TMZ's Harvey Levin On Jackson Scoop: "We Just Beat Everybody On This One... Too Bad, So Sad" (VIDEO)

TMZ scooped the traditional media when it broke the news of Michael Jackson's death, and has been steadily earning more respect as it forges its own path among the mainstream media. CNN's Don Lemon interviewed TMZ founder Harvey Levin about his ambitious media company and their big scoop.

Lemon: You broke the story before the time of death from the coroner.

Harvey: Well, before it was officially announced. We really knew this significantly before even what was going on, but this was, you know, crossing every t. We were positive when we put it up. We put it up when we were 100% positive.

Asked by Lemon how he feels when mainstream outlets rely on TMZ reporting and yet are reluctant to cite or link to him, Levin dismisses the question as one he's not interested in. He says his only interest is in the story:

I think what happened is that again we just beat everybody on this one. And there are people who feel like wow we should have gotten that. Well, too bad, so sad.

Lemon on Sunday went on CNN's Reliable Sources to defend the extensive coverage of Michael Jackson's death, calling critics "elitist" and Jackson an "accidental civil rights leader."

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Comments

[Bingolong]

TMZ is becoming a legitimate news Org, while CNN goes "All MJ"

2 ships passing in the night ?

[pickwickianmom]

Now that makes sense. I could come down more on tmz, but, honestly people, does it really look so much worse than the accepted media?? I think it looks very similar.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

TMZ, the Smoking Gun, and the Daily Show have all the best news these days.


Which says more about the low standards of actual "news" companies.

[PaxMundis]

None of them have reasl news. Only one actually admits it.

[jj]

What's "too bad, so sad" is that Levin's life is solely wrapped around the celebrity of others and not his own. A sad life if you ask me.

[GeorgeP922]

Im sure he wipes away his tears of sadness with 100$ bills.

Im also sure you would say the same for the producers of People Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, the E channel, etc etc.

[jj]

I would.

[Forester]

he's a credit to his race?

[loubque]

whats even sadder is that you feel the need to comment also.

[jj]

Not sure about that. Levin's dedicated his whole life to chasing after celebrities and reporting on it - I've spent a total of two minutes writing a couple of comments.

While you've made a cutesy (standard) reply, I don't think youe thought it out that well.

[voltage356]

Face it, these are changing times the way how news travel now these days and the new medium is the internet.

[PaxMundis]

Yeah, and it's also how rumours and falsehoods travel, too. (Just ask Jeff Goldblum) I still trust the Times (both NY and London) a hell of a lot more than I would TMZ.

[loubque]

Yes because Jeff Goldblum was the victim of a brand new prank. It happened before with print media. Rumours are always going to be around. Just ask Richard Gere and New Kids On The Block,

[masha2008]

...and the times never get it wrong, right? get real.

[SouthJerseySteve]

The "regular" media is just jealous of TMZ! Harvey Levin is awesome--I see him on The People's Court every day! He's my hero.....

[sloreader]

Stay in Jersey then.

[Clare53]

Harvey Levin is incredibly obnoxious.

[lilkunta]

I ask this questions time and time again, HOW DOES TMZ KNOW?
Does tmz have a contact @ every hospital, nightclub, police station & more in California?

When MJ was taken to UCLA Med Ctr, did the paramedics call harvery?
How does he get all this info ?

[smchp]

It's not hard to understand.

[loubque]

People love to talk. Its pretty simple.

[DixieMelody]

Maybe he got this tip from the EMT who took the cellphone picture of MJ being ventilated.

[GeorgeP922]

Not suprised to see haters on here already.

This proves AGAIN the failings of the MSM.

TMZ works REAL hard establishing sources and verifying them.
And if you ever met anyone who works there you would know they pore over their sourcing.

Thats why when I read on TMZ that Jackson had died, I didn't need to wait the additional 30 mins before NBC and Fox were "ready" to announce it.

Harvey should be proud that his agency OWNS all the rest of them.

[electricflag]

Agree!

[PaxMundis]

Yeah, corroborating stories is sooo 20th century.
Say, did you hear Jeff Goldblum died?

[loubque]

Say, did TMZ ever report it? No, so what is your point?

Honestly I didnt know TMZ was "credible" so I didnt believe it, but I thought that something like that would need thorough "vetting" (how 2008) before posting such a bold statement.

[smchp]

yay...we were the first to report someone died. We are the champions. Nah..Nah..­na na...nah

pfffft.

[pickwickianmom]

It's called a scoop. it's a big deal if you work at a newspaper.

[xtherocksx]

You gotta hand it to TMZ, they were first. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F166o1QO6Y8 - Michael Jackson Tribute Video

[trinidadgirl]

TMZ ....really­!
For you lot it's all about breaking stories and ..is there anything else constructive? The story would have been anyway. You empty boys need to grow up,bigtime .

[loubque]

How about you own a business and not j i z z over every little blurb your company gets and then we could talk buddy.

[masha2008]

i guess you're not in the news business. you clearly have no concept and appreciation of the impact of a scoop.

[PaxMundis]

Yes, I'm sure Woodward and Bernstein said "nanny nanny boo boo" to the Times when they broke Watergate.

It's not the scoop, it's the gloating that rankles.