TMZ is the most trusted name in news

I haven't heard a statement or anything from the Bryant family (there might have been). We don't know how or when they found out.

Before anybody revealed the Altobelli IDs, there was already a makeshift memorial set up at the Orange Coast College baseball field. One of the assistant coaches knew he was going to be on the helicopter. He said he hoped Altobelli didn't go for whatever reason. He tried to call him after he heard about Bryant, but no answer. He would have answered. And Altobelli's brother is the SID at Orange Coast.

 

Even the Daily Mail? Or is that just for female teacher-student sex?

 

I keep waiting for YF to do one of his "the media screwed up" tapdances.

It's breaking news, folks. Anywhere from the Podunk Shopping News and Fishwrap on up, it happens. With me in that situation, after feeling overwhelmed by how little we know and how much we need to know, it was always "report what you know, not what you don't know."

 

There's a reason it is called the Thirty Mile Zone. Kobe's helicopter goes down in, say, Vegas? TMZ likely doesn't get it first.

rb

 

That Lou Grant clip - go to 40:19. Sad.

 

This was Kobe. If you are as famous as Kobe, that fame gives up certain privileges.

Now for 99.999% of all Americans, I agree with you.

If Trump dies, I would think most sources is running it before all family is notified.

 

What would Gannett pay to get a scoop?

 

Many of the "big" outlets have standards that preclude relying on TMZ for news ... other than, maybe, a "This news was first reported by [whatever outlet it was]" once the big outlet reports it. {And for the record, such "... was first reported by ... is a very professional move; too many networks or shows or personalities rely on the "Well, you know, they're saying that Babe Ruth has been brought back from the dead ..." without crediting the original reporting. }

I wouldn't doubt it also if many "big" outlets - absent an official announcement from law enforcement, family, etc. - rely on their reporters (presumably connected - that's how they earn their money) to confirm the news so that said big outlets can justifiably say, "XXXX-TV confirms that ... "

TMZ was the first that I saw to get that Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash. No argument. But I wasn't actively searching on Google for "Did Kobe Bryant die today and if so, how?"

Does the reporting Sunday mean that TMZ is the most trusted acronym in reporting? Uh, ... no.

I don't know and I don't care, but was TMZ first on the Paterno death? Ali's death? What price has TMZ paid when (if?***) it's been wrong?

*** I say "if" because I don't really care about TMZ's track record. In my job, I have standards that I have to honor. What price does TMZ pay if it's premature or just plain wrong?

 

This is what I don't understand. If people want to shit on TMZ, fine. But I am not seeing the standards at the "big" outlets. ABC national news said that all of Kobe's daughters were on board. NBC and every single local LA outlet (NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS) said for at least three hours that five people were dead. Dead wrong. So, what standards are these people using?