TMZ's Harvey Levin Asks "Will the evening news become TMZ?" at National Press Club

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Oct 20, 2011, 04:12 ET

Celebrity news guru to discuss entertainment website as "game changer" for journalism industry, Oct. 24

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Harvey Levin, executive producer of the television entertainment magazine TMZ and creator of the celebrity news website TMZ.com, will discuss the future of news coverage in a speech entitled "Will the evening news become TMZ?" at a National Press Club Speakers luncheon Monday, October 24.

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Levin will talk about how the TMZ news delivery model with its online and television components has changed the way people receive entertainment and political news. He will discuss the rapid 24-hour news cycle and threats to accuracy and rigorous journalism standards, and he will answer critics who dismiss TMZ coverage as celebrity gossip.

"Number one--we don't do gossip; we do news," Levin said. "Number two--everybody takes our stories. If you look at CNN, if you look at all the shows, a lot of people tell us they literally get their rundowns from our site."

Within seven months of its 2005 launch, TMZ.com became the number one entertainment news website in the world with Newsweek calling it the "Breakout Blog of 2007." A New York Times report on Google's most influential news organizations lists TMZ/TMZ.com in the top ten, after the Washington Post and ahead of the LA Times, ABC, CBS, FOX, Time Magazine, and USA Today. TMZ was the first organization to break such celebrity stories as Mel Gibson's DUI arrest, the John Edwards sex scandal, and Michael Jackson's death.

Mr. Levin has received nine Emmy® Awards among others for news and investigative reporting. He was dubbed "the man who may represent the future of celebrity journalism" by The New York Times. He provides commentary for news programs and served as guest host on CNN's "Larry King Live." He created and produced the syndicated series "Celebrity Justice," worked as legal columnist for the Los Angeles Times and as legal reporter for the NBC and CBS affiliates.

The NPC luncheon begins promptly at 12:30 p.m. Remarks begin at 1 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Advance reservations should be made through (202) 662-7501 or [email protected]. The cost of luncheon admission is $18 for National Press Club members, $29 for their guests, and $36 for the general public. Tickets must be purchased at time of reservation.

National Press Club Luncheons are webcast live on press.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NPCLunch, or on Facebook at (facebook.com/PressClubDC) and Twitter (@PressClubDC). Submit questions for speakers in advance and during the live event by sending them to @QNPCLunch on Twitter. Or email a question in advance, type LEVIN in the subject line and send to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on day of luncheon.

The Press Club is on the 13th floor, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. Credentialed press may cover this event. For media inquiries, contact Melissa Charbonneau at [email protected].

About the National Press Club The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists with more than 3,400 members worldwide representing every major news organization. More than 250,000 people visit the Club each year to attend more than 2,000 events. The Club was founded in 1908 and is on the web at press.org.

SOURCE National Press Club