Page 498 - Battleground The Media Volume 1 and 2

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sensationalisM, Fear Mongering,
and taBloid Media
Telling a friend that he or she looks sensational may be an effective way to give
a compliment, but describing a newspaper as full of sensationalism is considered
a disparaging remark, and is usually reserved for what has been coined the tab-
loid media. Tabloid TV and newspapers may be popular, but they constitute
a major battleground issue with critics who charge them with doing a disservice
to democratic society. Others say they measure the limits of our constitutional
right to freedom of expression. Sensationalism in the news has a long history
with very negative connotations, yet despite these condemnations it still attracts
attention and faithful audiences. In spite of accusations that sensational stories
appeal to base instincts, defenders point out that news without an audience is not
useful. Critics counter that news produced only to titillate an audience can also
be dangerous.
Recognizable sensationalism in the media is found most frequently in stories
about crime, celebrity, sex, disasters, and violence, which are often presented
with lurid details that shock the sensibilities and arouse emotional reactions.
Sensationalism refers not only to the content, but also the style of presentation.
Such stories focus on attention-grabbing devices that hail viewers and readers
to stay tuned or buy the newspaper because of a jaw-dropping cover. Sensa-
tional news is not necessarily false, but it is often times misleading. Researchers
have also found that sensationalism, especially with regard to crime and vio-
lence, can have serious social consequences (see “Did You Know? CBS and Fox:
From Wrestling to News to “Reality/Comedy Hybrid”).

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