pseudoevent

English

Etymology

pseudo- +‎ event

Noun

pseudoevent (plural pseudoevents)

1. A happening that is orchestrated for some ulterior purpose.
   • 2005, James A. Johnson, Gerald R. Ledlow, Mark A. Cwiek, Community Preparedness and Response to Terrorism, page 66:

     Terrorists use violence as a pseudoevent to gain notoriety and legitimacy through media coverage of their acts.

   • 2012, C. Holtz-Bacha, J. Strömbäck, Opinion Polls and the Media:

     News subsidies thus include making spokespersons available, producing press releases or staging pseudo-events designed to suit the media's production needs and attract the media's attention […]