#2 - Supermarket Tabloids

 Supermarket Tabloids

When standing in line to check out your groceries at the supermarket, your eyes immediately go to one of two things. The first is candy, which is usually placed right in the eye line of kids, or the second, tabloids. Tabloids are strategically placed to grab your attention. In larger cities, such as New York, kiosks are placed on the street for streetwalkers to view. Many people trust what the tabloids tell them, while others are skeptical of where they receive their information. This sometimes depends on the quality and name of the magazine.  

February 7, 2022 Cover
One tabloid that usually stands out in the supermarket is Star magazine. 

Star magazine is an American celebrity tabloid that was established in 1974. The magazine releases weekly issues that focus on celebrities' public and personal lives. On their website, they highlight four significant stars. Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Selena Gomez have their own pages on their website. The publication highlights its Facebook and Twitter pages as well. According to Google Analytics, in 2020, Star's website had about 415,000 views monthly and nearly 795,000 followers on social media. In 2021, MRI Simmons said that the magazine had an audience of 3,551,000 and a rate base of 750,000 through print. 



February 7, 2022 Cover
Another favorite tabloid includes People Magazine. According to an article written by Suggest, People is one of the most reliable tabloids. Suggest gave the publication a reliability score of 95/100 saying:                           
"Because of its popularity among celebrities and their reps, the outlet takes pains to not publish unverified stories or “insider” testimony. Oftentimes, the stories within the magazine come directly from the celebrity themselves and don’t rely on anonymous sources for details." 
Like Star, People releases their issues weekly. According to Statista, People was one of the most popular magazines in the U.S., as of 2020. The publication expanded to a social media and internet platform but has partnered with Entertainment Weekly to join streaming with PeopleTV. The streaming network is available on numerous devices such as smart TVs, streaming devices, or the app.

Of course, in the age of technology and social media, tabloids have made a shift to online content. One social media platform that has turned into a "tabloid hub" is Snapchat. Snapchat's "discover" section has become a place for users to get all of their gossip and tabloid media. Some users may recognize popular tabloid magazines or discover relatively new publications. There is an option to subscribe to these tabloids, appearing under "subscriptions." One of the most popular places to receive gossip on the app is the  Snapchat original E! News: The Rundown. The Rundown has 9.10 million subscribers on Snapchat and is currently on series 17. The Snapchat original says it has "all the pop culture you could fit in your phone screen. E! News: The Rundown is your source for all things celebrity". The Daily Mail is also popular on Snapchat, with a subscriber count of 15.4 million. The tabloid advertises itself on Snapchat by saying, "Feed your daily addiction with stories, photos, and videos around important news, celebrity gossip, lifestyle, and worldwide weirdness." 
Pop culture has always been an interest to people. Although some may not understand it, the lives of celebrities are captivating to some. Whether one may admire a particular star or is curious about the celebrity lifestyle, tabloids will always be available. Today, tabloids are available on most platforms, but there will always be something about picking up a magazine from the check-out line of the supermarket that readers enjoy. 


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