ABSTRACT. Payne claims that a concatenated set of structural and social forces contribute to homogenization of mass media news content. Braman observes that events are predictable and yield a limited, predetermined set of outcomes. Bird does not see tabloid consumption as essentially subversive or transgressive, and does not see enjoyment of tabloid-style news as a symptom of mindlessness. According to Bowman and Willis, participatory journalism arises from the result of many simultaneous, distributed conversations.