The infamous gossip paper TMZ once again breached press guidelines on reporting death on the evening of Oct. 16, 2024. Their latest stunt concerns the death of Liam Payne, former member of boyband One Direction.
TMZ broke the news of Payne’s death, posting graphic images of the incident, which was an inappropriate choice and runs contrary to common practices when reporting on such matters. Readers were met with imagery of Payne’s body, whose tattoos were used as “proof” to identify the late singer. No formal warning was issued prior to the graphic imagery being shown — an aspect that surely creates a distrust from a reader’s perspective.
Outcry over the image of Payne circulated by TMZ led to the eventual edit of the article, but not before the images were widely shared.
“We’re not showing the whole body, but you can clearly see his tattoos — a clock on his left forearm, and a scorpion on his abdomen,” read the text included in the aforementioned TMZ article.
The now edited version of the story can be seen on the TMZ website, however, no official announcement has been made addressing the reason for its edited reupload.
Unethical reporting
When reporting, journalists must adhere to guidelines to ensure ethical practices are upheld. Not only do these guidelines allow for the article to be respectful, but its implementation allows for all angles to be understood, leading to a truthful and more approachable story.
According to IMPRESS, an organization created to provide journalists with tools to publish ethically, journalists must follow certain guidelines to ensure they are reporting with integrity. In 2017, they released the standards code, a set of standards intended to end invasive journalistic practices and unethical news reporting. Code 6.1 reads, “Publishers must not interfere with investigations or cases, whether intentionally or carelessly.” Code 7.1 reads, “publishers must respect people’s reasonable expectation of privacy.” TMZ’s report on Payne’s death did not adhere to these standards.
TMZ’s history of violation
The disregard of associated press guidelines is not new to TMZ reporters. In countless cases of celebrity deaths, TMZ was found to have broken multiple press guidelines, going so far as to get in hot water with local authorities.
In early 2020, TMZ found itself at the forefront of a breaking news story regarding the death of basketball star Kobe Bryant. As news sources across the country scrambled to confirm the rumor of 41-year-old Bryant’s death, TMZ published the news a little over an hour after the discovery of the helicopter crash that killed Bryant and his daughter.
As a direct result of the speed in which this article was published, official routes were left unable to inform the family members of the victims prior to the article’s publishing.
“It would be extremely disrespectful to understand that your loved one … perished and you learn about it from TMZ,” said Los Angeles County Police Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
A strategy for breaking news
Over the lifetime of TMZ’s rise to fame, their catalog of accurate breaking news sources have led to concerns among reporters. And as their track record of reporting celebrity deaths grows, the ways they get their scoops has come under scrutiny.
According to a 2016 article by the New Yorker, TMZ is known to pay for valid tips — these tips coming from people as respectable as notable lawyers or members of the court. Such tactics allow for a speed of reporting that gives no time for law enforcement to do their jobs or loved ones to grieve. TMZ may be the first to report, but at what cost?
They can’t keep getting away with it
TMZ’s inconsiderate and insensitive reporting is not okay. Their blatant disrespect to family members and loved ones has led to community outcry. TMZ reporters must realize that violating journalistic practices harms everyone involved.
When reading the news, you may come across stories on both inspirational and tragic situations. It is important to be aware of the way in which these organizations present their pieces. TMZ’s unethical and unjust reporting practices not only cause great harm to those close to the person of interest, but shed a negative light on journalism as a whole; negatively branding others with their historic misconduct. They must be held to a higher standard.
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