National Press Club President Mark Hamrick described it as the digital duopoly of the “glittery and grimy,” but TMZ Founder Harvey Levin insisted his #1-in-the-world entertainment news site/TV show/radio program/celebrity bus tour empire is actually “aggressive, but we’ve figured out a way of doing it that is relevant to what is going on today… [As a nation] we have our eyes on the wrong thing a lot, but it’s not limited to celebrity.”
Speaking at the Press Club’s renowned speakers series, Levin spoke about how he’s managing “an industry in trouble” and creating a workable niche. “I bet Tom Brokaw is not gonna talk about Lindsay Lohan in the morning!” he laughed in reference to the upcoming luncheon schedule.
“Every day when I walk into my office, I walk in scared about what’s happening to the business. But I don’t run scared looking at others. I run scared of myself… In five years, this will be a radically different business, and my effort is being spent on blending the elements.” Blending… and building trust. “Trust is the biggest thing.”
He admits he’s also spending time preparing for a TMZ DC, and a relocation to the Beltway may be in his future. “It’s gonna happen, someday. I want to do TMZ DC more than anything… but I realized it will require me to be here for a while.” Politicos, prepare to mind your Ps and Qs!
