News, entertainment, or both? Exploring audience perceptions of media genre in a hybrid media environment

Stephanie Edgerly*, Emily K. Vraga

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study uses two experimental designs to examine how audiences make genre assessments when encountering media content that blends elements of news and entertainment. Study 1 explores how audiences characterize three different versions of a fictitious political talk show program. Study 2 considers whether audience perceptions of ‘news-ness’ are influenced by shifts in headline angle and source attribution. The implications of audience definitions of news and its social function are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)807-826
Number of pages20
JournalJournalism
Volume20
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2019

Keywords

  • Audience
  • entertainment
  • genre
  • hybrid media
  • infotainment
  • news

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Communication
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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