What Is Sensationalism
Sensationalism is defined as the technique or genre of fiction or journalism that emphasizes exciting, often violent, stories with an element of crime or corruption. In literature, sensationalism is often used to refer to works that focus on shocking characters and events in order to grab readers’ attention.

In-Depth
Sensationalism is a practice within journalism and media whereby stories, headlines, or images are deliberately sensationalized in order to attract attention and see a rise in viewership. It is often seen as unethical by many because of the way it exploits people’s emotions and can devalue important topics.

Although criticism of sensationalism has become increasingly more prominent, it still plays a major role in the media today because of its ability to draw attention to stories that can lead to a further conversation around an issue.