Celebrity Interviews: From Scandalous Probes To Surface-Level Chats

From Glitzy Red Carpets to YouTube Chats

I've always had a soft spot for celebrity culture. Remember the thrill of watching red carpet interviews or those late-night talk show reruns? That was my jam! Skimming through magazines at the grocery store, I'd grab the ones with my latest celeb crush on the cover. Sure, it was a guilty pleasure, but it was fascinating to peek behind the curtain of these larger-than-life figures and see them as real people.

But let's be honest, celebrity journalism in the 2000s wasn't exactly a beacon of integrity. Those tabloids were all about the shock factor – blatant misogyny, body-shaming, and airing out dirty laundry were par for the course. Headlines were designed to grab attention, not tell the truth.

"The celebrity culture of the early 2000s cracked under its own pressure," a cultural critic noted.

The Rise of Social Media-Driven Journalism

As the sensationalist era faded, a new wave of social-media-driven journalism swept in. Gone were the gaudy tabloids, replaced by YouTube and podcast shows. Enter "Hot Ones" with Sean Evans, who dives deep into his guests' lives with well-researched questions. Or Ziwe, whose sharp humor and probing questions keep her guests on their toes.

Shows like "Chicken Shop Date" with Amelia Dimoldenberg take the awkwardness of celebrity interviews and turn it into comedy gold. But many shows have adopted these quirky formats without the substance.

Some podcasts, like Alex Cooper’s "Call Her Daddy" and Jake Shane’s "Therapuss," tend to coddle their guests, avoiding any real probing. These influencers-turned-interviewers often skim the surface, rarely digging deep for genuine insights.

A New Era, But Are We Losing Depth?

These podcast shows aren't small potatoes – "Call Her Daddy" pulls in about 10 million listeners per episode, while Jake Shane racks up over 45 million views on YouTube. Given that one in ten people get their news from podcasts, the quality of these shows is crucial.

In moving away from ruthless tabloids, we've swung too far into fluff, losing depth along the way. Stripping away the gimmicks leaves us with bland, one-note conversations. Just look at GQ's interview with Sydney Sweeney – a missed opportunity for depth.

As traditional outlets like The New York Times shift from print to digital, USC is preparing students for this new digital journalism landscape. With Gen Z getting half their news from social media, we must avoid repeating the mistakes of stan-culture interviews.

Don't get me wrong, there's value in this style of interviewing. Brittany Broski's "Royal Court" balances fangirl enthusiasm with insightful conversations. A diverse press invites varied journalistic approaches, and as future cultural reporters, we owe it to the industry to delve deeper than superficial chats.