Pronunciation: [sˈɒft njˈuːz] (IPA) 
Soft news is a term used to describe news stories that are not considered hard or serious news. The pronunciation of soft news is /sɒft ˈnjuːz/ with the first syllable sounding like "sawft" and the second syllable sounding like "n-yooz". The "s" in soft is pronounced like a "z" due to the following "o". This term is often used in contrast to hard news which is typically focused on politics, disasters, and major events.
Soft news refers to journalistic content or news stories that focus on entertainment, lifestyle, personal interest, and human-interest stories that are not related to politics, economy, or significant social matters. Also known as feature articles or human-interest stories, soft news often highlights individuals, cultural events, celebrities, popular trends, travel, health, fashion, and other topics that grab the attention and interest of a broad range of readers. These stories offer a departure from more serious, hard-hitting news by providing a lighter, more enjoyable reading experience.
Soft news typically lacks the critical analysis and investigative approach seen in hard news. Instead, it aims to entertain and engage readers, often relying on anecdotes, interviews, and personal experiences to tell a story. These articles are frequently found in lifestyle sections of newspapers and magazines or on entertainment websites and social media platforms.
The purpose of soft news is to appeal to a wider audience and provide a break from the more somber and complex issues of the world. While it may not possess the same level of influence or impact as hard news, soft news plays a crucial role in the media landscape by catering to the public's desire for lighter, more captivating stories that offer escapism and entertainment.
The etymology of the term "soft news" is quite straightforward.
The word "soft" in this context refers to news that is considered to be less serious, less important, or less "hard-hitting" than "hard news" — which refers to serious, urgent, or significant current events. Soft news generally includes topics such as lifestyle, entertainment, celebrity gossip, human interest stories, or any non-crucial news that is not directly related to politics, economics, or important societal issues.
The term "soft news" is believed to have originated in the early 20th century and gained popularity in the field of journalism to distinguish between different types of news reporting. The contrast with "hard news" implies that soft news is less factual, less rigorous, or less critical compared to hard news, as it often focuses on more light-hearted or entertaining subjects.
