Froth and trouble

While most of the showbiz world is staging a backlash against the paparazzi, others, it appears, would rather curry favour.

At Tuesday night's 'press conference' at the Convention and Exhibition Centre to promote Taiwanese boy-band F4's Pepsi commercial, the organisers offered two fridges in a lucky draw for the 150-strong press pack.

'We have to thank our media friends who work so hard to report the most up-to-date news,' said the master of ceremonies. 'Let's give them a big round of applause.'

But it hardly managed to soothe celebrity-media relations. An ATV reporter was denied entry for no apparent reason. A magazine reporter failed to get in because she was five minutes late. And the event resembled the running of the bulls in Pamplona more than a press conference, as reporters fell over in the stampede to take pictures.