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 it common that a celebrity will have a friend/family member/employee who leaks stories about them to the press?

E.g. When the article says 'A source tells us... '

@Violetparis

Was there any truth in the story that Marina Wheeler was the lawyer involved in the drunken incident at Waterloo station ?

I honestly don't know I'm afraid - it was definitely denied at the time

@NC4Now

What’s the most you’ve paid for a story/tip off?

About £300-500 I have heard of much higher sums but I think it would have to be for something huge.

@AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet

Is it common that a celebrity will have a friend/family member/employee who leaks stories about them to the press?

E.g. When the article says 'A source tells us... '

The source can really be anyone but yeah usually someone in their circle, eg a friend of a friend or someone they've worked with or live in the same area as.

Team Vardy or Team Colleen?!

Do all celebrities take drugs? I remember someone telling me the drug world was crazy behind the scenes and completely normalised.

What proportion of stories don't get published?

How come you left BTW?

@crosshatching

Team Vardy or Team Colleen?!

I can't decide! - can't wait for the trial lol

Hmm. Very interesting and thanks for answering, but can you serve a bit more ☕️ please you're anonymous here!

@Lelophants

Do all celebrities take drugs? I remember someone telling me the drug world was crazy behind the scenes and completely normalised.

Again I was pretty innocent because it's just so not my scene (I think journos who went looking for it would probably find it) but from people I know more in the celeb world, yes, it's very very prevalent.

I did do an interview with someone where they were almost certainly on drugs. It was a "round table" - so where a few journos gather around a (literally) round table with a couple of cast/crew members and the way this bloke kept touching the journalist next to him - who was male - and the things he was saying made me very sure he was high. If it had been a female journalist he'd been touching like that there'd have been issues.

Having said that most of the celebs I've met have seemed sober - but maybe that's because they're at events where they need to be professional or I'm mostly just too naive to tell.

@Lelophants

What proportion of stories don't get published?

How come you left BTW?

Hmm maybe a third of stories don't get published (for the reasons I mentioned earlier). It can be really frustrating when you've got a great story and can't say anything.

You can't do anything medical btw - including pregnancy - unless the celeb has already disclosed it themselves.

[quote Notredamn ]Are there any really famous people who are the complete opposite of their public persona?[/quote]

Haha ok let me think.

Ariana Grande
Rachel Riley
Sam Smith

Oh and I left because I wanted to do a different kind of journalism, it just didn't feel that satisfying.

But I do love gossip and when I come across a story I send it in. So I've become a source ha.

The 3 celebs you mentioned have a mixed public persona so are you saying they are opposite in a bad way ? Thank you for answering the questions.

What does AMA mean?

Ask Me Anything

Ask me anything!! That’s what it means I’ve worked it out 😂

Right let me think....

@Violetparis

Ask Me Anything

Before I seen your reply I realised. Thank you for helping me though

Are the David Beckham rumours true?

@MargotMoon

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?

@MargotMoon is absolutely right. Many people become well-known because of their achievements.

I very much doubt Mo Farah (for instance) decided to become a runner because he wanted to be famous - he just wanted to win races. JK Rowling didn't write the first Harry Potter book because she yearned to become a celebrity.

There's a big difference between people who are famous because they are very well-known due to their success and achievements, and those who are a 'celebrity' because they've married a premiership footballer or been on some reality tv show.

Be honest... if there is no story about someone the editor wants to mention, do they make one up?

@Violetparis

The 3 celebs you mentioned have a mixed public persona so are you saying they are opposite in a bad way ? Thank you for answering the questions.

Let's say I didn't have the most positive experiences with them

It's been reported that next month someone will win the top prize on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Therefore an ordinary member of the public will be thrust into the spotlight - a situation that they're entirely unused to. Same with big Lotto winners who go public.

Presumably it'll be on some of the front pages. How far would you go to get a story? Would you place an ad - 'Do you know Fred/Freda Bloggs?' Would you ask where they live? Knock on neighbours' doors? Find out where they worked or went to school? Would you be concerned about turning their world upside down?

@AWiseWomanOnceSaidFuckThisShit

Are the David Beckham rumours true?

Which ones!? I have spoken to a lot of people all of whom have heard certain, similar rumours to each other - I've based my own opinion on that.

Great thread!

There are rumours that the marriage has been a total sham for years and that he has various mistresses and illegitimate children all over the place?