sensationalism
Meaning: The use of exciting or shocking stories, language, or images to provoke public interest or excitement, especially at the expense of accuracy.
Sensationalism is a persistent criticism of tabloid journalism, television news, and increasingly, digital media. Sensationalist reporting prioritises shock value, emotional impact, and clickbait over balanced, factual coverage. The term is almost always used critically. 'Sensationalist' is the adjective form, and 'to sensationalise' is the verb. The related concept of 'if it bleeds, it leads' captures the tendency to prioritise dramatic stories.
Examples
- The documentary avoided sensationalism, instead presenting the facts with quiet restraint and careful analysis. 这部纪录片避免了煽情主义,而是以冷静克制和细致分析的方式呈现事实。El documental evitó el sensacionalismo, presentando los hechos con discreta contención y análisis cuidadoso.そのドキュメンタリーはセンセーショナリズムを避け、静かな抑制と慎重な分析をもって事実を提示しました。그 다큐멘터리는 선정주의를 피하고, 차분한 절제와 신중한 분석으로 사실을 제시했습니다.
- Critics accused the newspaper of sensationalism after it ran a misleading headline about the health scare. 批评者指责该报在发布有关健康恐慌的误导性标题后搞煽情主义。Los críticos acusaron al periódico de sensacionalismo tras publicar un titular engañoso sobre la alarma sanitaria.批評家たちは、健康に関する恐怖を煽る誤解を招く見出しを掲載したとして、その新聞をセンセーショナリズムだと非難しました。비평가들은 건강 공포를 부추기는 오해의 소지가 있는 헤드라인을 게재한 그 신문을 선정주의라고 비난했습니다.
- The rise of social media has arguably increased sensationalism, as algorithms reward content that provokes strong emotional reactions. 社交媒体的兴起可以说加剧了煽情主义,因为算法奖励那些引发强烈情感反应的内容。El auge de las redes sociales ha incrementado, según muchos, el sensacionalismo, ya que los algoritmos premian el contenido que provoca reacciones emocionales intensas.ソーシャルメディアの台頭により、強い感情的反応を引き起こすコンテンツがアルゴリズムによって優遇されるため、センセーショナリズムが増幅されたと言えるでしょう。소셜 미디어의 부상은 강한 감정적 반응을 유발하는 콘텐츠가 알고리즘에 의해 우대받기 때문에 선정주의를 더욱 심화시켰다고 할 수 있습니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional, media
Tone: negative
Origin & History
From sensation, from medieval Latin sensatio (a feeling), from Latin sentire (to feel, to perceive), plus the suffix -ism. The journalistic sense developed in the mid-19th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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