The Impact of Infotainment: Ethical Boundaries in Crime News
Co-Written with Sarah Tapia, RN
In today’s media world, “infotainment” mixes news with entertainment to grab attention. It tells stories in a way that’s both informative and engaging. As this style grows, people worry about how it affects reporting on still-pending criminal cases. Mixing drama with facts can make news less accurate and less respectful of privacy. Balancing satisfying public curiosity and sticking to honest journalism rules ensures news stays fair and precise, especially in sensitive legal matters. Armchair journalists may not understand the ethics needed in discussing crimes on social media.
The Rise of Infotainment in Crime Reporting
“Infotainment” or social media crime reporting can often combine factual details with dramatic storytelling, adhering to the new trend of “if it bleeds, it leads,” where sensationalized content tends to dominate headlines or go viral. This approach aims to make news more accessible and compelling but has challenges regarding ethics and accuracy.
Historically, the rise of sensationalized crime reporting can be traced back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Newspapers like William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World competed fiercely for readership…