Language intensity as a sensationalistic news feature: The influence of style on sensationalism perceptions and effects
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Christian Burgers
and
Anneke de Graaf
Abstract
This article extends the definition of sensationalism to print media by arguing that language intensifiers may be an aspect of sensationalism. In addition, this paper investigates if an indirect effect can be established by which sensationalistic message features influence news reception through the perception of sensationalism. Two between-subjects experiments show that sensationalistic message features like intensifiers increase perceived language intensity (PLI). In experiment 1, intensifiers had a negative effect on news article appreciation, which was not influenced by PLI. Experiment 2 revealed positive indirect effects of intensifiers through PLI on newsworthiness and news article appreciation.
©2013 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Articles
- The effects of brand placement disclosures on skepticism and brand memory
- Assessing the tone of televised economic messages during economic recovery: Positive and negative, global and local
- Language intensity as a sensationalistic news feature: The influence of style on sensationalism perceptions and effects
- Dealing with feelings: Positive and negative discrete emotions as mediators of news framing effects
- ‘The life of a new generation’: Content, values and mainstream media perception of transcultural ethnic media – An Austrian case
- Book reviews
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Articles
- The effects of brand placement disclosures on skepticism and brand memory
- Assessing the tone of televised economic messages during economic recovery: Positive and negative, global and local
- Language intensity as a sensationalistic news feature: The influence of style on sensationalism perceptions and effects
- Dealing with feelings: Positive and negative discrete emotions as mediators of news framing effects
- ‘The life of a new generation’: Content, values and mainstream media perception of transcultural ethnic media – An Austrian case
- Book reviews
