noun · neutral
sensationalism
/sɛnˌseɪʃəˈnælɪzəm/sen·se·sa·TION·al·ism
the practice of presenting stories in a way that is intended to provoke public interest or excitement at the expense of accuracy
Examples
“Tabloid papers often rely on sensationalism to boost sales.”
“Critics accused the network of sensationalism after the exaggerated coverage.”
“Sensationalism can erode public trust in journalism.”
Band 8 sentence
“While sensationalism may increase short‑term engagement, it ultimately undermines journalistic credibility.”
Collocations
- rely on sensationalism
- accused of sensationalism
Word family
Common mistakes
The news used sensationalisms to attract readers.→The news used sensationalism to attract readers.
He wrote a sensational about the case.→He wrote a sensational article about the case.
Say it for a higher band
5exciting reporting→6sensational→7+sensationalism
Synonyms
tabloidism
Easily confused
sensational
“The reporter wrote a sensational headline to draw attention.”
Related words
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In Media & Entertainment
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