News, entertainment, or both? Exploring audience perceptions of media genre in a hybrid media environment

This study uses two experimental designs to examine how audiences make genre assessments when encountering media content that blends elements of news and entertainment. Study 1 explores how audiences characterize three different versions of a fictitious political talk show program. Study 2 considers whether audience perceptions of 'news-ness' are influenced by shifts in headline angle and source attribution. The implications of audience definitions of news and its social function are discussed.