THE SCARCITY OF ATTENTION

Richard Lanham states that in the new information economy, “attention is the commodity in short supply” (2006: xi). This theory illustrates the increased emphasis on entertainment news as it is “something that occupies us agreeably, diverting out minds from matters that might prompt introspection, analysis or reflection” (Cashmore, 2006: 8). It can also, however, endorse the structure of media coverage. As aforementioned, entertainment news is often visual, and the mix of paparazzi shots alongside those that celebrify the rich and famous, allows the audience to form their own conclusions without serious introspection or consequence.