The social functions of contemporary society include tabloid media, marked by sensationalism and entertainment-oriented stories that frequently involve stars. While traditional journalism aims to disseminate factual information and news, tabloids are not just a separate genre but also an intermediate area between facts and entertainment. However, tabloid media’s primary function is to provide information and capture attention with sensational headlines and shocking revelations. This form of journalism has a huge impact on public opinion and is responsible for creating and preserving celebrity culture. According to Franklin (1997) and Turner (2004), tabloid media is a fusion of news with entertainment, which enables the consumption of personal lives among public figures.
In addition, the tabloid media is a medium for social discussion that influences societal values and beliefs. The Sun (Christodoulou & Pollard, 2021) shows how tabloid media deals with controversial topics such as domestic violence. It contributes to public debates by referring to Johnny Depp’s trial against Amber Heard. The key element of tabloid journalism is maintaining huge audiences and combining information with entertainment for storylines that transcend ordinary news reporting. This article focuses on the social function that tabloid media performs, using Johnny Depp- Amber Heard case from The Sun as an example.
Tabloid media have some distinct characteristics that differentiate them from ordinary news companies. Tabloids are characterized by short stories, bold headlines, and a lot of emphasis on the visuals that make them interesting to read since they present sensational narratives rather than an entire report. These publications discuss scandals and the private lives of celebrities, which is different from a more serious approach to news coverage. Tabloid media is defined by sensational and scandalous materials that appeal to the readers because of emotionally intense news combined with entertainment.
Tabloid media does not only report stories but also influences public perception and becomes an element of society’s debate. Thus, tabloids play a significant role in influencing how people view celebrities and their world. Celebrity worship results from celebrity images created by the tabloid media, significantly affecting society’s norms and values. Features of the tabloid press that make it so popular are entertainment and sensationalism. Incorporating such features as dramatic storytelling, striking headlines, and racy pictures is meant to maintain attention.
Theoretical Framework
Based on theory, the study of tabloid media has various perspectives that analyze its social role. Turner’s theory of celebrity in the book “Understanding Celebrity” (2004) gives a clear picture of how the construction and dissemination of celebrities’ characters help attract people to tabloid journalism. Turner notes the interdependence between celebrities and media, resulting in people becoming famous through different types of publicity. Secondly, the tabloidization framework by Otto et al. in “The Softening of Journalistic Political Communication” (2016) is a thorough approach that explores how sensationalism relates to soft news and infotainment journalism.
Applying these theories to the social demand for tabloid media gives a broader view of how celebrity narratives are built and disseminated in society. Turner’s theory explains how tabloids form and sustain celebrities’ pictures, shaping public perceptions by revealing selected aspects of private lives. Nevertheless, Otto et al.’s framework enables us to dissect the larger trends of tabloidization by showing how sensationalist and entertainment factors inform wider political communication in journalism.
However, it is also necessary to mention potential criticism and limitations of these theories. Turner’s emphasis on a symbiotic relationship between celebrities and media may oversimplify power relations. Still, despite its comprehensiveness, Otto et al.’s framework could only work to follow changes in tabloid media with digitalization. Some critics may argue that these theories must sufficiently reflect contemporary tabloid journalism’s dynamic and complicated nature.
The Johnny Depp-Amber Heard Case
The case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, presented in the article “Wife beater DEPP LOSES bid to appeal after Sun revealed he hit her 12 times,” written by Christodoulou & Pollard (2021), is a strong tabloid example. This article clearly describes all the steps taken during an appeal filed by Depp; the piece reflects the social function of tabloid media by transforming a legal case into an interesting story, emphasizing tasty details, and using sensational words to attract readers. The quotations and paraphrases from the article indicate a high level of personalization and scandal-mongering, which implies that tabloids are interested in narratives combining facts with fun. The article contains sensationalism and soft news since it emphasizes drama elements, enabling tabloid media to transform legal proceedings into emotionally charged stories and attracting attention.
Dissecting the Social Function
The most apparent social function of tabloid media is its impact on public opinion, particularly when referring to celebrities. For instance, the press covers Johnny Depp people to create stories about their personal lives and affect the audience’s opinion of them. Regarding the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard case, tabloid press is not limited to celebrity gossip and actively influences public opinion on domestic violence; for the tabloids to frame societal beliefs and attitudes on domestic violence, such types of events are portrayed. Additionally, tabloid media plays a crucial role in many legal cases and public trials, adding another level of scrutiny from the general population and affecting perceptions of guilt or innocence. The ethical issues regarding sensitive subjects, particularly domestic abuse allegations, become crucial as tabloid journalism walks a tightrope between informing and injuring those involved in the legal proceedings whenever reporting on such topics.
Academic Perspectives on Tabloid Media
The tabloid media perspectives in academia offer interesting insights into the workings of this genre. In his work (1997), Franklin discusses the sensationalism of news media and how tabloids contribute to this overall backdrop. Franklin concentrates on the allure of sensational material and its implications for reader engagement, unveiling how tabloids employ such strategies to attract interest. Turner’s theory of celebrity (2004) is particularly appropriate for tabloid reporting, which indicates the interdependence between media depiction and the construction of celebrities. His work uncovers the essence of this interdependent relationship between celebrities and tabloid media, which shows how such a genre serves to either support or undermine public figures.
Otto et al.’s (2016) all-embracing sensationalism, soft news, infotainment, and tabloidization framework provides a comprehensive model to understand the variety of what is referred to as “tabloid journalism” in which these elements can be analyzed together. The relevance of key critical concepts in sociology on celebrity by Rojek (2010) can be seen while analyzing the societal impact that tabloid coverage has. Collectively, these scholarly perspectives expand our comprehension of the complex nature that tabloid media plays in creating public discourse.
Critique and Disagreement with Authors
While scholars like Franklin, Turner, and Otto et al. have developed important information regarding tabloid media, it is also necessary to critically assess some of their perspectives in other instances. Although insightful, Franklin’s emphasis on sensationalism might need to be more complex to explain the nuances of the motivation behind tabloid journalism. Nevertheless, in the case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, this overload of sensational details might prevent one from looking beyond them to see broader sociocultural implications. Although Turner’s perspective on celebrity is quite insightful, it could be enriched by a more detailed analysis of power relations and the negative impact that tabloid coverage might have on one’s life. In the Depp-Heard case, social media and its effects on the parties involved are a source of ethical issues. Moreover, Otto et al.’s holistic framework may require some modifications to consider the fast-changing nature of digital media and its effect on tabloidization. Revisioning alternative perspectives and changing existing theories are essential for preserving relevance and accuracy in contemporary tabloid media phenomena.
Historical Context of Tabloid Media
The path of the evolution of tabloid journalism is dynamic and governed by sociocultural factors and the media environment. For the first time in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, tabloids emerged where crime news stories were reported. The nature of tabloid journalism has adapted to the times, transforming from a predominantly print outlet into an online environment. Historical events in its evolution have shaped the tabloid media. We feed tabloids with interesting stories from scandals, celebrity controversies, and social unrest. Tabloidization has changed a lot with the emergence of new trends in journalism, especially after the advent of digital platforms and social media. Sensationalism, mixing news with entertainment to create tabloid press, has been helped by instant dissemination and the requirement for compelling content.
In conclusion, this paper has analyzed the complicated social function of tabloid media by tracing its evolution and judging it from an academic perspective. Tabloid media depict the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard case as an instance of storytelling that affects public opinion and leads to social discussions. Sensationalism, entertainment, and the fact that information sometimes aligns with amusement have been seen in this coverage of a high-profile case. However, tabloid journalism’s social and ethical considerations, especially on sensitive issues, require a more diplomatic approach to reporting by media in weighing the public’s right to know against ethics.
References
Christodoulou, H., & Pollard, C. (2021, March 25). Wife-beater Depp LOSES bid to appeal after Sun revealed he hit Heard 12 times. The Sun. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/14449711/johnny-depp-appeal-high-court-ruling-abuse-amber-heard/
Franklin, B. (1997). Newszak and news media. Arnold.
Graeme Turner. (2004). Understanding Celebrity. 1 Oliver’s Yard, 55 City Road, London, Ec1y 1Sp, United Kingdom Sage Publications Ltd.
Otto, L., Glogger, I., & Boukes, M. (2016). The Softening of Journalistic Political Communication: A Comprehensive Framework Model of Sensationalism, Soft News, Infotainment, and Tabloidization. Communication Theory, 27(2), 136–155. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12102
Rojek, C. (2010). Celebrity : critical concepts in sociology. Routledge.
write