Examining TMZ: What traditional digital journalism can learn from celebrity news |
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| Authors: | Angelica Kalika Patrick Ferrucci |
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| Institution: | 1. Angelica Kalika is a PhD candidate and instructor in the Department of Journalism in the College of Media, Communication and Information at University of Colorado Boulder. Her research focuses on alternative information media models such as satire, digital journalism, and unique local broadcast ventures that add to a growing discussion on the future of normative news practices.;2. Patrick Ferrucci (PhD, University of Missouri) is an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism in the College of Media, Communication and Information at University of Colorado Boulder. His research examines different aspects of media sociology, primarily economic and technological influences on digital news production. |
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| Abstract: | TMZ remains one of the most popular destinations for people searching for news on the Web. Even though the site publishes celebrity news, traditional news organizations may be able to learn something from how TMZ caters to its audience. This study, using textual analysis, examines all stories published on the site during a one-month period (N = 1,002). We illustrate the types of content the site publishes (paparazzi-based content; document-based reporting; sports-themed material; and reader polls), and the results are interpreted through the lens of market theory for news production. |
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| Keywords: | Celebrity News Digital Journalism Market Theory News Production Textual Analysis TMZ |
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