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)

"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?"

@sycamorecottage Right but how many stories do you see about Mo Farrah or JK Rowling on a regular basis?

Especially at the beginning of their careers, however, when they began to take off, they did do interviews and those interviews included their personal lives eg the fact JKR was a single mother when she wrote those books.

Doing those interviews helped them get more publicity and therefore more success in terms of sales/sponsorship/whatever.

Also in Hollywood if there is "buzz" around you - eg publicity - you're more likely to get cast in things. So a lot of celebs actively want to keep their names in the papers lest they become irrelevant.

And no, it absolutely doesn't work the way round of - we want to write about X so we'll make one up. There's got to be a narrative, whether it's a divorce/fling/whatever. That's what makes it compelling.

@sycamorecottage I do think you are partially right re some (many?) fiction writers - especially as they can normally live very quiet, private lives and so to have to do promo and interviews is very difficult for them. However at a certain level they do choose their own level of engagement in public conversation. Donna Tartt for example disappears for about a decade in between publications. Some others are insanely involved in twitter.

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?

Something like that happened near us. The son of a local councillor got into trouble with the law (nothing major) and we had journalists knocking on the door asking what we knew about her, him and the family. My maiden name is the same as a sportswoman from the 80s who lived in the same county and people were ringing us up asking if we were related, did we know anything about her.

@ginghamtablecloths

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?

People that are briefly in the spotlight, eg for winning the lottery, are - to be blunt - a flash in the pan. So initially there may be some publicity - and yes, door knocking is a common thing, especially if you need to give someone an opportunity to comment before you run a story - but they're not going to be in the papers for weeks on end unless there's a development in the story.

Again, though, you're talking about people who are choosing to be on TV or going public about their lottery win (you have the option to remain private when you win the lottery).

@AWiseWomanOnceSaidFuckThisShit

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?

The rumours I've heard consistently aren't that damaging but like I say, I've heard rumours.

I think one think to add about Farrah and JKR - Farrah could have stuck to running round his local park, but he chose to become a professional athlete in the full knowledge many professional athletes become celebrities.

JKR could have stuck to writing stories for her daughter but she sought out publishers so that as many people as possible could read her stories (and boy did she succeed).

So yes, they both to some extent courted celebrity ie being celebrated for their hard work and talent.

How do you feel knowing that journalists like you contributed to the death of Caroline Flack?

@Ellewoods20

How do you feel knowing that journalists like you contributed to the death of Caroline Flack?

I've never written a word about Caroline Flack so would you care to explain how I've "contributed" to her death?

Does hurling accusations of murder at people you don't know - and whose own mental health you have absolutely no idea about - make you feel good? Why is that?

I didn't say you specifically. Nor did I say you murdered her but you reply speaks volumes.

What's the quickest turnaround time from picking up a lead to getting a story published?

Other than asking for comment, what are the steps to getting a story published? How long to you give people to make a comment?

Can you give us any massive gossip? Just some clues etc?!

@Ellewoods20

I didn't say you specifically. Nor did I say you murdered her but you reply speaks volumes.

Caroline Flack was a person in the public eye arrested for assault.

It was - and is - entirely within the bounds of the law to report on that. There are stories about plenty of people - ranging from unknown to famous - being arrested on assault charges every month.

Are you suggesting she should have been treated differently because she was on telly?

In your opinion, is Katie Price an astute business woman who knows exactly what she’s doing, or is she a vulnerable woman being exploited?

Also, when a celebrity is caught doing drag or having an affair or something, so you prefer it if they deny it and come up with an excuse or come clean and give a tell-all, apologetic interview and pop off to rehab?

@AWiseWomanOnceSaidFuckThisShit

Can you give us any massive gossip? Just some clues etc?!

Ha I wish I could - I'm a bit out of the loop now anyway tbh. I'm to think of a good blind item... if I think of one I'll post it.

AprilONeil There's reporting on the case which is perfectly reasonable and then there's harassing her. Massive difference. The media did treat her differently because she was in the public eye. If Sam from Essex assaulted their partner, one or two stories would be run on the case. Clark's own family have said the media hounded her.

*doing drugs, not drag!

@TFSRM

What's the quickest turnaround time from picking up a lead to getting a story published?

Other than asking for comment, what are the steps to getting a story published? How long to you give people to make a comment?

The quickest can easily be a couple of hours, if you get a story at 3pm and the paper goes to press a few hours later.

Usually I'd be given a lead and start hunting around online to see if there's anything that can corroborate it. Next step trying to contact the person's publicist/the person themselves (or yes, sometimes their family) or acquaintances to stand it up. Or sometimes outside sources eg emergency services if there's been say an arrest or a fire. Usually they won't say much though. Or if it's say a spat with someone you go to the other person asking if it's true.

Then always give the person in question an opportunity to comment - sometimes you might have to park a story for a day or two - and once they've had the opportunity it gets sub-edited and fact-checked and, often, legalled (looked over by a lawyer) and then published.

Online is completely different though - no sub-editing or fact-checking (which is why there are so many errors).

What was your best scoop ?

Thank you. Ohhh I've got another one, you know how everyone says 'never believe what you read in the papers'? Is it really the case that absolute rubbish is often printed or are the people who say it just annoyed that something came out about them and they just want to discredit it?

@AprilONeil

I think one think to add about Farrah and JKR - Farrah could have stuck to running round his local park, but he chose to become a professional athlete in the full knowledge many professional athletes become celebrities.

JKR could have stuck to writing stories for her daughter but she sought out publishers so that as many people as possible could read her stories (and boy did she succeed).

So yes, they both to some extent courted celebrity ie being celebrated for their hard work and talent.

Are you suggesting then that anyone whose career choice meant that at the top of their game they became well known is fair game to be under scrutiny? Is that how you justify yourself?

Gosh, some of these questions are really intense. I don't believe the op is responsible for the whole of the media's practices. Give the op a break.

Really interesting thread op, how did you come to choose this as your career path?

Is it true that all blind items are true?

This is a really interesting thread! Please don't be put off OP by some of the more aggressive questioning on here. I think your 'Faustian bargain' post is spot on

@OhhhPeee

In your opinion, is Katie Price an astute business woman who knows exactly what she’s doing, or is she a vulnerable woman being exploited?

Also, when a celebrity is caught doing drag or having an affair or something, so you prefer it if they deny it and come up with an excuse or come clean and give a tell-all, apologetic interview and pop off to rehab?

I think she started off as an astute business woman but she's clearly had a lot of issues, especially since I think she spoke of being sexually assaulted when she was younger (if I'm not mistaken).

In terms of being caught doing something they shouldn't, it just depends on the celeb and their crisis management team. I don't think Kate Moss ever did an interview after or about her being caught with (allegedly) coke and she just rode it out. Some prefer to go out there and try and get ahead of it with an interview. So there are various ways of going about it.

Loving this thread ! Who looks better/ worse in real life of the celebs you have met ?