Human-Interest Journalism

Human-interest journalism deals primarily with ordinary people who have experienced some sort of emotional drama the audience can relate to. Human-interest journalism is part of what is often labeled soft news, a form of journalism that deals primarily with emotional storytelling, entertainment, ordinary people, and everyday life. Soft news, and thereby human-interest journalism, is traditionally contrasted by the fact-centered and objectivity-driven hard news coverage of current affairs, related to topics like politics, international affairs, the economy, and science.

This entry presents the origin of human-interest journalism, the various forms it has taken in print, broadcast and online media, and discusses the critique and defense of such journalism. Human-interest journalism has broadened the scope of journalism beyond politics and current affairs and contributed to making individuals, emotions, ...