Media hypes
A framework
for the analysis of publicity waves.
Peter
Vasterman
First
published in the Dutch magazine Massacommunicatie, September 1995. IN DUTCH
Abstract
In this article the author tries to define the concept ‘media hype’ in the sense of news storms. His goal is to develop a theoretical framework for identifying and researching these media phenomenon. The most important questions are:
What are the characteristics of a media hype and in what is the difference between these news waves and the regular daily coverage of the media?
Is it (still) possible to make a distinction between ‘hype news’ and ‘real’ news?
Are there different kinds of media hypes and in what kind of patterns do they unfold? Are there similar phases in each publicity wave? What are the positive or negative results of a news craze? In this article Peter Vasterman explores the area.
