Infotainment

Infotainment or soft news, refers to a part of the wider news trade that provides information in a way that is considered entertaining to its viewers, as evident by attraction of a higher market demographic. The information in infotainment programming consists of mostly celebrity news and human drama stories, leading the term to be used as a pejorative among those who hold professional journalism in esteem. Infotainment is a combination of information and entertainment. Controversies and distinctions with "hard news" are discussed in hard news, soft news, and infotainment.

Infotainment usually covers a long-term change or point of interest, or a general trend — an aspect of the zeitgeist. Many such stories as those cover topics such as health tips or gardening tips, exploring television show genres, travel, shopping, yachting or exploring new wines — topics that are not actually "news" at all, in the sense of things that are currently happening. Other stories deal with something that is happening, but is gradual, rather than tied to a single event — a new music genre coming into prominence, a shift in tide in the political views of the nation, a new turn in teen attitudes about sexuality, a commonality among political candidates, the returning appeal of the retro styles and memories of a past decade, crazes like Tamagotchi or Furby, or a common thread among current events that reveals something about the times.

Criticism

Adding to the distinction between journalists and anchors and reporters are "human interest," personality, or celebrity news stories, which typically are directed by marketing departments based on a demographic appeal and audience share. Its commonly accepted that anchors are also media personalities, who may even be considered celebrities. The very nature of corporate network news requires its media personalites to use their public appeal to promote the networks investments, just as network broadcasts themselves (morning shows, TV news magazines) schedule self-promotional stories, in addition to advertising. Critics might go so far as to view anchors as a weak link in the news trade, representing the misplacement of both the credit and the accountability of a news journalism organization —hence adding to a percieved erosion of journalistic standards throughout the news business. (See yellow journalism.)

Entertainment and news crossovers

Infotainers are news anchors or "news personalities" who cross the line between news and entertainment. US notables in this field, are Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Bill O'Reilly, Maury Povich, Deborah Norville, and Geraldo Rivera among others.