sensationalist
Lurid news purveyor
Sensationalist describes content or people that prioritize shock value and emotional provocation over accuracy or nuance.
A sensationalist headline exaggerates danger; a sensationalist journalist chases lurid stories.
The noun refers to someone who practices this: He dismissed the reporter as a sensationalist.
The approach sacrifices credibility for attention.
Reporting prioritizing shock value
- gutter pressDisreputable sensationalist newspapers
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
clickbait · infotainment · scoop · tabloidization · sleaze · titillation · celebrity · notoriety
Continuous low drone
- viralSpreading quickly online
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
- overblownInflated beyond reasonable proportion
- hyperboleRhetorical extreme exaggeration
publicity · headline · breaking · flashy · teaser · promotional · stunt · bandwagon
Exaggeratedly emotional for effect
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
- overwroughtExcessively emotional or elaborate
- histrionicExaggeratedly emotional in behavior
- soap operaSerialized melodramatic broadcast drama
telenovela · hammy · overacting · tearjerker · schmaltz · cliffhanger · pathos · emotional
Add decorative elements
- overstateRepresent as greater
- dramatizeDepict with heightened emotion
- inflateFill with gas
- amplifyIncrease in strength
distort · hyperbolize · overplay · misrepresent · magnify · overemphasize · stretch · overdraw
yellow journalism
Reporting prioritizing shock value
- gutter pressDisreputable sensationalist newspapers
- paparazziAggressive celebrity photographers
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
scandal · clickbait · infotainment · scoop · tabloidization · sleaze · titillation · celebrity · notoriety · rumormonger
buzz
Continuous low drone
- viralSpreading quickly online
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
- overblownInflated beyond reasonable proportion
hyperbole · publicity · headline · breaking · flashy · teaser · promotional · stunt · bandwagon · tantalize
theatrical
Exaggeratedly emotional for effect
- dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
- overwroughtExcessively emotional or elaborate
- histrionicExaggeratedly emotional in behavior
soap opera · telenovela · hammy · overacting · tearjerker · schmaltz · cliffhanger · pathos · emotional · sentimental
embellish
Add decorative elements
amplify · distort · hyperbolize · overplay · misrepresent · magnify · overemphasize · stretch · overdraw · overcolor
startle
Frighten suddenly
outrage · scandalize · alarm · horrify · provoke · stun · galvanize · electrify · disturb · unsettle
- Online Manipulatorstroll, bot, shill, sock puppet, sockpuppet
sensationalistunderstated
Deliberately minimized in expression
restrained · matter-of-fact · measured · subdued · sober
- media sensationalismOverblown news coverage
- tabloid sensationalismDramatic, exaggerated news coverage
sensationalism, sensationalize, sensationalized, sensationalizes, sensationalists, sensationalistic, sensationalizing