“They’re just doing it to sell more newspapers.”
You have no doubt heard that said before, perhaps even said it yourself. It’s usually in respond to what one might consider a controversial headline of photograph.
This is one of the bromides that may have a kernel of truth for a very limited number of newspapers.
Those newspapers are in major metro areas that depend heavily on commuter traffic where more than once newspaper is available at at newsstand or vending machine. A reader may decide to purchase the newspaper based on a headline.
But since about 90% of our newspapers are sold by subscription, it really doesn’t make any difference what’s in the headline or front page photo, those papers are already sold.