the press but those who are household names but don't court publicity. Why do journos think it's OK to open them up to public scrutiny?

@lifesalongsong

How did you justify to yourself making people's personal business public?

I don't mean the famous for being famous type who tip off the press but those who are household names but don't court publicity. Why do journos think it's OK to open them up to public scrutiny?

Because, in order to be famous, you have to court publicity, or done so at some point. It's a Faustian bargain - if you want your single/film/book whatever to be really successful (so someone pays you to make more) you need publicity and the reality is the public aren't really interested in your craft but your personal life, it's human nature.

There are plenty of ways to still do what you love (be it acting/singing/writing) and not be famous - but you probably won't be very well paid or well treated.

It's Human nature
That's one way of putting it.... but surely nothing good can come from amplifying the base aspects of Human nature?

Was there topics/people who were just totally off limits?

And to balance out my earlier negative question, was there ever something you'd investigated/covered that lead to some sort of justice?

Sorry for lots of questions, I'm fascinated

@Heffalooomia

It's Human nature That's one way of putting it.... but surely nothing good can come from amplifying the base aspects of Human nature?

Is gossip really the basest aspect of human nature? I can think of a lot worse things that humans do.

Anyone who has wanted to be famous in the last two decades knows what they're letting themselves in for, imho, and they've decided the perks - work in a career they enjoy, freebies, tons of money, adoration, having a platform, the ability to work as much or little as they want - outweighs the negatives.

the reality is the public aren't really interested in your craft but your personal life, it's human nature.

Personally I couldn't give a fart in a hurricane who Amy Winehouse was seeing, what Avicii was wearing, whether Chris Cornell was shopping, if Keith Flint liked pizza. Their talent and what they produced was more important and interesting.

@yoyoyooo

Was there topics/people who were just totally off limits?

And to balance out my earlier negative question, was there ever something you'd investigated/covered that lead to some sort of justice?

Sorry for lots of questions, I'm fascinated

There were a couple we tended to stay away from, for various reasons - for example there was one miserable old rock star who complained about tabloids all the time, which made me wonder what difference did it make if we wrote about him since he was always moaning anyway - and he's happy to do interviews when he's got something to promote, of course. But I think the editors just didn't want to be drawn into spats all the time.

In terms of justice - there was one story about a very MeToo situation (and this was pre-MeToo) where an older (well-known) man was using funds from his public-facing job to prop up this very, very young woman to work in his institution and be his mistress - it was so gross and we were all set to run it but he got an injunction to stop us so it never ran. I was really upset we didn't fight it harder. He still pops up from time to time pontificating about morality and such, which makes my blood boil.

Other than that I felt the stories we did about politicians (I also covered lighter stuff about them as well as celebs/socialites) that showed their hypocrisy were satisfying - so when they'd expensed something outrageous or used private chauffeurs for tons of money when they could have taken a black cab for a tenner.

@iklboo

the reality is the public aren't really interested in your craft but your personal life, it's human nature.

Personally I couldn't give a fart in a hurricane who Amy Winehouse was seeing, what Avicii was wearing, whether Chris Cornell was shopping, if Keith Flint liked pizza. Their talent and what they produced was more important and interesting.

Unless you're a real music aficionado, how likely is it most people wanted to read an interview with Amy Winhouse or Avicii (rip both) talking about the mixing process, keys, bass lines, vocal practice, rehearsal, set up etc etc. Sounds pretty niche to me.

Did you ever use the phrase 'drops jaws' or 'stuns' with every article?

Do you read DM and find their showbiz reporting skills highly embarrassing?

I don't / didn't want to read interviews with them at all to be honest. I don't read celebrity magazines, gossip etc.

@VacMan

Did you ever use the phrase 'drops jaws' or 'stuns' with every article?

Do you read DM and find their showbiz reporting skills highly embarrassing?

Can't remember if I used either of those but definitely "raised eyebrows" and "there have been whispers"

Re: the DM - and most newspaper websites - one thing that I find frustrating is that people don't realize the website and the newspaper are usually run by completely separate teams of people.

I've worked in both print and digital and print is always much more thorough. With digital it's always about churning out as much as you can and getting as many hits as possible.

@TheSpottedZebra

Is Cowell gay?

My parents know a TV personality who met Cowell before he was well known in the media (ie, when he was still behind the scenes mostly) and was sure he was with a boyfriend! Wouldn't surprise me if he's bi.

Did you work for the s*n

@iklboo

I don't / didn't want to read interviews with them at all to be honest. I don't read celebrity magazines, gossip etc.

That's fair enough but plenty of people (myself included) do. And celebrities want us to read them so we're aware of whatever it is they're trying to flog.

Who are the most common 'close sources'?

Basically where does the info come from?

Have you ever been ashamed of your previous career? Where your parents proud of you for being a tabloid journalist? Did you tell your new colleagues what your job used to be and what is their reaction?

How often do you sit on stories for strategic or other reasons? Are there loads of interesting things you’d love the public to know but can’t reveal, like because of that superinjunction? (Don’t worry you don’t have to reveal!)

@Twizbe

Who are the most common 'close sources'?

Basically where does the info come from?

It comes from all sorts of places - social media, publicists, friends/enemies/acquaintances. Quite a lot of journalists are well connected (went to the same schools etc) and will pass stories along too.

I remember one celeb was getting married and a colleague saw the wedding invite at a mutual friend's house, which is how we found out when and where it would be.

Anyone who has wanted to be famous in the last two decades knows what they're letting themselves in for, imho, and they've decided the perks - work in a career they enjoy, freebies, tons of money, adoration, having a platform, the ability to work as much or little as they want - outweighs the negatives.

You appear to be conflating 'anyone who wanted to be famous' with 'any person in the public eye'. Wanting 'to be famous' and being famous because you become successful in your field are not the same thing. And it is ok to garner publicity to promote a record/book/film, it does not have to sit hand-in-hand with having your private life raked over and being doorstepped and hounded.

Do you ever feel guilty for anything you have published?

@Rhubardandcustard

Have you ever been ashamed of your previous career? Where your parents proud of you for being a tabloid journalist? Did you tell your new colleagues what your job used to be and what is their reaction?

No, I've never been ashamed. I believe strongly in freedom of the press and in fact I quite enjoyed people's reactions when I told them where I worked (even though the reactions were mostly negative). Plus I always had lots of celeb anecdotes to entertain people with.

As for colleagues, tbh tabloid reporters are among the most (grudgingly) respected among journalists because it really hones your skills as a journalist - how to sniff out a story, research it and write it in a catchy way. It was excellent training for the work I do now.