Tabloid journalism

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Display rack of British newspapers during the midst of the News International phone hacking scandal (5 July 2011). Many of the newspapers in the rack are tabloids. British tabloids - July 5 2011.jpg
Display rack of British newspapers during the midst of the News International phone hacking scandal (5 July 2011). Many of the newspapers in the rack are tabloids.

Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as half broadsheet. [1] The size became associated with sensationalism, and tabloid journalism replaced the earlier label of yellow journalism and scandal sheets. [2] Not all newspapers associated with tabloid journalism are tabloid size, and not all tabloid-size newspapers engage in tabloid journalism; in particular, since around the year 2000 many broadsheet newspapers converted to the more compact tabloid format. [1]

Contents

In some cases, celebrities have successfully sued tabloids for libel, demonstrating that their stories have defamed them. [3] Publications engaging in tabloid journalism are also known as rag newspapers or simply rags. Tabloid journalism has changed in the 21st century to more online platforms that seek to target and engage youth consumers with celebrity news and entertainment.

Scandal sheets

Scandal sheets were the precursors to tabloid journalism. Around 1770, scandal sheets appeared in London, and in the United States as early as the 1840s. [4] Reverend Henry Bate Dudley was the editor of one of the earliest scandal sheets, The Morning Post , which specialized in printing malicious society gossip, selling positive mentions in its pages, and collecting suppression fees to keep stories unpublished. [5] : 11–14  Other Georgian era scandal sheets were Theodore Hook's John Bull , Charles Molloy Westmacott's The Age , and Barnard Gregory's The Satirist . [5] : 53  William d'Alton Mann, owner of the scandal sheet Town Topics , explained his purpose: "My ambition is to reform the Four Hundred by making them too deeply disgusted with themselves to continue their silly, empty way of life." [5] : 93  Many scandal sheets in the U.S. were short-lived attempts at blackmail. [5] : 90  One of the most popular in the U.S. was the National Police Gazette . [4]

Scandal sheets in the early 20th century were usually 4- or 8-page cheap papers specializing in the lurid and profane, sometimes used to grind political, ideological, or personal axes, sometimes to make money (because "scandal sells"), and sometimes for extortion. A Duluth, Minnesota example was the Rip-saw , written by a fundamentalist journalist named John L. Morrison who was outraged by the vice and corruption he observed in that 1920s mining town. Rip-saw regularly published accusations of drunkenness, debauchery, and corruption against prominent citizens and public officials. Morrison was convicted of criminal libel in one instance, but his scandal sheet may have contributed to several politicians losing their elections. After Morrison published an issue claiming that State Senator Mike Boylan had threatened to kill him, Boylan responded by helping to pass the Public Nuisance Bill of 1925. It allowed a single judge, without jury, to stop a newspaper or magazine from publishing, forever. Morrison died before the new law could be used to shut down Rip-saw. The Saturday Press was another Minnesota scandal sheet. When the Public Nuisance Bill of 1925 was used to shut down The Saturday Press, the case made its way to the United States Supreme Court which found the gag law to be unconstitutional. [6]

Supermarket tabloids

In the United States and Canada, "supermarket tabloids" are large, national versions of these tabloids, usually published weekly. They are named for their prominent placement along the supermarket checkout lines.

In the 1960s, the National Enquirer began selling magazines in supermarkets as an alternative to newsstands. To help with their rapport with supermarkets and continue their franchise within them, they had offered to buy back unsold issues so newer, more up to date ones could be displayed. [3]

These tabloids—such as the Globe and the National Enquirer—often use aggressive tactics to sell their issues. Unlike regular tabloid-format newspapers, supermarket tabloids are distributed through the magazine distribution channel like other weekly magazines and mass-market paperback books. Leading examples include the National Enquirer, Star , Weekly World News (later reinvented as a parody of the style), and the Sun . Most major supermarket tabloids in the U.S. are published by American Media, Inc., including the National Enquirer, Star, Globe, and National Examiner .

A major event in the history of U.S. supermarket tabloids was the successful libel lawsuit by Carol Burnett against the National Enquirer ( Carol Burnett v. National Enquirer, Inc. ), arising out of a false 1976 report in the National Enquirer, implying she was drunk and boisterous in a public encounter with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Though its impact is widely debated, it is generally seen as a significant turning point in the relations between celebrities and tabloid journalism, increasing the willingness of celebrities to sue for libel in the U.S., and somewhat dampening the recklessness of U.S. tabloids. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [3] Other celebrities have attempted to sue tabloid magazines for libel and slander including Phil McGraw in 2016 [3] and Richard Simmons in 2017. [12]

Tabloids may pay for stories. Besides scoops meant to be headline stories, this can be used to censor stories damaging to the paper's allies. Known as "catch and kill", tabloid newspapers may pay someone for the exclusive rights to a story, then choose not to run it. [13] Publisher American Media has been accused of burying stories embarrassing to Arnold Schwarzenegger, [14] Donald Trump, [15] and Harvey Weinstein. [16]

Red tops

The term "red tops" refers to British tabloids with red mastheads, such as The Sun , the Daily Star , the Daily Mirror , and the Daily Record . [17]

Modern tabloid journalism

In the early 21st century, much of tabloid journalism and news production changed mediums to online formats. This change is to keep up with the era of digital media and allow for increased accessibility of readers. With a steady decline in paid newspapers, the gap has been filled by expected free daily articles, mostly in the tabloid format. Tabloid readers are often youths, and studies show that consumers of tabloids are on average less educated. [18] It can often depict inaccurate news [19] and misrepresent individuals and situations.

See also

Related Research Articles

A360 Media, LLC, formerly American Media, Inc. (AMI), is an American publisher of magazines, supermarket tabloids, and books based in New York City. Originally affiliated with only the National Enquirer, the media company's holdings expanded considerably in the 1990s and 2000s. In November 2010, American Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to debts of nearly $1 billion, but has continued to buy and sell magazine brands since then.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tabloid (newspaper format)</span> Type of newspaper

A tabloid is a newspaper with a compact page size smaller than broadsheet. There is no standard size for this newspaper format.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broadsheet</span> Largest newspaper format

A broadsheet is the largest newspaper format and is characterized by long vertical pages, typically of 22.5 inches (57 cm). Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner and tabloid–compact formats.

A gossip columnist is someone who writes a gossip column in a newspaper or magazine, especially in a gossip magazine. Gossip columns are written in a light, informal style, and relate opinions about the personal lives or conduct of celebrities from show business, politicians, professional sports stars, and other wealthy people or public figures. Some gossip columnists broadcast segments on radio and television.

<i>The Independent</i> British online daily newspaper

The Independent is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the Indy, it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was published on Saturday 26 March 2016, leaving only the online edition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Burnett</span> American comedian and actress (born 1933)

Carol Creighton Burnett is an American comedian, actress, and singer. Her comedy-variety series, The Carol Burnett Show, which originally aired on CBS, was one of the first to be hosted by a woman. Burnett has performed on Broadway, on television, and in dramatic and comedic film roles. She has received numerous awards and accolades, including seven Golden Globe Awards, seven Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and a Grammy Award. Burnett was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2013, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2015.

<i>National Enquirer</i> American supermarket tabloid published by American Media, Inc.

The National Enquirer is an American tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1926, the newspaper has undergone a number of changes over the years. The National Enquirer openly acknowledges that it pays sources for tips, a common practice in tabloid journalism that results in conflicts of interest. It has also been embroiled in several controversies related to its catch and kill practices and allegations of blackmail. It has struggled with declining circulation figures because of competition from other glossy tabloid publications.

<i>Globe</i> (tabloid) American tabloid newspaper

Globe is a supermarket tabloid based in Boca Raton, Florida. It covers politics, celebrity, human interest, and crime stories, largely employing sensationalist tabloid journalism. It was established in Montreal, Quebec in 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berliner (format)</span> Newspaper format

Berliner is a newspaper format with pages normally measuring about 315 by 470 millimetres. The Berliner format, or "midi", is slightly taller and marginally wider than the tabloid/compact format, and is both narrower and shorter than the broadsheet format.

A gossip magazine, also referred to as a tabloid magazine, is a magazine that features scandalous stories about the personal lives of celebrities and other well-known individuals. In North America, this genre of magazine flourished in the 1950s and early 1960s. The title Confidential, founded in 1952, boasted a monthly circulation in excess of ten million, and it had many competitors, with names such as Whisper, Dare, Suppressed, The Lowdown, Hush-Hush, and Uncensored. These magazines included more lurid and explicit content than did the popular newspaper gossip columns of the time, including tales of celebrity infidelity, arrests, and drug use.

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Star is an American celebrity tabloid magazine founded in 1974. The magazine is owned by American Media Inc. and overseen by AMI's Chief Content Officer, Dylan Howard.

<i>National Examiner</i> Weekly magazines published in the United States

The National Examiner is a supermarket tabloid from America. It was formerly owned by American Media, Inc. (AMI). AMI's chief content officer, Dylan Howard, oversaw the publication.

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Chequebook journalism is the controversial practice of news reporters paying sources for their information. In the U.S. it is generally considered unethical, with most mainstream newspapers and news shows having a policy forbidding it. In contrast, tabloid newspapers and tabloid television shows, which rely more on sensationalism, regularly engage in the practice. In Britain and throughout Europe, journalists paying for news is fairly common.

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Jazz journalism was a term applied to American sensational newspapers in the 1920s. Focused on entertainment, celebrities, sports, scandal and crime, the style was a New York phenomenon, practiced primarily by three new tabloid-size daily newspapers in a fight for circulation. Convenient for readers on subways, the small-format papers were designed to display large page one photographs and headlines for newsstand sales. The tabloids' popularity was controversial, but also influenced the city's and nation's more traditional media, especially when columnist Walter Winchell became popular both in print and on the air.

Carol Burnett v. National Enquirer, Inc. was a decision by the California Court of Appeal, which ruled that the "actual malice" required under California law for imposition of punitive damages is distinct from the "actual malice" required by New York Times Co. v. Sullivan to be liable for defaming a "public figure", and that the National Enquirer is not a "newspaper" for the purposes of California libel law.

The Montana Kaimin is the University of Montana's student-run independent newspaper located in Missoula, Montana. The paper is printed once a week, Thursday, with special editions printed occasionally and is online at MontanaKaimin.com. The Kaimin covers news, sports, arts and culture, and opinion.

Mass media in Germany includes a variety of online, print, and broadcast formats, such as radio, television, newspapers, and magazines.

References

  1. 1 2 Gossel, Daniel. "Tabloid journalism". Encyclopedia Britannica . Archived from the original on 8 April 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. ↑ Cohen, Daniel (2000). Yellow Journalism . Twenty-First Century Books. p. 73. ISBN   0761315020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Andrews, Travis M. (14 July 2016). "Dr. Phil and wife Robin sue the National Enquirer for $250 million, citing defamation" . The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 Klatt, Wayne (2009). Chicago journalism : a history. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. p. 41. ISBN   978-0-7864-4181-5. OCLC   277136414.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Wilkes, Roger (2002). Scandal : a scurrilous history of gossip. London: Atlantic. ISBN   1-903809-63-0. OCLC   50434290.
  6. ↑ Cohen, Daniel (2000). Yellow Journalism . Twenty-First Century Books. pp. 39–52. ISBN   0761315020.
  7. ↑ Scott, Vernon (22 March 1981). "Carol Burnett launches trial balloon". United Press International. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Lindsey, Robert (27 March 1981). "Carol Burnett given 1.6 million in suit against National Enquirer". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "How the Supermarket Tabloids Stay Out of Court" Archived 7 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine , January 4, 1991, The New York Times, retrieved January 1, 2017.
  10. ↑ Langberg, Barry (12 August 1991). "Tabloids' Lies Abuse the First Amendment" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017. (Opinion essay by libel attorney for Burnett and others)
  11. ↑ Beam, Alex (August 1999). "Tabloid Law" . The Atlantic Monthly . Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  12. ↑ "Richard Simmons v the National Enquirer" . Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2017– via Scribd.
  13. ↑ Sullivan, Margaret (5 November 2016). "'Catch and kill' at National Enquirer gives media one last black eye before election". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  14. ↑ Nicholas, Peter; Hall, Carla (12 August 2005). "Tabloid's Deal With Woman Shielded Schwarzenegger" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Palazzolo, Joe; Rothfield, Michael; Alpert, Lukas (4 November 2016). "National Enquirer Shielded Donald Trump From Playboy Model's Affair Allegation" . The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  16. ↑ Twohey, Megan; Kantor, Jodi; Dominus, Susan; Rutenberg, Jim; Eder, Steve (6 December 2017). "Weinstein's Complicity Machine" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  17. ↑ Stephen Brook (6 December 2007). "Red-tops on the rise, survey shows". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  18. ↑ Bastos, Marco T. (18 November 2016), "Digital Journalism And Tabloid Journalism" (PDF), in Franklin, Bob; Eldridge, Scott A. (eds.), The Routledge Companion to Digital Journalism Studies (1 ed.), Routledge, pp. 217–225, doi:10.4324/9781315713793-22, ISBN   978-1-315-71379-3, archived (PDF) from the original on 27 April 2019
  19. ↑ Popović, Virginia; Popović, Predrag (December 2014). "The Twenty-First Century, the Reign of Tabloid Journalism". Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences. 163: 12–18. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.12.280 .

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