Los Angeles, one of the largest cities in North Arica, spans an area of 500 square miles (about 1,300 square kiloters). However, the truly bustling and active city center—
Especially Hollywood.
—is just a tiny portion.
Thirty miles, approximately forty-eight kiloters, is the area where paparazzi are most active. Within this range, they can cover all the entertainnt hotspots, constantly feeding the world's insatiable appetite for gossip.
In the sumr of 2002, a website called TMZ quietly launched. Initially, no one knew what the na stood for, but it was later realized that it referred to the "thirty-mile zone," marking the first official gossip site in the world.
In an era when print dia was still thriving and traditional dia remained dominant, TMZ was undoubtedly at the forefront of change.
Especially for the younger generation, who embraced TMZ's arrival with open arms, without any reservations.
Coincidentally, TMZ's first news story featured the most popular figure among teenagers at the ti—
Anson.
Clearly, the first encounter between paparazzi and the online world proved to be a match made in heaven. The vast ocean of online information beca the perfect breeding ground for gossip to spread widely, and within a few days, TMZ had already made a na for itself.
"Anson, who has disappeared from the public eye, has actually been hiding in…"
At the ti, clickbait headlines hadn't yet erged, and people were not yet trapped in an era of fragnted information. The habit of clicking on a headline and reading the full article was still prevalent, so there was no need to use sensational titles to grab attention. However, Harry vaguely sensed the secret to attracting traffic, leaving a small hook even in the less dramatic headlines.
At this mont, the sumr movie season was in full swing. "Spider-Man" continued to break records, and Anson was undoubtedly the hottest topic in North Arica. According to past trends, his private life should have been plastered all over the gossip magazines, but strangely, the tabloids were unusually quiet this ti, sparking curiosity among the public.
Then, TMZ provided the answer—
Just in ti!
At first, internet users didn't pay much attention. They might have just glanced at the news and realized that Anson had been in Los Angeles all along and was spotted near Sound City. His sowhat rugged and dashing appearance sparked endless discussion:
"Oh my gosh, Anson looks so cool!"
"Hormones are off the charts!"
"Fashion really is all about the face—he looks good no matter what."
"Stubbled Anson! I'm here for it!"
"The good-boy Anson has a bad-boy vibe too. He's got range."
Admiration, praise, and fangirling.
That's all there was to it; very few people paid attention to where the news ca from.
But gradually, internet users started to notice sothing odd.
Harry was both smart and cunning, splitting one news story into several parts.
First, he revealed that Anson had been seen near Sound City. Then, he reported that Anson might have visited Sound City to check on a project. Later, he suggested that Anson might be recording at Sound City.
Next, Harry shared that Anson was temporarily living near Sound City, followed by sightings of Lily, Connor, and Miles, and speculation that the band seen on "The Tonight Show" might be working on a new album.
Soon after, there were reports of a possible record company deal, rumors of different labels reaching out to Anson, and finally, news that the band had signed with Warner Records.
One story after another.
What started as a simple news item was transford into a serialized drama under Harry's manipulation, complete with suspenseful elents—
Irresistible!
At this point, internet users started to notice that TMZ was sothing special. While others were still fumbling in the dark trying to find Anson, TMZ was consistently ahead of the ga with exclusive scoops.
And that's not all!
In addition to Anson's news, TMZ was also regularly updating the public on the daily lives of "Bennifer," the year's most annoying and/or hottest couple. Their mundane activities were a magnet for traffic, like a serialized novel with constant updates.
In just under a month, TMZ had gained a modest reputation.
The first to take notice of TMZ were other paparazzi, whose sharp instincts picked up on the site's activity. However, their reactions varied.
So dismissed it, still believing that traditional dia were more reliable buyers. Others scoffed, thinking the site was just a gimmick. So were calculating, using TMZ as an information index to track their own exclusive stories.
But there were a few who, like Harry and Colin, refused to be bound by traditional dia like "Entertainnt Weekly" and believed the online world had much greater potential.
So, they cautiously began experinting—
So news was updated on TMZ for free; so was traded with TMZ in exchange for other news; so was still sold to traditional print dia.
Gradually, TMZ beca more active and attracted brand sponsors.
When brands started advertising on the site, TMZ officially hit its stride.
It wasn't until then that traditional dia began to take the site seriously.
In reality, traditional dia were just as well-inford and only slightly slower to notice TMZ than other paparazzi. But like all conservative forces throughout history, they initially ignored, dismissed, and scorned the new.
To them, a small-ti site like TMZ didn't seem like a serious threat.
However, the internet revealed its speed and power.
TMZ grew faster than anyone expected, finally forcing so traditional print dia to acknowledge its existence.
When Harry received a call from "Entertainnt Weekly," he was keeping a close eye on Connor smoking outside Sound City. Miles and Lily were nearby, but there was no sign of Anson, which made Harry a bit wary.
Naturally, he wasn't paying much attention to the call.
On the other end of the line, soone asked how Harry had obtained the details of the band's contract with Warner Records and how reliable the information was.
Harry didn't really care, "Are you looking to reprint it or buy it exclusively?"
"Huh?" The person on the other end hadn't expected such a response.
Harry repeated himself, then explained, "It's still available for exclusive purchase, for $100,000; but 'Us Weekly' is also considering making an offer. I'm not sure if waiting will change things."
"If soone buys the exclusive rights, then you won't have to ask us for permission to reprint it."
"However, even if you buy it exclusively, TMZ reserves the right to update the story twenty-four hours later."
The positions of buyer and seller were quietly shifting.
On the other end, "Entertainnt Weekly" was caught off guard. This new world was so unfamiliar that they didn't even know how to react.
But Harry didn't have ti to continue the conversation. He felt that Anson's disappearance… was strange, and his instincts were setting off alarms.
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