Definition

1. Noun:
   • News that does not deal with serious topics or events: "Soft news" refers to journalistic content focused on lighter, more entertaining, or lifestyle-oriented subjects, as opposed to hard news which covers serious events like politics, war, or economics. It often includes human interest stories, celebrity gossip, arts, culture, and lifestyle trends.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The magazine specializes in soft news, featuring articles about fashion and celebrity weddings.
  • After the serious political report, the broadcast ended with a segment of soft news about a local animal shelter.
  • Many websites mix hard and soft news to attract a wider audience.

Advanced Usage

• "soft-news approach": A journalistic style or method that applies a lighter, more narrative, or personal angle to a story, even if the topic could be considered serious.

  • The documentary took a soft-news approach to the economic issue, focusing on the stories of individual families.

• "soft-news outlet": A media publication or channel whose primary content is soft news.

  • She writes for a soft-news outlet that covers entertainment and travel.

Variants and Related Words

• Infotainment (n): A blend of information and entertainment; media content that presents factual material in an entertaining manner, often overlapping with soft news.

  • The show is a popular piece of infotainment, mixing celebrity interviews with light-hearted reports.

• Feature story (n): A detailed article that explores a topic in depth, often with a narrative style; it can be either hard or soft news but is commonly associated with softer, human-interest angles.

  • The newspaper's Sunday edition always includes a long feature story, which is often soft news.

Synonyms

• Light news: News that is not serious or heavy in content.
• Human-interest story: A news story that focuses on individuals or groups in an emotional way, a common type of soft news.

Related Phrases

• Fluff piece: (Informal, often slightly derogatory) A story or article that is entertaining but has little substance or importance.
  • The article was just a fluff piece about a celebrity's new pet.

Distinctions and Notes

• The term "soft news" is often contrasted with "hard news", which refers to timely, factual reports on serious events like politics, crime, disasters, and international affairs. Understanding this distinction is key to using the term correctly. Soft news prioritizes audience interest and entertainment value over immediacy and grave importance.

Noun

1. news that does not deal with serious topics or events