Through Globalisation the world of media changes rapidly. The commercial driven model of popular television spread all over the world and is now present everywhere. Especially the privatisation of the media has led to growing competition and, linked with that, to a change in journalism. To attract people, especially news has to be entertaining. This mix of information and entertainment is called “Infotainment”. This paper wants to describe what Infotainment is, how it can be characterised, when it started and, of course, what problems can be connected with Infotainment.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Infotainment
- Tabloidization
- What is Infotainment?
- Definition of "Infotainment"
- The long tradition of Infotainment
- The characteristics of Infotainment
- Personalisation
- Emotionalism
- Examples of Infotainment
- Problems of Infotainment
- Ethic Problems
- Sensationalism
- Exposure of privacy and voyeurism
- Problem of actuality
- Construction of reality
- Faking the news
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the phenomenon of "infotainment," exploring its origins, characteristics, and problems. It seeks to understand how infotainment has emerged as a dominant force in contemporary media, particularly in television, and how it has impacted the nature of news and journalism.
- The rise of infotainment as a result of globalization, commercialization, and privatization of media.
- The characteristics of infotainment, including its emphasis on entertainment, personalization, and emotionalism.
- The impact of tabloidization on the media landscape, leading to a shift from hard news to soft news and human interest stories.
- The ethical and societal implications of infotainment, such as sensationalism, privacy violations, and the construction of artificial realities.
- The role of infotainment in shaping public perception and influencing societal values.
Chapter Summaries
The first chapter introduces and defines the key terms related to infotainment, including tabloidization and its historical development. It examines the characteristics of infotainment, emphasizing personalization and emotionalism.
The second chapter provides concrete examples of infotainment in television and other media formats, illustrating its characteristics in a practical manner.
The third chapter delves into the problems associated with infotainment, such as ethical concerns, sensationalism, privacy violations, and the construction of artificial realities.
Keywords
Infotainment, Tabloidization, Personalization, Emotionalism, Globalization, Commercialization, Media, Television, Journalism, Ethics, Sensationalism, Privacy, Voyeurism, Reality, Faking News, Public Perception, Societal Values.
- Quote paper
- Bakk. Komm. Maria Vögele (Author), 2011, Infotainment. Characteristics, History and Problems, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/210681
