Katie Newport and Stephanie Carlson

 Sensationspeak is the art of making every event, person, place or idea seem much more exciting, horrifying etc. than it really is by using artful diction, syntax and punctuation.

 Sensationspeak is probably best known as the language used in tabloid magazines such as the National Enquirer or Star Magazine.  These magazines are commonly found in supermarket checkout lines, and are colloquially known as ‘rags’.

 Sensationspeak is creeping into other forms of media, such as newspapers, magazines, internet and television!!!  Despite this fact, tabloid magazines are still the most frequent users of sensationspeak, though the conversion to other media is frightening.

 News is less ‘pure’ and more prone to bias or misinforming readers.  Readers ‘know’ what the media wants them to know.

 Sensationspeak writers use rhetorical strategies to draw the reader into specific frames of thought. Once the reader is drawn in, there is no going back.

 In the 1960’s, tabloids were made public- friendly began to be sold in supermarkets, with whom the tabloids had established lucrative deals.

 Tabloid Magazines often use catchy titles like this one to initially draw in readers.  Titles sound unbelievable and include excess punctuation to tell the reader to feel excitement/fear/ etc.

Sensationspeak writers include lots of pictures to draw the readers’ attention and give credibility.

 Tabloids keep their language simple and their ideas concrete. They imply nothing. Each sentence has an absolutely certain meaning.  “In the long run only he will achieve basic results in influencing public opinion who is able to reduce problems to the simplest terms.” -Joseph Goebbels

 Tabloids often cite the evidence of psychics, who accredited with numerous pieces of evidence to prove their story.  Experts are also brought in to agree with the psychics’ findings

 Sensationalists write as omniscient narrators, who know everything. This gives the reader trust in their narrator.

 Contrary to popular belief, tabloid magazines are not all lies. The language they use contains true statements, but with false assumptions.

 Tabloids also increased the readership by focusing on celebrities and public figures, publishing testimonials from celebrities as well as stories about them.

 These work on the reader by making real life feel more exciting.  “A morsel of dessert after a bland meal.” - Roy F. Fox

 The idea that celebrities are not perfect, something that tabloids dwell on, makes readers feel good about themselves, and that their ways of life are justifiable.

 In the end, tabloids always use optimistic language, which receives better response from readers than negative language.

 The goal of tabloids is not to make you believe everything they say.  The goal of the tabloid is to give the reader an idea that will hopefully encourage a desired mindset.

 Because Sensationspeak is being picked up by other forms of media, other forms of media are using the same strategy to encourage a certain mindset in their audiences.

 Sensationspeak makes the audience senseless.  Acclimates them to sensational news so that they will take the media interpretation immediately  This makes us more prone to believe whatever we are told by media sources.  Even if these ideas are contradictory.

Surprised you there, didn’t we?

1984Sensationspeak  Citizens take the media’s word at full value, never questioning what the media says, even if the media makes two statements that are completely irreconcileable.  Sensationspeak trains us to believe what the media tells us, no matter how outrageous or unbelievable the claims may seem, or how outside of common logic they are.

 The headlines spoken by the telescreen, though often not quoted directly, often gives us the impression of Sensationspeak.  “Vast strategic maneuver- perfect co-ordination utter rout-half a million prisoners-complete demoralization- control of the whole of Africa-bring the war within measurable distance of its end-victory- greatest victory in human history- victory, victory, victory!”