The traditional relationship that has long existed between the press and elected officials is about to get a makeover.
TMZ, famous for breaking some of the biggest stories in pop culture and celebrity news, has announced that it is putting together a cohort of reporters that will be dedicated to covering Republicans and Democrats in Washington, D.C.
Not only is it a major expansion of TMZ’s already extensive paparazzi-like coverage, but a signal that the traditional relationship that has long existed between the press and elected officials is about to change in a major way.
It’s no secret: journalism has, and continues to, evolve. Long gone are the days when the average American household began their day with a coffee and the newspaper and ended their evening listening to Walter Cronkite, Chet Huntley, or Dan Rather. Yet, with the rise of pop culture and the overconsumption of celebrity news, tabloid-esque outlets like PageSix and TMZ have created a cult following, with clickbait, sensationalized posts, and headlines making the most money for newsrooms in an era where media struggles to sell subscriptions.
For politicians and candidates hoping to join the ranks of having an election certificate, the game has officially changed. While the relationship between the media and political figures has grown tense in recent years, the rules of engagement have largely stayed the same. Yet, the introduction of TMZ throws the future of that relationship into limbo.
For organizations like TMZ, the rules of engagement have never and will never apply to them. While they have reporters on staff, they have no problem paying for scoops and stories – turning average Americans into potential citizen journalists. A prime example is TMZ’s dedication to tracking down members who left D.C. amid the shutdown.
Traditional outlets like Fox News or CNN would never have covered or had access to stories like this before. Now, anyone with a ticket to Disney World could potentially make an extra buck tracking a congressman on vacation.
It’s not just citizen-led journalism, but TMZ’s paparazzi-style tactics for getting interviews are reminiscent of tactics used by political trackers, forcing politicians to be on guard at all times.
The game has changed for candidates, and communications professionals must prepare their clients for the magnification of attention on their lives , on and off Capitol Hill.
-Preya Samsundar, Communications Director