Critical Reading: Tabloid Journalism and the Public Sphere: a historical perspective on tabloid journalism, Henrik Ornebring, Anna Maria Jonsson
This reading asesses the tabloid format and characteristics. It looks at how it is criticised and also how it is presented in everyday life. It begins by discussing the problems of the tabloid press. It says that it panders the lowest common denominator if public taste. I believe by this means is talking about how newspapers cater to the interests of the average people. It reports on the celebrities the public are interested in and prints news stories on subjects which are some what satisfying to their audience. Ornebirk and Jonsson say that tabloids thrive of sensation and scandal, claiming that tabloid journalism lowers public discourse.
I do not believe that either of these things are a problem, I view tabloid newspapers to be enertainment for people. It is almost impossible to produce a newspaper to cater to the tastes of every man, but they can satisfy the majority. Elites who do not like the tabloid style can read broadsheets that is why there are so many different newspapers, they all cater for different people.
The text also says that man people regard television as the 'prime medium for tabloid journalism'. I think that this could be true, there is a huge similarity between the news reported in tabloid newspapers and that reported on tv news programmes. Celebrity news however is usually absent from news shows, unless there is a big celebrity story and even then they are given minimal coverage. If television journalism can be classed as tabloid then it is by far the 'prime medium' as viewers will be higher than newspaper circulation.
Tabloids are also used as an alternative public sphere, the main mainstream mediated pubic sphere, if one exists at all is governed by politicians, governing bodies and business men. Tabloids appear to talk on behalf of the people and try to air the public's opinions.
Some view the tabloid press as disrespectful according to this reading, but it does recognise if it is then that is only to get attention. The newspapers freshest in everyones mind are those that shock the reader. Ones that constantly push the boundary on what is acceptable. If they do so by appearing to be disrespectful then so be it. I believe tabloid journalism is not a bad thing at all and that it is almost a genre within journalism as a whole. It caters for the tastes of the average man writing about things of interest to them, I see nothing wrong with that.
This reading asesses the tabloid format and characteristics. It looks at how it is criticised and also how it is presented in everyday life. It begins by discussing the problems of the tabloid press. It says that it panders the lowest common denominator if public taste. I believe by this means is talking about how newspapers cater to the interests of the average people. It reports on the celebrities the public are interested in and prints news stories on subjects which are some what satisfying to their audience. Ornebirk and Jonsson say that tabloids thrive of sensation and scandal, claiming that tabloid journalism lowers public discourse.
I do not believe that either of these things are a problem, I view tabloid newspapers to be enertainment for people. It is almost impossible to produce a newspaper to cater to the tastes of every man, but they can satisfy the majority. Elites who do not like the tabloid style can read broadsheets that is why there are so many different newspapers, they all cater for different people.
The text also says that man people regard television as the 'prime medium for tabloid journalism'. I think that this could be true, there is a huge similarity between the news reported in tabloid newspapers and that reported on tv news programmes. Celebrity news however is usually absent from news shows, unless there is a big celebrity story and even then they are given minimal coverage. If television journalism can be classed as tabloid then it is by far the 'prime medium' as viewers will be higher than newspaper circulation.
Tabloids are also used as an alternative public sphere, the main mainstream mediated pubic sphere, if one exists at all is governed by politicians, governing bodies and business men. Tabloids appear to talk on behalf of the people and try to air the public's opinions.
Some view the tabloid press as disrespectful according to this reading, but it does recognise if it is then that is only to get attention. The newspapers freshest in everyones mind are those that shock the reader. Ones that constantly push the boundary on what is acceptable. If they do so by appearing to be disrespectful then so be it. I believe tabloid journalism is not a bad thing at all and that it is almost a genre within journalism as a whole. It caters for the tastes of the average man writing about things of interest to them, I see nothing wrong with that.
posted by Lee Rodrigues at
2:37 PM
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