2 - Tabloid Media
Hannah Diffee
Professor Reppert
Media Law and Ethics
Feb. 2025
2 - Tabloid Media
Tabloid journalism is a form of sensationalist reporting found in condensed newspapers, magazines, and websites. It focuses on "hot topics" such as celebrity gossip, political scandals, crimes, and human crises, often avoiding the traditional news stories of newspapers. While newspapers prioritize delivering factual content about politics, sports, and local events, tabloids aim to entertain with less depth. They regularly use short, bold headlines to catch readers' attention from a distance and entice them to learn more. Additionally, their bright colors and images add to their on-shelf appeal.
Some of the most popular tabloids in the United States include the National Enquirer, Star, Globe, and Us Weekly. Originally published exclusively in print, these sources have expanded to include large digital platforms like YouTube channels, social media accounts, and websites, allowing them to reach larger and more diverse audiences.
Tabloids are notorious for spreading exaggerated or false information. Many factors influence their reporting, including ownership, public interest, and political pressure. They are more likely to spread misinformation or disinformation about prominent public figures than minor celebrities, as individuals with more fame will generate more interest and higher profits.
Tabloid journalists sometimes face significant political pressure. They may be urged to speak positively of governments or politicians, leading to fears of repercussions if they do not comply. These situations, combined with frequent verbal attacks and threats against journalists, lead Reporters Without Borders to argue that American press freedom is under attack. According to the organization, U.S. President Donald Trump verbally "insulted, attacked, or threatened" the media at least 108 times between September 1 and October 24.
Tabloids may have a poor reputation and face threats, but their influence is not entirely negative. Helena Chmielewska-Szlajfer from the London School of Economics and Political Science argues that tabloids indicate public opinion. Editors frequently analyze the comment sections of tabloid sites to understand their audience's views. Szlajfer's research revealed that the most upvoted comments on a story can influence the perspectives of the publication in subsequent stories. She discovered that "...if an angle elicited a particularly strong negative reaction in the comments, the paper would shift its perspective..." As a result, politicians can utilize tabloid coverage, to an extent, to gauge public opinion and predict election outcomes.
Bild - A German Tabloid Newspaper
Many of the world's most popular tabloids are based in Europe. Bild, for example, is a German tabloid that began circulating in 1952. Like other tabloids, many have questioned its credibility, but it continues to thrive, remaining Europe's top-selling newspaper and one of the best-selling papers in the world. In 2020, the publication's paid circulation exceeded 1.2 million copies, reaching nearly 7.9 million readers per issue.
Bild has a strong digital presence, which includes a website, newsletter, podcasts, and documentaries.
Example of a video posted on the company's YouTube channel:
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of News
In June 2023, Bild announced a controversial decision as part of its cost-cutting program. The company plans to close six regional offices, eliminate 200 jobs, and replace several editorial positions with artificial intelligence. "Surviving regional offices will no longer have senior managers, six regional editions will be cut and production of the 12 surviving editions will be managed through the head office in Berlin" (The Irish Times). The plan is forecasted to increase revenue by €100 million over the next three years.
In June 2023, Bild announced a controversial decision as part of its cost-cutting program. The company plans to close six regional offices, eliminate 200 jobs, and replace several editorial positions with artificial intelligence. "Surviving regional offices will no longer have senior managers, six regional editions will be cut and production of the 12 surviving editions will be managed through the head office in Berlin" (The Irish Times). The plan is forecasted to increase revenue by €100 million over the next three years.
The company's long-term goal is to discontinue its printed newspaper and transition to a fully digital service. The chief executive of Axel Springer SE, Bild's media publisher, "asserted that AI would eventually surpass human journalists in the aggregation of information and that only publishers who produced the best original content, such as investigative journalism and original commentary, would endure" (Analytics Drift). This is a terrifying thought. It will be interesting to monitor how artificial intelligence impacts the news industry in the future.
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