gutter press: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Informal, Journalistic, Disapproving
Quick answer
What does “gutter press” mean?
Newspapers and magazines that focus on sensational, scandalous, and often intrusive stories about the personal lives of famous people.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Newspapers and magazines that focus on sensational, scandalous, and often intrusive stories about the personal lives of famous people.
The collective term for the part of the mass media which is considered to exploit its subjects and readers by prioritizing lurid content over factual reporting or ethical journalism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originates in and is most strongly associated with British English, where it has been in use since the late 19th century. In American English, 'tabloid journalism' or simply 'the tabloids' is a more common near-equivalent.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries strong connotations of class critique, implying publications for the 'lower' classes ('the gutter'). In the US, the class association is weaker, with focus more on the sensational content.
Frequency
Much more frequent in UK English. In US English, it is a recognized term but used less often than native alternatives like 'tabloid press'.
Grammar
How to Use “gutter press” in a Sentence
[Subject] was hounded by the gutter press.The gutter press [verb: published/printed/ran] a story about...It's just another piece of gutter press journalism.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gutter press” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The celebrity was utterly guttered by the press after the incident.
- That story has been gutter-pressed for weeks.
American English
- (Rarely verbed; US would say 'smeared by the tabloids' or 'trashed in the press')
adverb
British English
- The paper reported the story gutter-press style.
- (Very rare as adverb)
American English
- (Extremely rare as adverb)
adjective
British English
- It was a classic gutter-press headline.
- He despised their gutter-press tactics.
American English
- The article had a gutter-press feel to it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in media analysis and PR strategy discussions to describe damaging publicity.
Academic
Appears in media studies, sociology, and cultural criticism papers analyzing media ethics and public discourse.
Everyday
Used in conversation to express disgust at intrusive or sensational news coverage.
Technical
Not a technical term; used descriptively in journalism ethics guidelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gutter press”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gutter press”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gutter press”
- Using it as a plural without 'the' (e.g., 'Gutter presses are...' - incorrect). Confusing it with all tabloids; some tabloids have serious news sections and may reject the label.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. While all 'gutter press' are tabloids in style, not all tabloids are considered 'gutter press'. The term is reserved for the most sensationalist, unethical, and intrusive end of the tabloid spectrum.
Yes, the term is now applied to websites and social media accounts that employ the same tactics of sensationalism, intrusion, and unethical reporting as traditional print publications.
It originated in the late 19th century, drawing on the metaphor of the 'gutter' as the lowest part of the street, associated with dirt and refuse, to criticise newspapers deemed morally low or catering to the lowest public tastes.
Yes, it is a strongly pejorative and critical term. Using it is an explicit accusation of low ethical standards, sensationalism, and poor journalism. It would be considered highly insulting by the publication itself.
Newspapers and magazines that focus on sensational, scandalous, and often intrusive stories about the personal lives of famous people.
Gutter press is usually informal, journalistic, disapproving in register.
Gutter press: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌtə prɛs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡʌt̬ər prɛs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to sink to the level of the gutter press”
- “gutter press tactics”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine newspapers floating in a dirty street GUTTER, filled with mud and scandal, being 'pressed' onto paper.
Conceptual Metaphor
JOURNALISM IS A PHYSICAL SPACE (low, dirty, undesirable). LOW QUALITY IS LOW PHYSICAL POSITION (the gutter).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following publications would most likely be labelled 'gutter press' by its critics?