Understanding Grandstanding in Media

refers to making showy or ostentatious public displays—particularly in speech or behavior—with the primary goal of attracting attention, approval, or status, rather than genuinely contributing to the discussion or addressing the actual issues at hand12.

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  Grandstanding in the media context is when individuals or organizations—such as politicians, journalists, or commentators—make dramatic statements, symbolic gestures, or take provocative stances primarily to impress audiences and bolster their own image, rather than to inform or constructively engage the public123.

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  • Seeking personal prestige or influence2.

  • Attempting to dominate a conversation or set the terms of public debate45.

  • Elevating personal or brand status within social or political discourse35.

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  Making moral or political statements designed to show “how righteous” or compassionate the speaker is67.

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  Rampant displays of scandal or indignation to outshine peers or grab public attention875.

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  Jumping into online controversies with dramatic, moralistic claims to stand out or gain followers68.

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  In legislative settings, officials using speech time for televised grandstanding rather than substantive questioning or argument59.

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  Shifts focus from meaningful debate to self-promotion and spectacle, undermining productive discussion235.

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  Grandstanding often leads to increasingly extreme positions, fueling divisions rather than fostering careful, nuanced dialogue375.

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  Research shows individuals who frequently grandstand are more likely to experience arguments and social conflicts, both online and offline68.

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  Over time, repeated grandstanding can make audiences cynical and distrustful of public moral or political discussions37.

• can be unconscious or less performative, while grandstanding specifically involves conscious self-promotion and status-seeking in public discourse3.

• Both can overlap, but grandstanding is generally more about spectacle and personal gain.

• Social media platforms amplify opportunities and rewards for grandstanding, making it a pervasive feature of online and broadcast commentary8105.

• This behavior often escalates quickly, with participants trying to outdo each other in displays of indignation or virtue, which can hijack conversations and hinder effective problem-solving710.

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In media, grandstanding replaces genuine, open engagement with posturing for attention and status. It often leads to polarization, discourages meaningful dialogue, and undermines trust in public discourse235.

1. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/grandstanding
2. https://goodparty.org/political-terms/grandstanding
3. https://pac.org/impact/why-we-grandstand-and-why-it-matters
4. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/tapestry/grandstanding-1.5792479/it-makes-the-world-worse-why-grandstanding-is-better-ignored-and-avoided-1.5792487
5. https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/11/27/20983814/moral-grandstanding-psychology
6. https://theconversation.com/think-twice-before-shouting-your-virtues-online-moral-grandstanding-is-toxic-128493
7. https://aeon.co/ideas/moral-grandstanding-theres-a-lot-of-it-about-all-of-it-bad
8. https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/psychological-study-moral-grandstanding-helps-explain-why-social-media-so-toxic
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_posturing
10. https://sandrogalea.substack.com/p/resisting-the-allure-of-moral-grandstanding
11. https://rshare.library.torontomu.ca/articles/thesis/The_Shaping_Effects_Of_Grandstanding_In_The_Media_Exploring_Public_Figure_Joe_Rogan_s_Contributions_To_Public_Dialogue_On_The_Covid-19_Health_Crisis/19154963
12. https://www.ca-ilg.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/resources__Everyday_Ethics_Aug02_0.pdf?1497552868
13. https://philarchive.org/archive/TOSMGA
14. https://www.oed.com/dictionary/grandstanding_n
15. https://academic.oup.com/book/33568/chapter/288032359
16. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-philosophy-and-policy/article/moral-grandstanding-as-a-threat-to-free-expression/228A112D0DA0DAB75947C95DEB48CB21
17. https://johnhoward.ca/blog/misleading-media-political-grandstanding-and-the-facts/