Do tabloid headlines really reflect the interests of their readers?

If they didn’t then those publications wouldn’t be so successful.

They have search engines with memory. When I log in to a website the top headline is probably the same for everyone, but those stories off to the side are determined by your individual search history.

When did Brand and Jolene divorce? ~

I get a lot of stuff about science.

?
I get the feeling jellies don’t know what tabloids are.

If you have a good supply of excitement words, that will attract people’s attention. Then you print whatever stories you want. People will buy them. If you switch subjects you will get the interest of a different crowd.

With epic words and phrases, they draw lots of attention. They can’t lose with stuff like these.

Throw baby roof.
Two headed
Bigfoot my sandwich
Government spies
Love quiz
Island Raffle

People get curious with buzz words which sound impossible or sexy, or deeply tragic.

That’s a good point. I would imagine it would be even worse with a tabloid, like The National Enquirer. THE DINGO ATE YOUR BABY!

Two headed dingo ate my Bigfoot baby!

And don’t neglect the alien abductions.

And the baby Yeti daddy.