Media Criticism Terminology

adjective Cynical is an adjective that describes a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons.

• The professor had a cynical view of human nature, believing people were inherently selfish.
• She always has a cynical attitude towards new ideas, thinking they will never work.
• I can't stand his cynical remarks about everything, it's so annoying.
• His cynical heart had been hardened by years of disappointment and betrayal.

adjective making a show of being morally superior to other people

• The politician's sanctimonious attitude towards the issue did not sit well with the public.
• I can't stand how sanctimonious she acts when she talks about eating healthy.
• Stop being so sanctimonious about your grades, nobody likes a show-off.
• His sanctimonious behavior was like a dark cloud hanging over the family gathering.

noun mask shaming - the act of criticizing or shaming someone for not wearing a mask in public

• Mask shaming is a harmful practice that can lead to increased stigma and discrimination.
• I heard there was some mask shaming going on at the grocery store yesterday.
• Don't be a jerk and engage in mask shaming, it's not cool.
• Mask shaming is like pointing fingers at someone for trying to protect themselves and others.

adjective Mean-spirited is an adjective that describes someone who is unkind, malicious, or spiteful in their actions or behavior.

• The editorial criticized the mean-spirited remarks made by the politician.
• I can't believe how mean-spirited some people can be.
• That comment was so mean-spirited, it really hurt my feelings.
• Her actions were like a mean-spirited stab in the back.

noun a word that describes a thing, like 'junk food' or 'news'

• The prevalence of junk food news in mainstream media is concerning as it distracts from important issues.
• I can't stand all the junk food news on TV, it's so mindless.
• I'm tired of all the junk food news clogging up my social media feed.
• Just like junk food is bad for your body, junk food news is bad for your mind.

noun a term used to describe a form of journalism that focuses on international events or issues while ignoring important domestic news

• The journalist's use of afghanistanism in his article added unnecessary complexity to the topic.
• I don't understand why the author had to use afghanistanism in his writing, it just made things more confusing.
• Why did the writer have to throw in some afghanistanism? It just made the whole thing harder to follow.
• Her constant use of afghanistanism in conversation made it seem like she was trying to sound more intelligent than she actually was.