Entertainment news is a specialized genre of journalism focused on the people and content that entertain large audiences. It includes film, television, music, celebrity culture, theatre, and video games. In addition, it covers a wide variety of social issues that impact society such as equal pay and the #MeToo movement.
While some may think of entertainment news as a mere source of gossip, it plays a vital role in the success of the entertainment industry by promoting new releases and attracting attention to celebrities. It also serves as a form of education, providing insights into different genres and styles of entertainment. Lastly, it influences our popular culture by sparking trends in fashion, inspiring catchphrases, and encouraging people to watch or listen to a particular piece of media.
The relationship between Journalism and Entertainment is a symbiotic one, as both industries rely on each other for their livelihoods. However, they differ in their objectives. While Journalism strives to provide an accurate and unbiased reflection of local, national, and world events, Entertainment seeks to keep its audience engaged by telling a story that is entertaining or humorous.
A recent study conducted by IPR associate Stephanie Edgerly and her co-author Emily Vraga attempted to determine how the lines between news and entertainment are being blurred in today’s media environment. They manipulated two aspects of a headline about transgender bathroom policy: the angle (political, satirical, or conservative confrontational) and the source of the headline (The New York Times, Mother Jones, Drudge Report, or The Daily Show). Participants then categorized each video version of the same headline as news, entertainment, or a mixture of the two.
