Too much tabloid material? Too much “judge, jury and executioner” activism? Falling credibility? Bias? This is what media is doing? We have two types of journalism. One is broadsheet and another one is tabloid. Newspaper having pages half the size of those of a standard newspaper, typically popular in style and conquered by headlines, photographs, and sensational stories. In the sense that is light, quick and often amusing. However, it’s full of gossips. Tabloid journalism requires, humour, special skills to analyze the story. Actually, the broadsheet newspapers gets published early in the mid night and reaches stalls in the morning, whereas most of the tabloids reaches stalls at tea time break. Generally, entire news are published in spreadsheets, so readers expect some follow up or something light to read on tea time with puzzles, crosswords, Sudoku, columns and human interest stories with gossip touch. I remember when I switched my job from Free Press journal (broadsheet paper) to a tabloid, it was a daily challenge, creating news looking at it in different fashion was real task for me. In India, we have thousands of journalists in broadsheet desk but it’s rare to have skills potential at Tabloid culture. I feel blessed because I could get an opportunity to work at both the sides, but working in tabloid was really tough job.
When I was working in a tabloid, my senior asked me to make a lead story on Sonia Gandhi’s visit to Maharashtra. I made news as she visited the place, met all ministers and blah blah my editor rejected the story and gave me good lecture, finally he understood our problem that we are not well versed with tabloid culture. He walked out of the office for smoking. Deadline was nearby to submitting lead story, there was loads of pressure, and he was also tensed yet relaxed. I have a habit, if someone rejects my work or not satisfied with duties, I make it a point to learn and gain confidence of my seniors, and for that no matter how much humiliation and hierarchy I have to face. We all need reason to love something and no reason to hate anything and everything. This is what the biggest setback of human nature.
Anyway, I went out and asked him, sir tell me how to make interesting lead when there is nothing beyond what I have written. He was enjoying puff after puff, and asked me where was this minister? Where was that officer? It was very funny conversation, while talking I just told him, sir today CM went to Spa and groomed himself because Madam was visiting them, everyone was looking good, groomed and well dressed. There was spark in Mobin’s eyes. He just tapped on my head and said let’s make lead, I was surprised to see his reaction, and followed him to desk, he made story and gave big head line, “Ministers Visited Spa and parlours to impress Madam” and nice cartoon was prepared, madam is standing and all hunks are trying to impress her.
Oh my god, it was such a hilarious story all were laughing, entire desk was happy, and my byline was printed on front page, I was amazed. My happiness knew no boundaries at that time. Then he explained me the art of tabloid journalism and writing. Basic thumb rule of this journalism, give a story out of actual story but very much authenticated.
Next Day, I went to court because Sadhvi Pragya Singh and Maria Susairaj were suppose to be brought for trial. That day, my way of looking at story was completely different. Every newspapers carried the same story about the accused being brought to court and what was judge’s verdict and defence statements. The news started flashing on news channels. There was no angle remained to flash.
I reached desk, analyzed the entire situation and recollected the scenario. When both Maria and Sadhvi were produced before the court, they were smiling and were escorted by so many police officers. Both were looking gorgeous and relaxed. I asked for pictures from my camera man, made head line “laughing at law” and gave big happy picture of them on the front. My editor was very happy, his reaction to my story was like an award to me, next day we received lots of feedback, my stories got noticed, people started reading me, I got acknowledged. One long year from 2008 to 2009, I ruled front page with lead bylines. That displeased many of my peers, because remaining on front page is dream of every reporter. Comparatively, I could learn the basics of tabloid culture little fast. I got promoted, received handsome pay package. Lots of appreciation from readers, I became the favourite of management and senior editors. I used to feel special, that’s the reason when I was promoted as City Editor at such a young age, many old sub-editors due for promotion were against me. They blogged, complained, wrote anonymous letters to management, gossiped about me. I don’t blame them; they did it out of insecurity and frustration. Anyway, today I own same name and banner Afternoon, and that is also a tabloid. Even I boast saying, we are the only parallel media house.
The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Star, Blitz on Sunday, Mumbai Mirror, Mid Day are few of the famous tabloids across the globe. Good tabloid writers expand upon small news items that appear in the back pages of traditional newspapers. In fact, one of the notable differences between a tabloid newsroom and one at a serious newspaper is that tabloid writers don’t do much work outside the office. Once a writer finds a story that can be expanded, he calls family members or authorities involved with the story to get quotes. Using those quotes, the writer can flash out the story and make it more about the people involved than the events themselves. This is a feature of the tabloid writing style. Celebrity news is a staple of the tabloids, and sources for this information are everywhere. Each tabloid writer maintains an army of sources, including security guards, hair stylists, personal drivers and even police officers who call the writer whenever they have new information about a celebrity. These informants are paid various amounts for their information, depending on the quality of the news and which celebrity it involves.
Earlier, tabloid journalism was called yellow Journalism. But gradually, while the society became more permissive and paparazzi started ruling, it gained legitimacy and got a new term – Tabloid Journalism. It can be anything, from a rape to murder, to celebrity to politician to anything and everything. It has strong rules and regulations over ethics and morality.
Nowadays, too tabloid material exists in the market? Yes, even electronic media is very much believing in tabloid culture because viewers enjoy something beyond news value. If you want to read follow up and don’t want to be bothered too much over news, news and news then, tabloid is the best solution and time pass material for you.
