History Extra Podcast – Sex and Sensationalism: A History of the Tabloids

Date: October 23, 2025
Host: John Baucom
Guest: Terry Kirby, Senior Lecturer in Journalism at Goldsmiths, University of London

Episode Overview

This episode explores the sensational and scandalous world of tabloid journalism. Host John Baucom interviews Terry Kirby, author of The Newsmongers: A History of Tabloid Newspapers, who offers an in-depth look at the tabloid press from its pre-printing origins to the digital age. Key themes include the definition and origins of tabloids, the rise of media moguls like Pulitzer and Harmsworth, the complicated entanglement of tabloids with politics, and the sector’s evolution into today’s 24/7, digital news cycle.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What Does “Tabloid” Mean? (02:15–04:44)

• Definition:
  “It’s a relatively modern word… conceived as a concentrated form of almost anything… Its original conception was condensed content rather than the physical size of newspapers.”
  —Terry Kirby [03:20]

• Origin Story:
  The term “tabloid” comes from a portmanteau word used by the Wellcome Drugs Company and was first applied to newspapers by Alfred Harmsworth during his guest editorship of the New York World in 1901. Harmsworth heralded “tabloid journalism” as a time-saver:
  “…by my system of condensed or tabloid journalism, hundreds of working hours can be saved each year by glancing down the list of contents and following the arrangement of the pages, the outline of the day's news can be gathered in 60 seconds.”
  —Kirby quoting Harmsworth [03:52]

2. The Predecessors: Early Modern News and Gossip (04:44–09:02)

• Thirst for Information:
  Humans have always craved news and gossip, from Roman times (“acta diurna”—daily acts) to minstrels and bards spreading stories.

• Impact of the Printing Press:
  The transition from handwritten news to printing enabled wider dissemination, starting in Tudor times with newsbooks and pamphlets—some official, others “scurrilous” and focused on crime and scandal.

• Proto-Tabloid Sensationalism:
  Stories reported as “strange news” (“exclusive” by today’s standards) were a staple—e.g., accounts of conjoined twins or public punishments.

• Notable Quote:
  “In the 16th century, people wanted gossip, they wanted information, they wanted scandal, they wanted the nitty gritty of life.”
  —Terry Kirby [08:48]

3. Georgian Explosion: Gossip, Confessions, and Press Standards (09:02–11:20)

• Georgian Era:
  News coverage expanded with rumbustious London society—gossip columns about society figures’ affairs and habits became popular.

• Dying Confessions News Sheets:
  Daniel Defoe and others popularized early crime reporting, documenting convicts’ last words for mass circulation.

• Ongoing Criticism:
  Complaints about low standards, even as early as 1730.
  “That’s a kind of tabloid editor’s news list today.”
  —John Baucom [11:20]

4. The Age of the Newspaper Barons: Pulitzer, Hearst, and Yellow Journalism (11:20–18:28)

• US Innovations:
  News in America was initially subscription-based; the street-sale model soon emerged.

• John Gordon Bennett’s Vision:
  Sought a comprehensive paper:
  “I want to make the Herald…the great organ of social life…the channel through which native talent…may bubble up daily. I shall mix together commerce…pure religion and morals, literature and poetry, the drama…”
  —Terry Kirby quoting Bennett [12:29]

• Pulitzer vs. Hearst Rivalry:

  • Pulitzer emphasized accuracy (“Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. Who, what, where, when, why and how.” [13:43])
  • Hearst, flamboyant and establishment, sparked the “Yellow Journalism” wars—named after a popular comic strip character.
  • Their newspapers’ sensational coverage—famously stoking the Spanish-American War—demonstrated the power (and peril) of tabloid influence over public opinion.

• Citizen Kane Parallels:
  Hearst’s legacy inspired the film “Citizen Kane”; Hearst used his empire to retaliate against it.

5. The British Tabloid Boom: The Daily Mail and Daily Mirror (21:20–28:05)

• The Daily Mail’s Unique Formula:
  Targeted the emerging middle class and commuters with condensed news:
  “The Daily Mail knows its audience as well as Taylor Swift knows hers.”
  —Terry Kirby [23:36]

• Appeal to Women:
  Content and design were tailored with women readers in mind, reflecting Harmsworth’s familial influences.

• The Mirror’s Rocky Start:
  Intended as a women’s newspaper, its failure is attributed to lack of experience and the quick dismissal of its female staff. After male staff took over, it eventually found success by pioneering visual journalism and embracing photography.

6. Media Barons and Political Power (28:05–31:56)

• Overt Influence:
  Harmsworth (Lord Northcliffe) and Lord Beaverbrook openly wielded political clout through their papers—sometimes for supposed public good, sometimes sheer self-interest.
  “Beaverbrook never made any pretense about that. And it was all in his own self-interest. And all he wanted himself was power.”
  —Terry Kirby [29:41]

• The Fascist Flirtation:
  Rothermere’s (Northcliffe's brother) support of British fascism and Oswald Mosley, including “Hurrah for the Blackshirts,” left a lasting stain on the Mail’s legacy.

7. War, Patriotism, and the Popular Press (31:56–34:38)

• WWII Coverage:
  Press played a crucial patriotic role despite paper rationing. The Mirror campaigned for better conditions for troops and became a symbol of dissent and criticism against profiteers and sometimes even the government.
• Famous Cartoon:
  Philip Zec’s image of a sailor clinging to a raft highlighted the human cost of war, drawing official criticism, but capturing public anxiety.

8. Post-War to Pop Culture: The Tabloid Evolution (34:38–36:41)

• Reflecting Social Change:
  The Mirror championed youth culture, labor, and the new optimism of the 1960s. “There was this famous speech of [Harold] Wilson’s about the white heat of technology that ... was said [to be] partially scripted by Hugh Cudlip, anyway.”
  —Terry Kirby [35:19]

• Mirror vs. Sun:
  The Sun, bought by Rupert Murdoch in 1969, became known for “Page Three Girls,” cheeky promotions, and aggressive political stances: “It was full of sex, sex and innuendo and a bit of sleaze, but there was always this kind of mantra of keep it sexy but not sleazy.”
  —Terry Kirby [36:48]

9. Modern Sensationalism and Scandal: Breaking Boundaries (36:41–44:14)

• The Sun’s Notorious Headlines:
  The “GOTCHA” headline during the Falklands War exemplified the shift toward aggressive, patriotic sensationalism. Editor Kelvin MacKenzie, with Murdoch’s backing, continually pushed boundaries.

• Scandals and Fallout:
  A series of excesses in the 1980s and beyond led to inquiries, culminating in the 2011 News of the World phone hacking scandal.

10. The Tabloid-Public Relationship: Distrust and Necessity (41:12–44:14)

• Enduring Distrust:
  “There’s always been a fractious relationship … even in the early days, there was condemnation.”
  —Terry Kirby [41:12]
  Journalists were called “a filthy Avery of moth eating crew of newsmongers. Every jack sprat that hath a pen in strange news.”

• Digital Disruption:
  The relentless drive to keep up online has led to more content repetition, less exclusivity, and diffuse influence. Editors are less prominent public figures, and standards have changed with the digital tide.

• Defending Journalism:
  Despite criticism, Kirby argues for journalism’s essential role:
  “We still hold truth to power. We're still there to represent the voice of ordinary people...There's still a lot of distrust...But in that sense, what's changed? We're still there. We still need to be there asking questions of society every bit as much as they did in the past.”
  —Terry Kirby [43:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Condensed News Manifesto (03:52)
  “…the world enters today upon the 20th or time-saving century. And I claim that by my system of condensed or tabloid journalism, hundreds of working hours can be saved each year…”
  —Alfred Harmsworth, quoted by Terry Kirby

• The Early Public’s Cravings (08:48)
  “In the 16th century, people wanted gossip, they wanted information, they wanted scandal, they wanted the nitty gritty of life.”
  —Terry Kirby

• Tabloid Audience Expertise (23:36)
  “The Daily Mail knows its audience as well as Taylor Swift knows hers.”
  —Terry Kirby

• Journalists’ Reputation (41:12)
  “Journalists were a filthy Avery of moth eating crew of newsmongers.”
  —Period criticism recounted by Terry Kirby

• The Necessity of Journalism (43:51)
  “We still hold truth to power. We're still there to represent the voice of ordinary people.”
  —Terry Kirby

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:15 | Definition and origins of "tabloid" | | 04:44 | Early news culture & the thirst for sensationalism | | 09:02 | Georgian press explosion, dying confessions, and early criticism | | 11:20 | Pulitzer, Bennett, Hearst, and “yellow journalism” | | 21:20 | Birth of the Daily Mail: audience and formula | | 24:42 | Daily Mirror: early failures and evolution | | 28:05 | Press barons’ political influence | | 30:06 | Daily Mail’s support for fascism in the 1930s | | 32:04 | WWII and post-war press role | | 34:49 | 60s/70s: Society shifts, Mirror and Sun rivalry | | 36:41 | Murdoch, Page Three, Falklands War and tabloid boundaries | | 41:12 | Public/journalist relationship, press scandals | | 43:51 | The defense of journalism’s social purpose |

Conclusion

Terry Kirby’s perspective is both critical and passionate, balancing acknowledgement of the tabloid press’s sensationalist, sometimes harmful, power with a strong defense of journalism’s social necessity. The podcast traces a vivid arc from the gossipy beginnings of print, through golden ages and moral panics, to a digital world where the line between “tabloid” and “mainstream” feels increasingly blurred.

Recommended for listeners interested in:

• Press history
• Media ethics and power
• The colorful influence of journalists and editors on public life

Book referenced:
Terry Kirby, The Newsmongers: A History of Tabloid Newspapers (Reaction, 2025)