James Desborough (journalist)

James Desborough is a show business writer, media commentator and PR consultant who works in Los Angeles, New York and London.

As a correspondent he has interviewed celebrities from the worlds of sports, politics and entertainment. James has appeared on major TV networks, print publications and online websites worldwide.

He was named the Show business Reporter Of The Year at the 2009 British Press Awards. In 2014 he won two awards at the Southern California Journalism Awards - Online Personality Profile Article and Online Entertainment Feature. He also collected the runner up prize for the Online Entertainment News Category. In 2013, he was nominated as Entertainment Journalist Of The Year at the 55th So Cal Journalism Awards and was runner-up in the international news report category at the 55th SoCal Journalism Awards.

Early career

Desborough started work at the regional newspaper the Barking & Dagenham Post as a news reporter in 1994. The newspaper's past reporters include renowned editor Phil Hall, who later became the editor of News of the World.

In 1995, Desborough moved to Channel One TV – the Associated Newspaper's foray into local television. The station was a cable-only news and entertainment channel. After starting on the News desk, Desborough was promoted to entertainment reporter and later Showbiz Editor. The channel's senior executives included Nick Pollard, who later went on to head up Sky News, ITN news editor Peter Wallace and New York Daily News editor Martin Dunn.

Desborough worked for the channel's daily entertainment show The Biz, presented by Julia Caesar. During his time there he produced special programs and feature length interviews on Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Full Monty and Bon Jovi.

Desborough produced and presented specials on the film industry. The channel's other well-known reporters included Thomas Moore and Paul Brennan, TV host Ruth England and BBC Sports host Chris Hollins.

After Channel One TV closed in 1998, Desborough worked as a continuity host for ITV2 and presented a late night ITV1 London series Wired, which covered London's social scene.

Desborough worked as a freelancer diary reporter on the London showbiz and social scene from 1999 to 2000. In 2000, Desborough was hired by World Entertainment News Network (WENN) as the News Editor in London by CEO Jonathan Ashby. During that time he worked alongside former Sun reporter and author Bill Coles.

Desborough was hired by The People newspaper in summer of 2001 replacing their existing show business reporter Sean Hoare, who left to join The News Of The World. In the final weeks at WENN, allegations published by Salon.com claimed that he and his team fabricated a quote by Sir George Martin relating to the health of George Harrison. WENN sold the story to The Mail On Sunday claiming that Martin said Harrison was close to death. The interview was conducted by WENN reporter Christian Koch. , but the story appeared under the byline of Katie Nicholl in The Mail On Sunday on 22 July with the headline: "George Harrison Is Close to Death Says '5th Beatle' Martin". Afterwards Martin denied giving the quotes, but in the next few months many more media outlets reported Harrison's condition was worsening. Harrison died in November 2011. It was afterwards revealed that Harrison and wife Olivia had tried to keep details of the illness a secret. Later Olivia admitted, in a book and Martin Scorsese documentary about George Harrison's life – both titled George Harrison: Living in the Material World – that her husband had spent the summer months of 2001 preparing for his death. He spent time at a hospice and his last summer in Fuji. Time magazine revealed how: "Harrison eventually surrendered to throat and lung cancer. He and Olivia spent a last lovely summer in Fiji, preparing for the end and taking stock of their life together." Harrison died four months after the Mail On Sunday article on 29 November 2001.

Publications

Sunday People

In 2001, Desborough joined the Sunday People as a show business reporter. He left in 2005.

While there, he broke a series of exclusives on British and international figures including Simon Cowell, Robbie Williams, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Nicole Kidman, Kylie Minogue and David Beckham. He also delivered stories on UK stars including Shane Richie, Barbara Windsor, Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Ant & Dec. In 2004, Desborough was promoted to the role of TV Editor. He covered a series of reality shows, primetime series and soaps for the newspaper including Big Brother, Wife Swap, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Pop Idol and Celebrity Love Island.

He was one of the first reporters to interview Jade Goody, who elevated herself from reality series hopeful to an international celebrity as she battled cancer.

Desborough travelled across America with contestants in the hit show Reborn in the USA in 2003 and to Fiji with ITV to cover the first two weeks of the reality show.

News Of The World

Desborough interviewed Mills' former manager Michele Elyzabeth, who delivered a two-week exposé on Mills' conduct toward McCartney and her secret ploys to tarnish the rock star's reputation with the public. Elyzabeth told Desborough that Mills was "a lying witch", who misled the public over McCartney's financial donations to her and daughter Bea during their separation.

In 2007, Desborough conducted an interview with Britney Spears's bodyguard Tony Barreto talking about the pop star's drug and alcohol problems. After the story came out, a Californian judge handed custody of her children to her estranged husband Kevin Federline.

In 2008, Desborough wrote a two-week exposé of Sharon Osbourne through the eyes of her brother David Arden. Arden made a series of allegations against Sharon including how she tried to allegedly fix The X Factor, secretly resented Simon Cowell and wasted hundreds of thousands of pounds on furniture, clothes and homes.

Desborough did an interview with Amy Winehouse's former boyfriend, Alex Haines, in 2008, detailing her addictions to crack and marijuana. Haines admitted that Winehouse planned to join "The 27 Club" – the list of famous musicians who died at the age of 27. Winehouse died at the age of 27 in July 2011.

In March 2009, Desborough was awarded The Showbiz Reporter of The Year Award at the British Press Awards. He was presented the award by Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow at the ceremony held at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

U.S. move

After his award, News Of The World editor, Colin Myler promoted Desborough to the role of U.S. Editor.

He moved to the U.S. in 2009, only a few days before pop star Michael Jackson died of a cardiac arrest caused by a drug overdose in Los Angeles. Desborough spent most of his two-year tenure breaking stories about the aftermath of the death of Jackson. His reports featured interviews with aides and family members, revelations about Jackson's lifestyle and doctor Conrad Murray's behavior.

In July 2009, Desborough interviewed Jackson's sister La Toya Jackson, who told him "Michael Jackson was murdered". Desborough appeared on CBS shows and TV networks around the world discussing the interview.

Desborough generated more headlines for the News Of The World when Michael's father Joe Jackson blamed his wife Katherine for the death of their son. Other exclusives included the first picture of the bedroom and chaotic scene where Jackson died, reports from the paramedics that Jackson was dead before they arrived and hospital emergency room doctors confirming Murray withheld details of Jackson's Propofol intake when they treated him. Desborough revealed how Jackson's mental and physical state was poor in his last weeks alive. He revealed he needed a golf cart to get him on stage and even used a double for rehearsals.

Desborough wrote several front-page stories on golfer Tiger Woods's affairs. He interviewed Orlando waitress Mindy Lawton, who discussed how Tiger started their affair when wife Elin Nordegren was pregnant. He revealed how the couple was to divorce and how the golfer continued seeing ex-mistress Rachel Uchitel after the cheating scandal broke publicly.

Desborough reported on California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's secret affair with his housekeeper Mildred "Patty" Baena. He published the first pictures of his secret son Joseph at family functions.

Other notable stories included Elton John adopting his first child, Simon Cowell's X Factor US launch, Robbie Williams' Los Angeles wedding, Osama Bin Laden's assassination, David Beckham's legal fight with a Bosnian prostitute and Katy Perry's marriage to Russell Brand.

News International chief James Murdoch closed the News Of The World in July 2011.

Operation Weeting

In 2011, he was asked to assist with enquiries by UK officers from Operation Weeting, who were investigating editorial and management staff over suspicions of phone hacking. Later that day, an officer Peter Cripps from Operation Weeting was arrested at his desk over suspicions of leaks to The Guardian.

On that same day, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, head of the Operation Weeting, inquiry into phone hacking at the News Of The World, said: "I made very clear the need for operational and information security. It is hugely disappointing that this may not have been adhered to." The Guardian, when asked if payments were made to police, said in a statement: "In common with all news organizations we have no comment to make on the sources of our journalism.”

On 19 August 2011, Desborough's criminal solicitor issued a statement about the matter. Mr. Young issued a comment on behalf of his client: "He attended a South London police station voluntarily and by appointment with his Solicitor, Julian Young. He was interviewed for a number of hours and cooperated fully with the police in their investigations. He denied, and continues to deny, any conspiracy to unlawfully intercept voice mails or acting unlawfully in any way."

On 27 March 2012, the Metropolitan Police and Operation Weeting confirmed that "no further action" would be taken against Desborough. Desborough was the first staff employee of the News Of The World to be cleared after an investigation by the Weeting team.

His arrest record was expunged.

In March 2012 Alison Levitt QC, the principal legal advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions, said there was "sufficient evidence" to show that 10 articles written by Guardian journalist Amelia Hill between 4 April 2011 and 18 August 2011 contained confidential information from Operation Weeting, including the names of those who had been arrested. There was also sufficient evidence to establish the police officer in question had disclosed the information to Hill. Neither Hill nor Cripps were charged for their involvement.

Hollywood correspondent/consultant

He was his nominated as the Entertainment Reporter Of The Year at the So Cal Journalism Awards. Desborough was named the runner up at the same Awards in 2013 for an exclusive article in the Sunday Express on Oscar winner Adele's move to abandon her world tour plans.

In July 2014 he won two awards at the Southern California Journalism Awards - Online Personality Profile Article and Online Entertainment Feature and collected the runner up prize for the Online Entertainment News Category.