TMZ Scoops Everyone. How Do They Do It?

When TMZ first reported on Prince’s death Thursday, the world’s trusted media sources were reporting only that police were investigating a death at his Paisley Park estate. Nearly 20 minutes after TMZ announced the tragic news, the Associated Press published its account, and other media outlets followed. TMZ was also first to report the story of actor Heath Ledger’s death in 2008 and Michael Jackson’s in 2009. In fact, since its debut in 2005, the celebrity news outlet has been the first to break many stories. How does TMZ do it?