scandal-mongering
Peddling salacious stories
Scandal-mongering is the habitual spreading of scandalous stories or rumors, especially to damage reputations or attract attention.
The term carries disapproval—it suggests someone who trades in gossip rather than legitimate news: The tabloid's scandal-mongering finally caught up with it in court.
A scandal-monger is one who engages in this practice.
Informal talk spreading rumors
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
- whisper campaignOrganized spreading of damaging rumors
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
- slanderSpoken false defamation
defamation · hearsay · tittle-tattle · busybody · malicious · reputation · behind closed doors · spreading lies
Sensationalist newspaper format
- gossip columnistJournalist covering celebrity rumors
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
yellow journalism · muckraking · headline · scoop · clickbait · gutter press · Fleet Street · TMZ
Organized defamation effort
- opposition researchInvestigating adversaries for damaging information
- mudslingingMalicious personal attacks
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
- dirty tricksUnscrupulous competitive sabotage
leaked documents · cover-up · whistleblower · spin doctor · disinformation · propaganda · witch hunt · backroom
gossip
Informal talk spreading rumors
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
- whisper campaignOrganized spreading of damaging rumors
- backbitingSpiteful talk about others
slander · defamation · hearsay · tittle-tattle · busybody · malicious · reputation · behind closed doors · spreading lies · social climbing
tabloid
Sensationalist newspaper format
- gossip columnistJournalist covering celebrity rumors
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
sensationalism · yellow journalism · muckraking · headline · scoop · clickbait · gutter press · Fleet Street · TMZ · rumor mill
smear campaign
Organized defamation effort
- opposition researchInvestigating adversaries for damaging information
- mudslingingMalicious personal attacks
- character assassinationDestroying someone's good name
dirty tricks · leaked documents · cover-up · whistleblower · spin doctor · disinformation · propaganda · witch hunt · backroom · damaging
scandal-mongeringresponsible journalism
Accurate, fair news reporting
ethical journalism · investigative journalism · fact-checking · balanced reporting · truth-telling
scandal-mongeringpraise
Expression of approval
commendation · discretion · confidentiality · acclaim · tribute
scandal-mongeringdiscretion
Careful judgment in speech
confidentiality · tactfulness · circumspection · reticence · restraint
scandal, scandals, scandalous, scandalously, scandalize, scandalized, scandalizing, monger, mongers