Undercover Reporting

A London filmmaker decided to turn the tables on those preying journalists who live to victimize celebrities in order to get the scoop for tabloids.

Many a celebrity have been duped by such journalists, remember the Martin Bashir documentary on a naïve Michael Jackson? Well, Chris Atkins, a London based filmmaker, has decided to go undercover to document ‘dubious reporting methods’ of those on the hunt of stories for celebrity tabloids.

Atkins did this by arranging meetings with many Fleet Street papers, luring them with promises of containing revealing information about television stars’ visits to private medical clinics. His plan worked, many reporters excited about the prospect of obtaining headlines that included the names of celebrities and such words as facelift or Botox, agreed to meet and speak with Atkins.
With these stealthily filmed clips from the meetings, Atkins put together a Michael Moore-esque documentary, entitled “Star-suckers,” which targets society’s growing obsession with celebrities and fame, and what he believes to be its cynical manipulation by the big media companies. Atkins said, “Media companies are in dire straits, and the only thing they have left is celebrity. They have discovered that this is an incredibly potent tool for selling.”

None of the reporters agreed to buy any of Atkin’s ‘information,’ but Atkins was able to plant many fake stories in tabloids by calling them with tips. Also, British tabloids aren’t the only target of “Star-suckers,” the documentary also addresses crazed American parents who push their kids into the spotlight, plus other European TV personalities who go into politics and ‘Irish rock stars who front global anti-poverty campaigns.’

Atkins also pointed out that although fascination with celebrity has existed for a long time, it is becoming more and more sinister as technology and greedy media companies combine to turn out greater excess almost daily.

While I totally agree with Atkins and am glad that someone has put together some sort of documentation on this topic, I must admit that I am guilty of the celebrity fascination. I am much better now, I have been sober for 5 months now (from buying tabloid magazines that is (I actually don’t know how long it’s been, I’m joking)), but I was once nearly unable to leave the checkout aisle without buying one! But in all seriousness, this is an illness that has become an epidemic in our society, because it has come to excess. For example, my stepmom receives OK, Star, People, and Us Weekly in the mail, every week! That’s sick, and a waste of money, and I know she’s not the only one.

I am a bit worried, though; I have a road trip coming up and am not sure I’ll be able to resist the temptation of buying entertainment that will last for hours on the road!