Negative News and the changes of tabloid newspaper : A quantitative study of front-page posters over time

This paper examines potential changes in the tone and thematic focus of the front-page posters of Aftonbladet between 2004 and 2024. The aim of the study is to investigate whether there has been an increase in negativity and whether the themes of the posters have changed over time. The research is based on a quantitative content analysis where the tone and themes of front-page posters have been analysed. The material consists of approximately 1,000 individual front-page posters from Aftonbladet, Sweden’s largest tabloid newspaper.The results show a decrease in negative tone over the period, alongside an increase in positively framed content. In addition, the findings indicate a growing presence of service-oriented topics, such as reviews, advice, and lists, at the expense of content associated with traditional news journalism. Overall, the study suggests a shift in the content and tone of Aftonbladet’s front-page posters over the past two decades.