Perhaps the best example of paparazzi-aided self-promotion, Paris Hilton has almost single-handedly refocused Big Media’s editorial priorities. This program studies the cultural and technological forces that have shaped the modern tabloid industry and propelled Hilton’s bizarre ascent to worldwide stardom. Experts featured in the program include celebrity photographer Jeff Vespa, media consultant and Hilton associate Elliot Mintz, New York Times columnist David Carr, X17 photo agency owner Brandy Navarre, and former gossip columnist Lloyd Grove. Interviews with Hilton herself are excerpted, while an inside look at those who hound celebrities for a living offers additional insight into the mechanisms that feed popular culture. (44 minutes)