Discuss the term infotainment. Can you think of examples? What do you think the effect of infotainment will be?
Infotainment refers to a combination of information and entertainment. Newspapers advocate this approach to sustain the interest of readers, particularly younger ones who often have specific interests like sports or society gossip.
Examples of infotainment include reality shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati, Indian Idol, or Bigg Boss, as well as talk shows and interactive shows. In print media, this is seen in pages specifically earmarked for entertainment and gossip.
The effect of infotainment is that newspapers must provide a plurality of 'stories' to appeal to varied interests. Consequently, newspapers have become a consumer product where production is no longer related to a commitment to traditional values; as long as numbers are big, everything is up for sale.
Explanation
The answer is derived from the section 'EXERCISE FOR BOX 7.11' and the discussion on Print Media. The term 'infotainment' is explicitly defined in the text as a 'combination of information and entertainment' used to sustain reader interest. Examples are drawn from the 'Television' section which lists reality shows like Kaun Banega Crorepati, Indian Idol, and Bigg Boss, and the print media section mentioning pages for sports and gossip. The effects are directly taken from the text's analysis that newspapers become 'consumer products' and lose their traditional value commitment, requiring a 'plurality of stories' to appeal to segmented interests.