sensationalism
sen-suh-NAY-shuh-niz-uhm
Definition
The practice of presenting information or media content in a way that is intentionally provocative, shocking, or exaggerated to attract public interest and increase viewership.
Etymology
Derived from the word sensation, which comes from the Latin 'sensus' meaning feeling or perception. The suffix '-ism' was added in the 19th century to describe the deliberate act of exploiting feelings or shock value in news reporting.
In the news
The article mentions that the film Primetime explores the media sensationalism surrounding the production of the show To Catch a Predator, highlighting the ethical dilemmas of prioritizing spectacle over truth.
Chris Hansen Didn’t Watch ‘Primetime’ Screening Because “A24 Wanted Me to Sign Away My Rights”
Read the full article ↗The Hollywood Reporter