Culture of Fear in Polish Tabloid Press Cover Image

Kultura strachu w polskiej prasie brukowej
Culture of Fear in Polish Tabloid Press

Author(s): Magdalena Hodalska
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Communication studies
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: tabloid press; culture of fear; content analysis; tabloidization; persuasion

Summary/Abstract: The content analysis of two Polish tabloids helped to distinguish visual and verbal means used to induce fear in the readers of Super Express and Fakt. The paper shows how the tabloid publications can contribute to the Culture of Fear (Frank Furedi, Barry Glassner). Publishers know that fear is an effective tool of persuasion, and the constant use of fear appeals, among others, leads the tabloids to the top of the selling lists. For years, tabloids have supplied their readers with dreadful news and stories evoking fears and anxieties nurtured by real events or rooted in imaginary phenomena. In the restless time of crisis it is essential to study the nature of fears represented in tabloid publications, to discover their cultural background, historical contexts, and social consequences

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 3 (219)
  • Page Range: 493-506
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish