»Love it or Loathe it«: Audience Responses to Tabloids in the UK and Germany

by Mascha K. Brichta

Overview

Popular newspapers like the British "The Sun" and the German "Bild" regularly invite controversy over their morals and methods, power and responsibility, political and social impact. At best, their reporting is rejected as trivial, vulgar and tasteless; at worst, it is deemed hazardous to the workings of democratic society. Yet, the papers are able to attract large audiences, and contribute significantly to the daily lives of millions of readers. This book looks at popular newspapers from an audience point of view. Examining the crucial relationship between news and entertainment, it provides timely empirical evidence for the values tabloids really have for readers and modern day Britain and Germany. Contradicting common myths and stereotypes, the book calls for fresh perspectives on the popular media and their audiences.
With a foreword by Peter Dahlgren, Lund University, Sweden.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783837618853
Publication date:	10/27/2011
Series:	Cultural Studies , #39
Pages:	294
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Mascha K. Brichta (Dr.) is a professional media researcher and photographer. She took her Ph.D. at the University of Westminster in London, UK, and now lives in Hamburg, Germany. Her research interests include audiences, the press, and the popular media.

Table of Contents

1
Contents 5
Acknowledgements 7
Foreword 9
Chapter 1: Introduction 11
Chapter 2: Similar Phenomena 21
Chapter 3: Differing Contexts 53
Chapter 4: Theorising Tabloids 77
Chapter 5: Milestones Revisited 97
Chapter 6: Methodology 125
Chapter 7: Balancing Tensions 159
Chapter 8: Fostering Engagement 191
Chapter 9: Managing Identity 211
Chapter 10: Tabloid Modes of Engagement 241
Bibliography 265
Appendix 291

Editorial Reviews

"[Die] Dissertation [...] hebt sich schon in der Größe der Stichprobe positiv von vielen anderen vergleichbaren Arbeiten ab. Mit immerhin 18 Fokusgruppen und insgesamt 104 Probanden kann die Autorin überzeugend auf einer hinreichend repräsentativen Basis argumentieren."

Eric Karstens