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(L to R) Erica Tsioutas of Celebrity editors like extended interviews with celebs if possible and prefer emails from PR reps before phone calls or in-person visits, a PRSA/New York “Meet the Media” audience was told March 23 at Cohn & Wolfe.
The editors don’t mind a celebrity being linked with some product or company as long as this is kept at a discreet level.
Panelists were Kristin Harris, BuzzFeed; Allison Cacich, Life & Style Weekly; Leora Arnowitz, Foxnews.com; Jenna Lemoncelli, Hollywood Life; Joi-Marie McKenzie, ABC News, and Carly Sitzer, In Touch Weekly.
Recent interviews of Harris included Ryan Gosling, Kate Winslet, Robert De Niro, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna and the cast of Pretty Little Liars.
Panelists mostly confined themselves to generalizations about their work habits and how best to reach them with few names of celebs being mentioned.
Arnowitz Did “Worst” Celeb Scandals
Celeb and gossip columnists, while tracking the news of stars, also pride themselves on showing that stars have “feet of clay.”
Arnowitz last December listed the “Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2016.”
No. 1 was the arrest of Austin Lee Russell of Pawn Stars, also known as Chumlee, when police found drugs and a gun in his Las Vegas home. He was booked on 19 counts of drug possession and one weapons charge.
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(L to R) Allison Cacich, senior online and social media editor, Life & Style Weekly; Carly Sitzer, senior online and social media editor, In Touch Weekly; Leora Arnowitz, entertainment editor, Foxnews.com.
(L to R) Jenna Lemoncelli, news and entertainment writer/reporter, Hollywood Life; Kristin Harris, celebrity editor and talent relations coordinator, BuzzFeed; Joi-Marie McKenzie, author and entertainment/lifestyle writer, ABC NewsNo. 2 was the “messy breakup” of “Hollywood good girl” Taylor Swift with Calvin Harris and her “reignited feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.”
Others were the alleged “lie” of Ryan Lochte about an incident after the Olympics in Brazil; the accusation that Johnny Depp abused his former wife Amber Heard; the split of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt that was accompanied by abuse charges that were later dismissed; the hospitalization of Kanye West for a reported psychotic breakdown, and the backlash against model Gigi Hadid after she “mocked Melania Trump during a speech at the American Music Awards."
McKenzie Shows Sympathy
Recent posts of McKenzie show that she has sympathy for subjects she covers and follows popular TV shows.
A March 24 item displayed “A touching video about 57 dogs saved from kill shelters.”
On the same day, she noted that Huck, a character on “Scandal” known as Olivia Pope’s “secret weapon,” was shot and viewers must wait until next week to learn more.
Other items included the note that John Mayer has a new song about former partner Katy Perry; Selena Gomez explains how “online bullying” affects her; McKenzie herself played “The Engagement Game” to obtain a marriage proposal; a couple in North Carolina moved up a wedding so a dying newborn son could take part; “What we learned about Kim Kardashian West’s robbery” on Keeping up with the Kardashians; that Glen Campbell can no longer play the guitar, his wife says; a girl battling cancer gets to see A Dog’s Purpose and a visit from the dog in the film, and that singer and songwriter Katy Perry “opens up about her sexuality.”
Life & Style Covers Trumps, Kardashians, Diets
Life & Style Weekly’s recent items note that Rob Kardashian will star in his own version of The Bachelor; that Donald and Melanie Trump “never spend the night together” since she is “unhappy as First Lady and doesn’t sleep in the same bedroom”; that Vicki Gunvalson, Tori Spelling and other celebs have gone on extreme diets; Caitlyn Jenner’s white bra caused a “wardrobe malfunction”; “ridiculous quotes” may have been said by either Blac Chyna or Kyle Jenner, and “amazing photos” are supplied of Rihanna, Lady Gaga and other celebs who have been bridesmaids.
Facebook and Other Social Media Monitored
The panelists stressed the importance of monitoring Facebook as well as other social media in staying on top of their beats. They expressed dislike of “cold” telephone calls.
The importance of “building relationships” was also stressed. Celebs who have “a point of view” are valued.
"Crafting Your Career" is the title of a New York chapter session April 4 at 6 p.m. at Ketchum. "Meet the Media: Healthcare & Technology," is the subject of a panel April 26 at Anchin, Block & Anchin.
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