sensationalizing

Sensationalizing is the practice of presenting information in a heightened, dramatic, or emotionally charged manner to generate interest, attention, or outrage. It often emphasizes novelty, danger, scandal, or emotional impact and may involve exaggeration, selective emphasis, or dramatic framing. While sensationalism can be used as a rhetorical strategy, sensationalizing refers specifically to the act of making something seem more sensational than it warrants, possibly at the expense of accuracy or context.

Historical roots lie in sensational journalism of the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as yellow journalism, which used bold headlines and lurid storytelling to boost circulation. In contemporary media, sensationalizing appears in tabloid reporting, clickbait headlines, and highly opinionated or emotionally charged coverage on television, online news, and social media. Common techniques include sensational headlines, dramatic imagery, oversimplified narratives, fear appeals, moral judgments, and framing that emphasizes danger or scandal.

Motivations include attracting audiences and advertising revenue, shaping public perception, and agenda setting. Consequences can include misinformation, distorted risk assessment, erosion of trust in media, moral panics, and polarization. Critics argue that sensationalizing blurs the line between news and entertainment and undermines journalistic standards, while defenders say it can draw attention to neglected issues or help convey urgency.

Sensationalizing differs from sensational content or sensationalism as a broader style; it specifically refers to the intentional or habitual elevation of a topic’s salience beyond its evidentiary support.