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TMZ: A Credible Source For Breaking News?

Screenshot of TMZ's release of Donald Sterling audio.
Screenshot of TMZ's release of Donald Sterling audio.

Last week, the celebrity gossip and entertainment news website TMZ released audio of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racist and incendiary remarks in a phone conversation with his girlfriend.

Since the audio went public, the story has gained mass media attention, resulting in the NBA commissioner issuing Sterling a lifetime ban from the NBA and a fine of $2.5 million.

However, this is not the only major news story the gossip site has broken in past years. The news of Michael Jackson’s death, the Manti Te’o girlfriend hoax and the story of Mel Gibson’s arrest on charges of driving under the influence are among the stories that TMZ has broken.

NPR’s Media Correspondent David Folkenflik discusses TMZ’s credibility with Here & Now’s Jeremy Hobson.

Guest

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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