Tabloids

Abstract

This entry offers an account of tabloid newspapers and the process through which it came to refer to a form and style of journalism. From the early development of tabloids to the rotary press and paper formats, the entry discusses the metonymic process whereby the term tabloids was extended to refer to a form of journalism dominated by infotainment and soft-news content along with the increased reliance on headlines and visuals. The entry also provides an overview of ongoing transformations to tabloid and celebrity journalism in the context of digital and social media, particularly with respect to the process of sharing and commenting on emotionally charged, aesthetically puzzling, or gossip-rich content that tracks well on social platforms.

Keywords: Tabloids, broadsheet, infotainment, clickbait, viral, influencers