During the 1980s, the proliferation of popular television shows focusing on sex, crime, and gossip, such as A Current Affair, Hard Copy, and Inside Edition, led some media critics to fear that the lines between responsible journalism and sensationalism were being blurred. These "tabloid television" shows, so designated because of their resemblance to supermarket tabloid newspapers, relied for their content on gossip, barely credible sources, an appeal to emotion, and the use of checkbook journalism, staged reenactments of events, and home video footage. These practices have had an impact on mainstream broadcast journalism, which has been charged with downplaying more serious news in order to compete for viewers and advertising revenue.

Tabloid television began in earnest in 1986 when media magnate Rupert Murdoch created A Current Affair and put it into syndication. The half-hour show featured anchorman Maury Povich and stories focusing on sex, crime, and sleaze...