Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: New Books Network
Host: Morteza Hajizadeh (Critical Theory Channel)
Guest: Dr. Terry Kirby (Senior Lecturer, Goldsmiths, University of London; former journalist)
Book Discussed: The Newsmongers: A History of Tabloid Journalism (Reaktion Books, 2024)
Release Date: December 20, 2025

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Terry Kirby about his comprehensive new history of tabloid journalism, The Newsmongers. The discussion examines the origins, evolution, and enduring influence of tabloid culture in both the UK and internationally, reflecting on both the sensationalist and public service aspects of these powerful news organizations. Dr. Kirby draws upon his decades of experience in UK journalism and academic research to offer insight into the "tabloid mentality," its continuity through history, and potential futures in the digital era.

1. Genesis and Rationale of the Book

[02:49]

• Terry Kirby shares the origins of the book: he was invited to write the first full sequential history of tabloid journalism, discovering a notable gap in the literature.
• Previous works were limited—either memoirs, humorous takes, or academic treatises focused only on daily tabloids (not Sundays), neglecting broader social and historical contexts.
• He reflects on the challenge and scope:

  “You're telling a story of culture and history and how that evolves over several centuries... Newspapers are intrinsically involved in recording and reporting on the events of the era and the times." (Kirby, 04:40)

• The project was aided by the pandemic (time for research and writing) and support from his university.

2. Defining Tabloid Journalism

[05:39]

• The term 'tabloid' isn’t easily defined; the distinctions were historically clearer.
• In the late Victorian era, working-class readers needed short, accessible content, versus the lengthy, literary reporting in papers like The Times.
• Early tabloids and “penny dreadfuls” (examples: Illustrated Police News) appealed through visual elements, sensationalism, and “titillation,” often featuring exaggerated or lurid stories and illustrations.

  “They tapped into a sort of British... working classes. They were very visual... images, drawings, etchings, and some veered into titillation.” (Kirby, 07:10)

• The rise of mass commutes and industrialization created a new audience for this genre.

3. The Foundations: Alfred Harmsworth and Tabloid Mentality

[09:37]

• Dr. Kirby details Alfred Harmsworth’s pivotal role in shaping the popular press.

• Harmsworth’s rise in late 19th-century London:

  • Middle-class Irish background, early setbacks (personal scandals), rapid success producing and innovating popular magazines.
  • Creation of Daily Mail in 1894, specifically designed for the new commuter and middle-class audiences, with shorter, punchier stories and domestic content targeting women.
  • Harmsworth’s clever marketing:

    “He was so confident of the success of these magazines that he numbered the first one as number two... the first edition never existed." (Kirby, 12:22)

• Tabloid as a Concept:

  • First use of the term related to newspapers appears in Harmsworth’s 1901 special edition of the New York World, described as “time-saving journalism.”
  • “Tabloid” derived from a portmanteau of "tablets" and "alkaloids," meaning small, concentrated doses, later attached to condensed journalism.

  “He has this mission on the front page where he says, this is time-saving journalism. And this is where the word tabloid is used for the first time.” (Kirby, 16:37)

4. Politics, Power, and Tabloid Influence

[19:37]

• The Daily Mail’s identity is closely tied to its founding family and has enduring influence on British politics.

  “It's one newspaper that has such a firm identity… it knows its audience probably better than Taylor Swift knows her audience.” (Kirby, 20:43)

• Tabloids’ sway over political discourse remains potent but is more diffuse in the digital era.

  • Politicians, especially in recent elections, remain cautious about offending major tabloids like The Sun and Daily Mail.
  • Circulation of print editions has shrunk, but digital and social media channels carry tabloid influence throughout public discourse.
  • The right-wing consensus of British media is highlighted, with broadcasters and broadsheets often responding to tabloid agendas.

• Reflection on the Leveson Inquiry and the blurred boundaries between media and political elites:

  “The closeness between [Murdoch’s editor Rebekah Brooks] and various politicians was quite remarkable… the ability to befriend people in power of all types.” (Kirby, 24:52)

5. Continuity of Sensationalism and Crime Coverage

[26:28]

• There is direct lineage from Victorian sensationalism to modern tabloid practices.

  • Crime stories, titillation, and “decline of English murder” type reporting continue to attract audiences.
  • The internet has expanded the scope:

    “Now... they will pick up on court cases from other parts of the world which... would not be reported in the print editions... but now with a more global approach some of these cases are being reported at length.” (Kirby, 28:20)

• Websites can endlessly feature global crime and scandal stories, maximizing clicks through sensational content and imagery.

6. Tabloids as Both Maligned and Catalysts for Justice

[31:18]

• Tabloids are often criticized for “appealing to the lowest common denominator,” yet can provide exemplary public service.

  • Daily Mail’s campaign for justice in the Stephen Lawrence murder case is a notable exception.
  • The motivation can be both cause-driven and strategic (countering accusations of racism, appealing to readers).

    “...people who would criticize them for that kind of tone towards black people... to pick up on this case of an inner city murder of a young Black man was quite dramatic... but it was a case that needed highlighting.” (Kirby, 34:18)

• The Sun’s “Sarah’s Law” and environmental campaigns are further examples, though less common compared to routine sensationalism.

7. Global Characteristics vs. British Uniqueness

[36:17]

• While all media magnates seek influence, Kirby argues for a uniquely British tabloid culture:
  • UK papers are less deferential to the state compared with continental Europe or many global counterparts.
  • British journalism’s willingness to criticize governmental authority remains unusual.
  • In other countries, media may act as vehicles for state loyalty or dominant ideology, with less adversarial relationships.
  • The Fox News-Donald Trump dynamic in the US is cited as a parallel, but with unique national inflections.

8. The Future: Print Decline, Digital Transition, and the Challenge of Misinformation

[41:23]

• Dr. Kirby predicts that print tabloids will eventually vanish due to prohibitive production and distribution costs, with all newspapers facing similar pressure.
• As content moves online:
  • “There will come a point when it's simply not economic to keep printing them... that's not just the tabloids, that applies to all newspapers.” (Kirby, 41:51)
• The digital shift creates a fragmented, “level playing field” of news, where hierarchy and editorial context disappear.
  • News consumption becomes story-centric, not brand-centric; exclusives and sourcing discipline erode.
  • Greater openness invites more misinformation and errors, as stories are rapidly repurposed and mistakes multiply.
• Example: A misattributed celebrity name circulates widely through several outlets before correction, illustrating digital media’s vulnerability.

  “Stuff gets put on a level playing field… stories… get prominence on the social media field… hierarchies of news... are being dissipated and undermined.” (Kirby, 44:42)

9. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the tabloid audience:

  “It knows its audience probably better than Taylor Swift knows her audience.” (Kirby, 20:43)

• On journalism’s future:

  “Arguably, that gives people access... but it does give greater opportunities for misinformation.” (Kirby, 46:38)

• On the toll of researching and writing a major history:

  “I'm still bearing the scars of four years of work.” (Kirby, 51:17)

10. Key Timestamps

• [02:49] — Why write a history of tabloid journalism?
• [05:39] — What defines tabloid journalism?
• [09:37] — The influence of Alfred Harmsworth and tabloid innovation
• [16:37] — The first use of "tabloid" in journalism
• [19:37] — The enduring influence of the Daily Mail and its family legacy
• [22:01] — Tabloids' role in politics and shifts with digital media
• [26:50] — The sensationalist tradition from Victorians to now
• [31:56] — Public service campaigns and their motivations
• [36:49] — Is the evolution of tabloid journalism uniquely British?
• [41:23] — The future: print fades, digital fragmentation, misinformation
• [51:17] — The personal toll of writing the book

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a nuanced, wide-ranging exploration of tabloid journalism’s past, present, and future, framed by Dr. Terry Kirby’s deep expertise and lively historical storytelling. Listeners gain a sense of how deeply the tabloid ethos shapes media, politics, and public life—and how that legacy is both challenged and reinforced by digital culture today.