Tabloidization of the Media

The definition of tabloid has changed over time. It originally meant to describe a small tablet of medication that was easy to swallow. When first applied to the media it described the smaller size of the new papers but now has many connotations one of which is that it, fittingly, makes the news easier to swallow. Tabloidisation of the media today connotes a shift away from the reporting of important information like politics and foreign affairs to entertaining the audience with celebrity gossip, sex and crime. The tabloid media has been accused of unethical tactics such as harassment, cheque-book journalism, foot-in-the-door journalism and sensationalism. The established media can be affected by tabloidisation as it borrows their techniques in a bid to remain competitive.…