Infotainment
(also soft news)
Infotainment definition
Infotainment is a combination of two words: entertainment and information. It describes a specific style of presenting news and information by incorporating entertainment elements, such as flashy graphics or satire.
This way of delivering information is usually easier to consume. It emerged around the 1980s when mass media companies began to compete for audiences due to technological changes and the greater number of information sources available.
The popularization of the Internet has also contributed to the development of infotainment. As people turned to the web for information, media companies had to regain attention by providing lighter, more consumable content and focusing more on human-interest stories than raw news and facts.
Infotainment examples
Infotainment media typically use flashy graphics, catchy music, and fast-paced editing to catch and hold viewers’ attention. The most popular examples of infotainment programs in the US are:
- The Oprah Winfrey Show
- The Daily Show
- The Alex Jones Show.
Today, infotainment also has an online presence through social media. Websites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter provide a space for people to share information, often including entertainment elements.