frowny-face journalism

A subset of the more general human interest story, frowny-face journalism takes some boring, abstract, impersonal policy change or social problem, takes a big photo of some sad children whose playcentre is closing, an old couple who are being forced out of their subsidised housing or, in this case, a recently unemployed man losing his home(s). This way, readers automatically know what to think about the story - generally 'awwwww'.

"Did you read that article about the sad children whose playcentre was bulldozed down and replaced with a right-wing lobby group headquarters?"

"Was it Frowny-face journalism"

"it made me go awwww"