Infotainment or soft news, refers to a part of the wider news trade that provides information in a way that is considered entertaining to its viewers, as evident by attraction of a higher market demographic . The information in infotainment programming consists of mostly celebrity news and human drama stories, leading the term to be used as a pejorative among those who hold professional journalism in esteem. Infotainment is a combination of information and entertainment. Controversies and distinctions with "hard news" are discussed in hard news, soft news, and infotainment.

Infotainment usually covers a long-term change or point of interest, or a general trend -- an aspect of the zeitgeist. Many such stories as those cover topics such as health tips or gardening tips, exploring television show genres, travel, shopping, yachting or exploring new wines -- topics that are not actually "news" at all, in the sense of things that are currently happening. Other stories deal with something that is happening, but is gradual, rather than tied to a single event -- a new music genre coming into prominence, a shift in tide in the political views of the nation, a new turn in teen attitudes about sexuality, a commonality among political candidates, the returning appeal of the retro styles and memories of a past decade, crazes like Tamagotchi or Furby, or a common thread among current events that reveals something about the times.

Entertainment and news crossovers

Infotainers are news anchors or "news personalities" who cross the line between news and entertainment. Notables in this field, are Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Bill O'Reilly, Maury Povich, Deborah Norville, and Geraldo Rivera among others.