Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

TMZ Takes Blogging to a New Low, Sponsored by AT&T

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

()

Earlier today TMZ had a live camera spying on people trying to eat at the Urth Cafe on Melrose. They almost seemed giddy about the fact that they were going to hopefully deliver the world video images of the likes of Us Weekly celebs buying, uh, coffee.

When the cameras weren't being shut down by Johnny Law, all they really documented were the sweaty backs of hard-working busboys. But still, wtf, TMZ? You're in an industry where the stars literally spread their legs for you and this is where you think you need to stoop?

Bad enough that TMZ has decided to sully the good name of blogging (since it's clearly not journalism) while attempting to pull off such a stunt, but look who's advertising, thus supporting, TMZ's blatant invasion of privacy: none other than AT&T, the Bell who will do you well if the name of your game is spying... allegedly.

Support for LAist comes from

Ironically enough, a retired AT&T employee, a key eyewitness, is speaking in Washington this week to blow the whistle on the phone company and their role in the official type of domestic spying.

Acronyms of a feather...

Update: TMZ's Publicist / Marketing Manager Carolyn Fenton writes in to clarify that the outrage is not a bug, but a feature, and it does not have a specific sponsor per se:

Hi Tony: With regard to your post, “TMZ Takes Blogging to a New Low, Sponsored by AT&T,” it should be noted that AT&T is NOT sponsoring this feature. They are simply advertising throughout the site.

Best,

Carolyn

screenshot of TMZ.com taken at 2:02 pm today

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist