TABLOID TALES
In pursuit for sensation
MARLISE KAST
From tabloid reporter to a travel writer
INTERVIEW
Straight after graduation in 1997 Marlise Kast got a job as a reporter in popular US tabloid The Globe, becoming one of the industry's top investigative journalists. Michal Lachowicz talks with her about this career path, which at some point took a completely new direction...
Michal Lachowicz: Marlise, could you tell me how did your adventure with tabloids begin? I know that you entered the industry straight after graduation from college. Have you ever thought that you will work in this particular area of journalism?
Marlise Kast: After graduating early from college in 1997, I moved to Los Angeles and accepted a position with a stock footage company that produced backdrops for motion pictures and TV shows. This was my first exposure to Hollywood, working behind the camera as a production assistant. I had previously worked as a journalist, so I had a relentless desire to become a published writer in LA. Seeking an avenue that would blend show business with creative writing, I considered several career opportunities including employment with the William Morris Agency of Beverly Hills. Days before accepting that job offer, I interviewed at The Globe magazine’s Los Angeles office as a reporter. At the age of 21, I became one of the industry’s top investigative journalists, publishing over 200 articles in three years.Would I ever work in that area of journalism again? Absolutely not! I live the simple life, on a small farm with my husband. We travel, cook, hike, surf, camp, and really have no connection to LA. We don’t own a TV or follow what is going on in Hollywood, so I am completely outside the entertainment. I do not read the tabloids and am completely out of touch with the private lives of that scene.
ML: Could you describe the first months of your job? Was there anything surprising for you in this new working environment, any specific characteristics? What kind of tasks were assigned for you at the beginning?
MK: What surprised me was that there wasn’t much direction or training. You either had the skills or you didn’t. You had to have some level of street smarts and be able to think quick on your feet. Research, spontaneity, and risk-taking were all part of the fast-paced environment. One of my first tasks was to try to sneak into William Shatner’s wedding. There were about 12 of us in total, and one-by-one, each person was caught. So, in a desperate attempt, I (as the rookie) thought I would give it a shot. Outside of the wedding tent, I crawled in the bushes and pretended to be a drunk wedding guest. The security saw me and actually threw me into the wedding, so I was able to capture details, photos, and even talk to William Shatner himself. Needless to say, everyone was surprised of the outcome.
ML: How did the process of working on new stories look like? Did you have a freedom of choice in terms of topics or they were imposed by editorial staff? Which aspects of celebrity lives were the most desirable and how much time did you have to create a story?
MK: We were given lead sheets, sometimes handed to us from editors or sometimes that came about through a tip from a source. We then had 24 hours to determine if it was true or false, and from there we gathered information from sources, research, and investigation. At least three sources were needed on every story.
ML: You come from home of conservative values such as integrity or traditionalism. How did your family react for the choice of your career path? Were they supportive or maybe thought that you should develop your talent in a different way?
MK: The premise of Tabloid Prodigy is the journey that led me full circle out of tabloid reporting and back to my faith. Contributing to that decision were corporate betrayal, terrifying experiences, high-speed chases and inner doubts. Somewhere in the cutthroat environment of tabloid reporting, I had lost sight of myself. In all honesty, my parents didn’t really know too much about what I was doing with my career. I was living in LA and they were in northern California, so we were in very different places.
ML: Your work as a tabloid journalist has resulted in more than 200 stories about different and sometimes strictly guarded aspects of celebrity lives. Which one of them is the most memorable for you or was the greatest challenge? What were your ways to get a story?
MK: While writing for the tabloids, it eventually became second nature to assume countless identities in order to get the information I needed. I took on the role as a tennis player, bridesmaid, mourner, florist, etc. Perhaps the fact that I was working in Hollywood only fed into my justification that I was merely “acting” a role. As a risk taker by nature, I initially found it exhilarating to outwit high profile celebrities. Being young, I felt invincible and daring. Perhaps my most memorable story was following Matt Lauer to Egypt and my least favorite was running around San Francisco to cover a story about Don Johnson’s porn obsession.
© Photo courtesy of marlisekast.com
"Would I ever work in that area of journalism again? Absolutely not! I live the simple life, on a small farm with my husband."
There was not a single isolated incident that pushed me to the edge, but rather a slow chipping away of my inner core.
ML: In the book Tabloid Prodigy (2007) you described your experiences more in detail. Why did you decide to share this story and how did this creative process of writing look like? Was it a kind of therapeutic release?
MK: During my career as a tabloid journalist, I kept a private journal, which formed the genesis for Tabloid Prodigy. As is customary for investigative journalists, I carefully documented and sourced every interview throughout my professional career. It was only after the reflective period, subsequent to leaving the tabloids that I realized that my story had to be told. The full extent of the book’s potential readership became even more apparent as I noticed the increasingly insatiable appetite for celebrity gossip. When the names of many of those whose stories I had told continued to appear in the news, I knew Tabloid Prodigy would be a success. This led me to extensive, in depth research to authenticate my chronology and facts. Although the book “began” with the journal entries written during my years with the tabloids, I devoted more than a year to the manuscript. And yes, it was extremely therapeutic and allowed me to let go and walk away from the past.
ML: If you could come back to beginnings of your career would you change anything and direct it in a different way?
MK: No regrets in life.
ML: Paulo Coelho said once that if ‘you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.’ Now you are a successful travel writer, who visited more than 85 countries and contributed to publication of over 20 guides about countries such as Mexico, Vietnam or Peru. You live on a farm, surrounded by nature and share your adventure spirit with husband. It seems like you found your perfect track, which allows you to inspire others. How did you manage to achieve all of these things? How long did it take you to move into travel journalism after leaving tabloids? Was it tough to break into a new industry?
MK: The move from tabloids to sports and travel was relatively easy. I redirected my energy toward action sports and travel. After leaving the tabloids, I became heavily involved in kite surfing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking and surfing. After I broke into mainstream journalism, I began in-person interviews that had been prearranged. Initially, I found it awkward to conduct legitimate interviews of this nature. It was a dramatic shift from most of my investigative journalism which had been undercover without the knowledge or cooperation of the celebrities I was covering. Other than that, the shift was rather smooth. As a freelance writer and author, I am still driven by risk and constant deadlines, only now, everything I do feels justifiable in my spirit. I’ve always believed in blurring the lines between work and play so that whatever I do is an extension of my passion.
ML: In a few months me and my friends are going to graduate from Middlesex University in London and finish our journalism course. If you could give us one advice what would it be?
MK: My advice from one journalist to another would be: Write. My advice from one free spirit to another would be: Travel. Don’t let your career define you and do what you love. Fear contentment, since it can lead to complacency and complacency can lead to apathy. Live an extraordinary life – one of love, joy, faith, and blessing others.
ML: What are you working on at the moment? Is there any interesting project that you’d like to tell a bit more about?
MK: Generally I write 2-3 Fodor’s Travel Guides per year, which requires a bit of travel. I’m also a contractor for Saddleback Church and write content for special projects and their Daring Faith campaign. I’ve finished several book proposals, one of which is a follow up to Tabloid Prodigy. I hope to pitch them this summer. In between I try and tackle a few personal goals – this year I want to hike rim-to-rim of the Grand Canyon. We’ll see!
ML: Thank you very much for interview.
MK: Thank you!
ML: There have been many negative things written about tabloid journalism. However, I would like to ask you if you notice any benefits from that stage of your career? Did you have a chance to improve any skills that are useful for you at the moment?
MK: Working for the tabloids was the best training ground I could have hoped for as a reporter. The deadlines were tight, the demands were high and the experiences were unique. Today, I use many of those same skills such as fact checking, properly sourcing, research, etc. Every challenge served to strengthen me as a journalist and as a person.
ML: This work gave you a lot of adrenaline and excitement. However, at some point it began affecting your emotions and it was hard to separate them from another story. What caused that you decided to resign and quit tabloids? How do you remember that day?
MK: The inner struggle to reconcile my personal morals with the demands of the tabloids, took a toll on me. Undoubtedly, sleep deprivation played a large role in the conflict. Interestingly, although I had lost the inner drive, I was still generating as many headlines as before. Apart from my family and close friends, no one realized the depths of my sadness. There were a couple stories that really wrecked me, but in the end, I was pretty much burnt out.