Research Note: Tabloidization of News Media

Abstract

This article explores the issue of tabloidization of news in the Turkish context by analysing the news texts of four commercial television channels and one public service channel. The analysis looks at how actors and themes are represented, framed and focused and how language is used, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The article argues that the news personalizes and tabloidizes politics. The two main actors in the news on the commercial channels are the poor and ordinary people - with their tragedies and misfortunes - and the rich - with their wealth, gossip and glamorous lifestyle, while the public service channel mainly represents parliamentary actors, especially those in government.