At 7:30 a.m. in the TMZ newsroom, founder Harvey Levin presides over the daily editorial meeting. Standing at a lectern overlooking his staff and sipping from a brightly colored water tumbler, he fields impassioned pitches from producers. They fiercely advocate for stories pursued in the pre-dawn hours, each vying for a spot on the network’s top-rated Fox show. The potential stories are debated: Howard Stern’s potential return, Cardi B in disguise, and an update on the viral “Phillies Karen” incident. The entire exchange is filmed, providing B-roll for TMZ’s extensive online and television programming.
Levin, 75, maintains a lean, muscular physique from daily workouts and exudes a frenetic energy that matches his younger staff. As the first to arrive at the company’s massive headquarters after a 3 a.m. start, his enthusiasm is undiminished. “I saw a great murder on Dateline,” he announces to the room, sparking a quick question from the crew: “Did the wife do it?” Levin laughs, “No, the ex-wife.”
The room is a mix of seasoned veterans who have become celebrities in their own right—like Charles Latibeaudiere, Shevonne Sullivan, and Charlie Neff—and newer faces, such as Courtney Doucette and TMZ Sports executive producer Michael Babcock. They debate the day’s lineup with a heated but familiar candor, with even the general counsel, Jason Beckerman, weighing in on editorial decisions. The transparency of the process leaves little mystery as to how TMZ’s content is produced.
The team is composed of tenacious, well-sourced journalists armed with extensive digital contact lists that include the city’s true influencers: police officers, emergency room personnel, agents, doormen, bartenders, and drivers. Their network encompasses anyone and everyone in a position to recognize a developing story.
This relentless pursuit of scoops from every corner of Los Angeles calls to mind a line from the film L.A. Confidential, uttered by tabloid journalist Sid Hudgens as he exposes Hollywood’s secrets: “Off the record, on the q.t. and very hush-hush.”
