Thursday, January 13, 2011

Showbiz News and Its Impact on TV Journalism

This was originally published in the January 12, 2011 post of Media Newser Philippines, the full text of which may also be retrieved from: http://medianewserphil.blogspot.com/2011/01/showbiz-news-and-its-impact-on-tv.html

Mainstream TV networks include showbiz segments in their primetime newscasts. TV Patrol, 24 Oras, Aksyon and other news programs have their corresponding segments on celebrity gossips, movie press releases and other story lines that involve TV and/or movie personalities. Unsurprisingly, political leaders are also celebrity newsmakers.

Post-modern literatures on media say including celebrity stories in a news program makes a "balanced" newscast. Corporate thinkers in particular, believe that the viewing public upon hearing the line-up of hard news deserve to experience in-between doses of entertainment news -- a post-modern justification that answers the relevance and mere existence of showbiz segments.

The issue on celebrity stories in a newscast is indeed highly debatable as it may include a question of corporate interest. TV networks may use their own news air-time to advance promotional interests for their contract artists, motion pictures and programs, among others -- making them more controversial, making them good profit-increasing variables.

Whilst the issue on female showbiz news presenters' outfit/wardrobe in a formal newscast is but another story.


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