Drivers flagged up over window signs

Southampton taxi drivers have been told they face being suspended if they do not remove St George flags that state they are ‘English-speaking’ drivers.

Drivers claimed that the signs were put up as some passengers complained that other drivers around the city were unable to speak English properly. But, despite drivers claiming the signs were not intended to be deliberately racist, ethnic minority drivers and members of the public have registered their complaints. City council officials have requested that the signs be taken down or the drivers face suspension.

Councillor Brian Parnell, Chairman of Southampton City Council’s Licensing Committee, said: “The drivers displaying the signs will be asked to take them down. If they do not do this, they will be given five days to do so. It will be looked at in a very serious manner.” Parnell also mentioned how the taxi drivers themselves had raised the issue in the first place. “It was the taxi drivers that brought it up at the trade consultation meeting rather than members of the public.”

Opinion amongst the city’s cab drivers is mixed, with some angry over the potentially racist nature of the signs. Ahmed, a driver for Radio Taxis, said: “I am really very angry, I can’t believe it. I can’t see what the idea behind this is. It’s very racist and it’s absolutely promoting an anti multi-cultural society. People should not encourage drivers who carry the signs.”

However, Tom, who also drives for Radio Taxis, disagreed: “The stickers in the windows aren’t racist. It’s a way for drivers to back at the council for letting standards drop with new employees.”

Council officers have spoken with several drivers and some have agreed to remove the signs. All prospective taxi drivers in Southampton have to pass a communications test to gain a licence and undergo a ‘knowledge’ test of the city.

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Lumb top scores for Lions

He spent last summer blazing the ball all over the park in the domestic Twenty20 competition in England. Now Michael Lumb has continued where he left off in the shortest format of the game, top scoring for the England Lions in their first tour match against United Arab Emirates A in Sharjah.

Coming in at number three after a reasonable platform had been set by openers Steve Davies and Craig Kieswetter, Lumb took the attack to the opposition in the manner that Hampshire fans have been accustomed to last season. He hit 3 fours and a six as he racked up 42 off 32 balls before being run out. His contribution allowed the rest of the England batsman to pile up an imposing total of 184 for 6, a score that UAE A were unable to even approach.

Lumb opened for Hampshire in domestic Twenty20 last season but adapted his game excellently to suit his new role at first drop for the Lions. And his assured performance will add to the growing calls for his inclusion in the full England side. A free flowing and naturally attacking batsman, Lumb could offer England a mode of attack similar to that provided by Eoin Morgan, another left hander, who has been wowing English fans over the winter.

Lumb’s talent is starting to be recognised on the world stage. His former Hampshire captain Shane Warne was quick to snap him up for the Rajasthan Royals for this season’s Indian Premier League, where he‘ll play alongside his current skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas. Lumb is one of only a handful of English players who will appear at the tournament, confirming his reputation as one of England’s top Twenty20 specialists.

More performances like the first one in Sharjah and Lumb’s international stock will continue to rise.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

The Speaker Comments... New signings make Hampshire a genuine force

With the 2010 County Cricket Championship fast approaching, attention will soon be turning away from England’s travels and on to the domestic game. And fans of Hampshire can be quietly optimistic with their chances this season.

With a plethora of new signings on board, the south coast county boasts a stellar line-up. Having secured the services of ex-England fast bowler Simon Jones, Hampshire coach Giles White quickly added Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis as the clubs overseas player for the season. Mendis is one of world cricket’s most promising young players and his capture can be seen as a huge plus for the county.

But they weren’t done there. The Hawks were also able to add explosive Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi as their overseas player for the Twenty20 Cup. Afridi is known to be one of the most dangerous players in the shorter form of the game and rival counties will already be dreading coming up against him in full flow. They also snapped up fast bowler Kabir Ali from Worcestershire and ex-South African opening batsman Neil McKenzie to complete what is shaping up to be a fearsome team.

Having won the Friends Provident Trophy and reached the quarter finals of the Twenty20 Cup last season, Hampshire already have a strong pedigree in limited overs cricket. But it’s the four day game that the Hawks want to master. Having briefly flirted with relegation last season, they fought their way to a sixth place finish. And with the shrewd additions to the squad, there’s every chance of success.

Along with the new signings, they have a fine group of current players, mixing seasoned experience with youthful promise. The likes of James Vince, Danny Briggs and David Griffiths represent a fine future for the club alongside the more veteran names like Nic Pothas and captain Dimitri Mascarenhas. If Hampshire can build on the steady progress of last season then it could be a interesting summer down at The Rose Bowl.

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Ervine Rocks Zimbabwe

With the off season winding towards a close, some of Hampshire’s players have been busy plying their trade overseas during the winter. A number have been involved with England’s various national sides. Others have been honing their skills in domestic competitions around the world. And someone has simply returned to their country of birth to rack up some big runs.

Sean Ervine, returning to his native Zimbabwe to play for the Southern Rocks franchise, made his mark immediately and in some style, crashing a glorious 208 in the first innings and a near match winning 160 in the second, on debut against the Mid West Rhinos.

In the first innings, Ervine made his way to the wicket with his side in dire straits having lost three wickets with the score on just 13. But despite that, Rose Bowl favourite Slug, put on a mammoth 178 run partnership with his brother Craig, who made 81, and took his side from the abyss to a healthy first innings lead.

It was his highest First Class score and rescued the Southern Rocks in an innings where they looked like crumbling into submission. Ervine had a successful 2009 season with Hampshire, scoring three hundreds and building on his reputation as a rock himself in the middle order. An average of 40 helped him become the Hawks’ fourth highest run scorer of the year. He was part of the ‘rebel’ group of cricketers that openly clashed with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union in 2004 and he left to start a new cricketing life in Australia and England.

Ervine’s debut innings for his new side will have re-established his status as one of his country’s finest cricketers. Joining his younger brother at Southern Rocks will give him a perfect opportunity to play himself into form and to get himself match fit for the upcoming English domestic season. With the plethora of new signings Hampshire have made Ervine will be aware that competition for places will be tough so his stint in Zimbabwe could be the perfect preparation for another high quality season.

Ervine also had a say with the ball on his first match back home. He took 1 for 37 in the Rhinos’ first innings, dismissing opposition captain Vusi Sibanda for just 10. After his considerable batting heroics, which earned his side an important 107 run lead, he claimed 2 for 63 as the Rhinos set about making up the difference. Ervine managed to remove the dangerous Brendan Taylor but only after Taylor had blasted his way to a thrilling 217.

Chasing 337 to win, Southern Rocks once again found themselves in trouble. However, Ervine once again responded in earnest. An audacious display saw Sean hit 17 fours and a six to register his second century of the match. A late collapse denied Southern Rocks victory with Ervine eventually dismissed for 160 in the dying stages and the game ended in a draw. But despite the match not going entirely his team’s way, he has put in a whole-hearted individual performance and this can be no bad thing for Hampshire fans.

The Rose Bowl will be hoping for much more of the same from Slug in the coming season.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

Jamaica tour proves perfect preparation

Solent cricket captain Tom Morton claims that the January tour to Jamaica was he perfect preparation for the upcoming domestic season.

A 16-man squad travelled to the Caribbean island for a tournament organised by UTech University in the capital, Kingston. Solent played two Twenty20 matches, unfortunately slipping to defeat in both. But Morton feels the experience the squad gained the tour will be invaluable.

"We lost both games, the second game only by one ball. We all felt like we should have won the second game, it was a really close finish. It was difficult as we were in the middle of our off season and none of us had properly trained. In comparison, the sides we faced had alot of time to prepare and had played alot of competitive cricket in the process."

Morton insisted that the gulf in class between Solent and the opposition wasn't as great as the results suggest. "The league we played in last season would have been as good, if not better, than the standard of what we faced in Jamaica. But the sides out there were still very good. Each team had two fast bowlers which is different to what we face in the UK where there are more medium pace bowlers. These differences provided excellent practice for our batsmen and I feel the whole team handled the conditions and circumstances really well."

After the success of the event the previous year, the tournament was opened up to teams from around the world this year, although Solent were the only side from outside the Caribbean. Former West Indies Test bowler Courtney Walsh was an ambassador for the tournament and was present at the opening ceremony.

In their first game, Solent batted first and made 108-8 form their allotted 20 overs. Their opponents, GC Foster College, chased down the total winning with 6 overs to spare and a total of 8 wickets remaining. In the second match, Solent posted 111-9 and made opponents MICO University College work hard chasing the win but, despite taking the match to the last over, they were unable to stop the Jamaicans scoring the single they needed for victory.

Morton feels the trip provided a good opportunity for the team to play some competitive cricket before the season. "It was a fantastic experience. A lot of people hadn't played in conditions like that before because the surface was different. The wicket was literally rolled mud and it was good learning how to bat and bowl in different conditions, playing against different types of cricketers. Being in Jamaica and experiencing the culture out there was fantastic."

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Solent students in Hampshire CCC link

Reporting on cricket matches can be a tough art to master but for Solent University students there is a fine opportunity to hone such skills. Hampshire County Cricket Club last year offered the chance for a selection of Solent students to work on a voluntary basis at the club and the success of the scheme has resulted in the initiative being offered again this year to another generation of budding Solent journalists and sports writers.

Students provided live match reports from The Rose Bowl, post game interviews, video and other content for the club website, whilst under the watchful eye of cricket journalist Jane Cable and Rose Bowl Marketing Executive Kevin Latouf. Cable was unmistakable in her praise for the work of the students: "It is purely down to the writing skills of the students involved that the reports read so well. It was really gratifying to see personal styles evolve alongside the by-lines that would become so familiar to our Hampshire website audience and members."

Sports Journalism course leader John May, who was involved in setting up the scheme, said: "The initiative is a tremendous opportunity for students to gain experience and to earn by-lines which they can show prospective employers. This summer the club is looking to expand the operation so as many as 20 students could be involved. There's also plans to develop the project so students will be required to provide content not just for the website, but also to provide video coverage too."

Working in a live environment was clearly beneficial for the students as they were placed side by side in the press box with seasoned journalists and the chance to work in a professional environment was greatly enjoyed. Steven Woodgate, 22, said: "It was a real revelation as to how good covering sport can be. I've managed to meet and speak with a host of cricket players such as Alistair Cook, Michael Carberry, Chris Tremlett and Dominic Cork. It's been a great experience and one I will always have with me wherever my journalistic career carries me. I've developed my skills which I can utilise when I leave university and progress in a career in the industry."

Nick Howson, 21, was also grateful for the opportunity: "There's an ambitious team down at Hampshire, on and off the pitch, and to be part of that one way or another is fantastic. The most fulfilling thing is that you're respected like an established journalist and to be treated like you belong was pretty gratifying. The club seem to trust us with the content that we've produced for the website and they've put plenty of faith in us to deliver on their expectations."

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

2009 in a minute

Jermain Defoe, New York in winter, The Corridor, Kaos, Florence + The Machine, Brussels, Tottenham 1 Chelsea 0, Six Nations, The Ashes, The Hangover, Boston, The Killers at Hyde Park, England 5 Croatia 1, Stuart Broad 5-37, Mumford and Sons, my Topman coat, Barbados, hanging out with the cast of Skins, Jesters, American Eagle, Alicante, Oasis at Wembley, early morning gym sessions, Gavin and Stacey, Ziggy, meeting Matthew Hoggard, Chicken Pizza Hot 2 U, The Plymouth Herald, Luka Modric, The Rose Bowl, Fifa 10, Eoin Morgan, Joanna Page, the tied cricket match at The Common, my 21st, Vodka Club, Frank Turner, The Business, Tottenham 9 Wigan 1, that night in Reflex with Chris Checkley, Twitter, FHM magazine, 4 Coventry Road, witty anecdotes, Purple Rain, sensationalism, everyone who played a part.

That was my 2009. What’s next?

Tabloid sensationalism and the dumbing down of culture

Analyse and discuss to what extent tabloid journalism is ‘sensationalist’ in news coverage and whether it is responsible for ‘dumbing down’ culture.

Tabloid journalism has long been considered in popular culture as a medium for sensationalist reporting. But what is sensationalism in this context? And to what extent is tabloid journalism perpetuating this ideal? Sensationalism can be defined as a manner of being loud or attention grabbing. Essentially, it is to make a sensation out of something and, in the case of news coverage, to give a story more of an appeal and to make it more eye catching for the audience. Tabloid newspapers are often accused of carrying sensationalist stories or headlines - it is one of the defining stereotypes of this brand of publication. And with tabloid papers receiving daily nation-wide coverage, there remains a lingering fear that national culture is becoming ‘dumbed down’ as a result.

Perhaps tabloid journalism requires proper definition in order for it to be fully understood in this instance. Extremely popular in the UK, tabloid newspapers are synonymous with ‘junk food news’ - stories that tend to exaggerate and emphasise sensational stories, often regarding crime, and articles depicting the personal lives of celebrities, sports stars and those in the public eye. At the other end of the spectrum are broadsheet newspapers who tend to look down on the tabloid for the ‘down-market’ nature of their reporting. There is an element of sleaze when it comes to tabloid reporting - so much so that in order to avoid the potential stigma associated with smaller format papers, broadsheets (a typically larger scale size of paper) that released smaller versions of their papers labelled them as ‘compact’ to ensure that their reputation as purveyors of high standard journalism remained.

It seems there is certainly a down-market connotation when it comes to tabloid journalism. Referred to in certain circles as the ‘gutter press’, tabloid allegations about the drug use or sexual practise of certain people is always likely to be a touch defamatory. And in many cases, defamation charges brought against the papers have been successful, resulting in large cash windfalls for the aggrieved. Perhaps this is why many view tabloid reporting as sensationalist. The act of naming and shaming celebrities is hardly one of the defining principles of journalism and, whilst it can be argued that tabloids do more than simply that, it is with this brush that many newspapers are tainted.

But is sensationalism all that bad? Writer Mitchell Stephens puts forward the case that sensationalism opens the door to a new audience. In his book, The History of News, he states that sensationalism is aimed towards the lower class, as they have less need to understand heavy news stories, concerning politics, for example. Through this method the audience is encouraged to take more of an interested in the news and become further enlightened. A common ideal is that tabloid papers appeal to the lower class and that the more news-heavy broadsheet papers appeal to a higher social class. Using this theory it is easy to assume sensationalism is a tool used by tabloid writers in order to speak to their audience better and in order to convey a more interesting message.

If sensational stories pull in a greater audience then what is the problem with it? Tabloid editors will argue that the increased circulation that comes as a result outweighs the accusations that it just isn’t proper journalism. But at what cost does the increase in audience come? Is mass culture becoming dumbed down as a result?

The Metro newspaper, a free London daily, published the views of their audience on the subject of sensationalism and others areas such as celebrity culture trust in tabloids. The responses painted a vivid picture as to public opinion:

(on the subject of sensationalism)

- ‘I think they are overly sensationalistic, and are increasingly focusing on mundane trivial issues, and sensationalising every event.'

- 'I think they are overly sensationalist and very manipulative of the public opinion'

- ‘They forget how much influence they have over the public - at times they are guilty of spreading irrational fears over us e.g. the MMR virus, because of them we could have a measles epidemic - this style of reporting (in all newspapers) was irrational and irresponsible.’

- 'Don’t trust tabloids at all and broadsheets are getting worse. Cannot believe a word that is written in most papers as it's all spun for sensationalism. Papers are actually creating stories rather than reporting them.’

These rather scathing replies are indicative of the opinion that tabloid papers are too heavily focused on selling papers rather than providing good, hard news. Public distrust of newspapers is generally bad enough but the sensationalistic ideals being promoted in tabloid papers appears to be both influencing one set of readers and appalling another. When it came to the subject of dumbing down culture, the audience replies were just as critical:

- 'I'm annoyed by what I see as the increasing 'dumbed-down-ness' of newspapers, their using of slang and inappropriate language, and their sensationalist stories to gain attention.’

- 'British media falsely shapes the mindsets of the masses in way that often reflects fiction and their own political agenda opposed to actual fact. This often hinders rather than develops society as a whole.'

- ‘I'm appalled at the drivel the national tabloids spout on topics such as immigration and asylum, it amounts to thinly-veiled racism. They take glee in forming (bigoted) opinion amongst their readership and the masses whilst claiming to merely "reflect public opinion". They should stick to Page 3 and celebrity gossip and leave serious issues to the broadsheets!'

- ‘Getting my "grumpy young man" hat on, newspaper journalism is losing it's way ALMOST as badly as broadcast media. Too many column inches squandered on dumbed-down rubbish, sensationalised reporting with no factual context and the media continuing to indulge in openly narcissistic self-hype.’

So there appears to be a clear common perception that the majority of tabloid newspapers, with The Sun usually coming in for the heaviest criticism, are there simply to make newsworthy stories appear more glamorous. In essence, tabloid papers publish ‘vacuous’ news - stories that lack proper intelligence or any kind of real, investigative journalistic skill. And when tabloids do attempt to cover a issue actually deemed newsworthy, there is a definitive slant towards the sensational. When broadsheet and tabloid news stories are compared head to head, it is obvious there is a more sensationalist style of reporting in the tabloids.

In analysing stories published in both The Sun and The Times on November 21st 2009, both regarding a video released by two British hostages taken prisoner by Somalian pirates, there are unmistakable differences in the coverage between both publications. In examining the language used in the tabloid paper, it is clear that the writer is attempting to engender a sensationalist style.

In the opening paragraph of The Sun’s article, words such as ‘distraught’ and ‘hostage’ are used alongside the actual fee demanded by the captors for the couple’s safe return. The Times’ opening sentences are simple by contrast with no emotive language used and a calm statement of the bare facts. As the stories continue, The Sun dials up the emotion by employing phrases such as ‘harrowing footage’, ‘bounty’ and ‘…machine guns trained at their heads and rocket launchers.’ When put next to the broadsheet effort, The Sun’s use of language is clearly designed to have a big impact. The Times makes no attempt to scare the reader by describing the kidnappers pointing guns at the British couple’s heads as the tabloid story did. Whilst it could be argued that such facts are necessary for the story to be told, a read of The Times’ article shows that you don’t have to go for sensationalism in order to convey the facts.

Another interesting example of tabloid reporting in it’s sensationalist entirety is The Sun’s coverage of the Hillsborough football stadium tragedy. 96 people were crushed to death as overcrowded stands and police mismanagement of the crowd caused a mass stampede and one of the greatest footballing tragedies ever seen. It was commonly assumed that the failure of the police forces to properly control the crowd was the main reason for the incident and many of the national dailies ran with that as it’s angle. But The Sun, headed by the maverick Kelvin MacKenzie as editor, chose to follow up on unsubstantiated allegations that Liverpool F.C. fans were responsible for the disaster and that they had displayed appalling and grotesque behaviour during the unfolding of the tragedy.

Under the imposing headline ‘The Truth’, The Sun ran the full extent of the allegations, stating that a selection of drunken Liverpool fans violently attacked rescue workers as they tried to rescue people and that police officers and other helpers were attacked and even urinated upon. Whether the allegation were valid or not, The Sun came under intense criticism from both the city of Liverpool and the country as a whole. To this day, The Sun’s relationship with the people of Liverpool is at an all time low.

Respected journalist Roy Greenslade made light of the incident and highlighted the eccentric nature of MacKenzie the editor in an informative blog posting for The Guardian.

“The decision to publish unattributed allegations as if they were fact was made by the editor, Kelvin MacKenzie. He ignored the remonstrations of several members of staff, including the reporter who had written the story, Harry Arnold. They pointed out that there was no supporting proof of the police's claims.

The result was an immediate boycott of the Sun by the people of Merseyside. Several newsagents in Liverpool refused to stock the paper and thousands of readers cancelled their orders. That boycott continues to this day, despite MacKenzie having departed and despite subsequent editors having offered apologies. On 7 July 2004, The Sun admitted committing "the most terrible mistake in its history". It has made hardly any difference. Sun sales on Merseyside remain very low.

One of his (MacKenzie’s) prejudices was certainly a deep dislike of Liverpool, believing it to be largely populated by law-breaking, work-shy, socialist scroungers descended from the Irish (another prejudice). So the Hillsborough allegations confirmed what he always suspected about Liverpudlians. It fitted his own preconception perfectly.

The late 1980s were something of a "wild west" period for the tabloids, led by the Sun, and were the reason for the creation of the Press Complaints Commission and the drawing up of a code of ethics.”

Interestingly, Greenslade lays the creation of the Press Complaints Commission at the feet of tabloid newspapers. With the PCC being a vehicle for disgruntled readers to voice their concerns and complaints about published material that may be offensive or insensitive, it comes as no surprise that tabloid papers are held most liable to it’s rules and regulations.

MacKenzie’s insistence that the story be published is a clear result of his own prejudice and his determination to get a circulation boosting story out there. The fact that no other paper followed the same angle is satisfactory evidence that MacKenzie was acting out against the best wishes of both his staff and the evidence in front of him. It is this cavalier, brash attitude that many categorise tabloid reporters and editors in and why sensationalism remains a massive part of tabloid news coverage.

Whilst it is difficult to argue against the fact that tabloids are inherently sensationalist, there remains the issue as to whether how much this is responsible for dumbing down culture. The issue could be viewed as to the definition of whether tabloid journalism popularises or trivialises important news issues such as politics and world affairs. The example used earlier in this paper regarding differences in language of two articles covering the British couple being held hostage by Somalian pirates is a clear indication that whilst tabloid papers are prepared to tackle the hard news stories, there remains the ideal that they are perhaps ‘playing with the truth’ in a limited way. However, it is all well and good for broadsheet journalists to be believing in upmarket reporting and high standards; it means precious little in terms of circulation if the opposition are getting better audience figures.

One must consider the volume of readership for both types of paper: a study by the National Readership Survey found that between October 2008 and September 2009, there was a significantly higher number of readers for tabloid papers than there was for broadsheets. If tabloid papers are enjoying a greater spread of the readership population then it is logical to assume that they are conveying their message to a greater number than broadsheets are. Therefore, tabloid journalism has a direct affect on the opinions and beliefs of the public. Since public belief is central to the idea of culture, it can be deduced that there is a strong link between newspapers and mass culture. Also, the greater audience numbers for tabloid papers mean that when they do cover the more serious news stories, they are still being read by a vast number of people. Therefore, it would seem that tabloids are popularising hard news rather than trivialising it.

Perhaps the issue is best crystallised when analysing content in both forms of newspaper. In 2004, Peter Cole, a Journalism professor, wrote a piece in The Independent regarding the ‘skewed priorities’ of both tabloids and broadsheets.

“The saga continues. As with the war in Iraq a year ago, the Daily Mirror labels each day. In the Mirror calendar, today is "Becks sex scandal day 14". There are two universes out there, the one peopled by factions trying to drive the coalition out of Iraq and win the battle for power in the mess that would be left behind, the other occupied by the sleazy, the chancers, the manipulators, the fantasisers and the footballer. To those of us, the overwhelming majority, who have never been to Iraq, the White House or Number 10, and have never played football for Real Madrid, topped the pops or retained Max Clifford, it seems like serious unreal versus ludicrous unreal. One is serious because people get killed; one is ludicrous because its central character, the footballer, says it is.

Is it a simple either/or, a question of which sort of newspaper gives more emphasis to which story? During this past week, on my rough count, the Mirror and Sun have given about five times as much space to Becks as they have to Iraq, typically five pages a day of sleaze to a little under one page of Iraq chaos. The quality newspapers have given about six times as much space to Iraq as they have to Becks, typically three pages a day (tabloid or equivalent) of Iraq to half a page of Becks. And of course the content has been qualitatively different in the case of the Becks story, with alleged lovers kissing and telling in the red-tops while the so-called quality papers restricted themselves to such anodyne items as Posh and Becks consulting lawyers or Sky buying the TV interview with Ms Loos. The Iraq story covered the same ground in both market sectors.”

Cole’s honest and forthright assessment of the tabloid obsession with David Beckham’s love life and disregarding of the Iraq crisis paints a vivid picture as to the priorities of the ‘red-tops’ (tabloids). Whilst the broadsheet focused on the human interest stories occurring out in Iraq at the time, the tabloids chose to zero in on the private life of a sports star and dedicated many more column inches to this subject. Perhaps they knew it is what their readers wanted? After all, it would place tabloid readers in a better position knowledge-wise. Tabloid readers would be familiar inside out with the Beckham story and would have a reasonable grasp on the Iraq crisis whereas broadsheet readers, although knowledgeable over affairs in the Middle East, would remain clueless as to the ongoing scandal over England’s then football captain. But we are then forced to revisit an ongoing theme: would it really have been in the best interest of the public to be aware of every aspect of the Beckham story? Or was it just another case of tabloids dumbing down culture?

It is palpably clear that newspapers have a strong link to culture and that the opinions and angles portrayed in those column inches will more often than not directly shape the opinions of the public. If the masses are reading sensationalistic stories about general sleaze and celebrity, then they will come to view this as the norm for news coverage. And whilst tabloids may attempt to cover more serious news, there remains the feeling that they are still taking liberties with the facts and that any chance to exaggerate will be pounced upon.

In spite of this, it is harsh to assume that tabloids are the only outlet of sensationalism and are, as a result, directly responsible for the dumbing down of culture. Other reasons lie deeper in other forms of media such as reality television. Tabloid papers have obviously thought a great deal about their readership and are aware that sensationalism sells stories. And in the world of print journalism, extra circulation is never a bad thing, regardless of how it comes about.

The bottom line? Sensationalism is intrinsically linked to tabloid reporting and this isn’t likely to change anytime soon. Still, it is clear that tabloid journalism will forever carry a stigma among modern journalists and the attitude towards it is neatly summed up by Colin Sparks in the introduction to his book Tabloid Tales: Global Debates Over Media Standards: ‘The consensus among U.S. and British journalists is that tabloids and tabloidisation are a jolly bad thing.’

(University essay on Journalism, Media Communications and Culture, 2009)