Yellow Journalism- Urbanization
Today the phrase “fake news” is mentioned time and time again, and although it seems to be a fairly new term, the idea of it has been around for centuries. As technology in the late 19th century became more advanced, so did the news, and the way of reporting news. Similar to the term “fake news” the term “yellow journalism” was coined in the late 19th century and 20th century. Yellow journalism, is an early example of how our technology and news holds a significant amount of power in the world. The power of the press originated in the late 19th century and early 20th century, because of new technology, powerful personalities of individuals, and their ways of expressing their opinion.
Industrialization created thousands of jobs, provoking many to move from rural areas to the places the jobs transpired. This mass migration formed big cities (urban areas), affecting the views of those living their. Inventions created during this time of industrialization (19th and 20th century) included typewriters, telephones, tele typesetting machines, photogravure, and high capacity rotary presses. These developments helped speed up and expand the business of bringing people the news, especially through newspapers. In light of this, newspapers became more accessible, therefore they became more widely read and popular. According to Brinkley, from 1870 to 1890 the circulation of daily newspapers increased from under three million to more than twenty four million. This rate of growth was three times greater than the rate of population increase. As a result of this, journalism in the United States began to establish the beginnings of a professional identity. For example reporters salaries increased, and newspapers began to separate reports of news from expression of opinion. An extraordinary change during this time of innovation was the rise of national news. The development of the telegraph aided in supplying news and new features to the papers throughout the entire country. Because so many were now reading the press, the points of view implemented by the reporters became much more powerful. Therefore the individuals writing the news had a direct significance on the rest of America and the events which took place.
Many agree with the idea that the news obtained great power, because of individuals who introduced a new way of reporting. Moreover, they started reporting their opinions on events taking place in the United States, rather than simply explaining what happened. These opinions began to persuade and convert the opinions of others. Pulitzer was one of many who expressed his opinion, captivated the world, and “changed the character of newspapers forever” (Textbook Chapter 19). Pulitzer was a Hungarian immigrant, civil war veteran, and a very successful newspaper publisher. At 36 years old he traveled from St.Louis to New York, and in 1883 bought a struggling Newspaper known as the World. At the time the World’s circulation consisted of 15,000, and was losing 40,000 dollars a year. In the book This Fabulous Century 1870 1900 Prelude the article “From Good Gray to Dirty Yellow” mentions that Pulitzers purchase did not seem to be much of a bargain, and Pulitzer did not seem to be much of a bargain himself. However, Pulitzer used this time of change and innovation to forever change the world, and the press. “It would have taken a perceptive man to recognize Pulitzer for what he was: the best journalist of the century.” (This Fabulous Century 1870 1900 Prelude : “From Good Gray to Dirty Yellow”) According to Brinkley (United States History Textbook) Within a year of buying the World circulation soared from 10,000 to over 60,000, and by 1886 it reached 250,000. The newspaper was no longer losing money, it was making huge profits. Perhaps the newspaper became so well known, because Pulitzer was reporting the news differently than it had ever been reported before. This Fabulous Century 1870 1900 Prelude: “From Good Gray to Dirty Yellow” mentions that “he had brought a strong social conscience to a city that lacked one”. Pulitzers huge success marked the birth of what is known as “yellow journalism”.
During the time of urbanization newspapers became prevalent, because they were no longer just reporting the news, they were also entertaining others. While social gatherings and events were a big form of entertainment during this era, many Americans also read novels and poetry. After the civil war, detective stories, tales of the wild west, sagas of scientific nature...etc became very popular. In effort to keep up, newspapers began to include these similar stories, and exaggerate the real ones occurring at the time. Therefore, the term “yellow journalism was created to describe this change in the press. According to ABC-CLIO’s glossary the term itself originated from the “yellow kid” cartoon/comic strip, in Joseph Pulitzer's paper the World. Color printing in newspapers was relatively new, and yellow was the most difficult color to print. Furthermore many believe that it was called “yellow journalism” to express the new technological possibilities that Pulitzer was eagerly embracing. Later the title came to mean a new sensationalist technique of reporting and writing, its intention to reach a mass market that would circulate quickly through urban a=America, and “change the the character of newspapers forever.”(Brinkley Textbook Chapter 19).The World established one of the first Sunday papers. It included lavish colors, comics, and illustrations, and expanded its coverage on sports, fashion, literature, and theatre. It was most well known for its large, audacious, overheated headlines, which captivated the eyes of those who were passing by the newstands. Brinkley defines yellow journalism as “...a deliberately sensational, often lurid style of reporting presented in bold graphics, designed to reach a mass audience.” For example, it reported the crime taking place, but they made an effort to bring drama and energy to its coverage, in effort to directly involve readers in the story. The papers also included full coverage and narratives of those in need. This self consciously introduced a populist style of writing, and appealed to the working class readers. Furthermore, its front page frequently included unconfirmed acts of important politicians, business people and socialites.
Yellow journalism, and the press as a whole, is sensationalized with significant influence on our history because of the freedom in our country. The first amendment to the United States constitution gives the freedom of expression and speech, and freedom of the press. This amendment, and its rights were apparent in the news in yellow journalism. And the opinions expressed were evidently affecting others opinions, therefore affecting the rest of the United States. For example, Pulitzer was an immigrant and a strong believer in democracy, he noticed the millions of other immigrants crammed in the slums of New York and wrote about them in a powerful way. He stated in his opening editorial “There is room in this great and growing city for a journal that is not only cheap but bright, not only bright but large, not only large but truly democratic- dedicated to the cause of the people rather than...” the money involved. Pulitzer wanted to expose all fraud, and stand up for the people. Later Pulitzers editorial page became the Nobelist, and he advanced to a ten point page program. In this he included to tax luxuries, tax inheritances, tax large incomes, tax monopolies...etc. Pulitzer simply printed the important news and then added his twist to it. He stated “go for your million circulation, and when you have got it, turn the minds, and the votes, of your readers, one way or the other at critical moment” (pulitzer quote from This Fabulous Century 1870 1900 Prelude: “From Good Gray to Dirty Yellow”). An example of where Pulitzer undoubtedly did this was during Cleveland and Blair's race for presidency in 1884. Grover Cleveland both belonged to the democrat party, which haS now been out of office for twenty four years. At the time James Blaine had seemed securely in the lead. And a few days before the election Blaine went to New York, where he was greeted by a group of protestant clergymen. A preacher among the crowd yelled that deplorable democrats habits were rooted in “Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion.”Thereafter Blaine neglected to reject the statement. Later that evening Blaine spoke of “Republican Prosperity.” to a dinner audience of millionaires, in a time of serious economic hardship for many parts of the country. The very next morning Pulitzer attacked Blaine, for example the front page of the world was sloganed “RUM,ROMANISM, AND REBELLION”. And also included a cartoon illustrating Blaine and his peers eating an abundance of food while a poor family begged for leftovers. That paper sold more than 100,000 copies, and there was no doubt that it had persuaded thousands of votes. Later New York went democratic by less than 600 votes, and because of their crucial electoral votes Cleveland was soon sworn into presidency. Like this story, the way the Spanish American war began was very similar.
In the mid 90’s a man named William Hearst challenged Pulitzer. Hearst moved to New York, bought the Journal, and mimicked many of Pulitzers tactics. Hearst began to publish the horrid stories of butcheries in Cuba where Spain was attempting to maintain colonization. These stories, that were largely concocted began to soar, and circulation rose. In order to keep up, pulitzer soon began to publish similar stories about Cuba. Both Pulitzer and Hearst papers created an irreversible demand for war throughout the United States. And in February of 1898 when the US battleship Maine exploded in Havana Pulitzer and Hearst were quick to proclaim their opinions. After all of this, 2 months later, war was declared. Still today Hearst and Pulitzer are blamed for initiating the war. The fact that to journalist are blamed for starting war in the United States proves the amount of power the press holds over our country.
The United States of America holds great freedom, but with this freedom comes great responsibility. The press, and those publicly stating their opinion in a time where it can be so widely viewed must remember that it can and will affect the opinions of others. There are many instances where it seems as though the news, and press have greatly impacted our history. Pulitzer, Hearst, and the term “yellow journalism” are simply the starting points in time, of where the news and press began to significantly affect the country. Furthermore this term, “yellow journalism”, arose because technology in the 20th century made the news more easily accessible, powerful individuals personalities, and the way those individuals declared their beliefs.
The United States of America holds great freedom, but with this freedom comes great responsibility. The press, and those publicly stating their opinion in a time where it can be so widely viewed must remember that it can and will affect the opinions of others. There are many instances where it seems as though the news, and press have greatly impacted our history. Pulitzer, Hearst, and the term “yellow journalism” are simply the starting points in time, of where the news and press began to significantly affect the country. Furthermore this term, “yellow journalism”, arose because technology in the 20th century made the news more easily accessible, powerful individuals personalities, and the way those individuals declared their beliefs.
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| Portrait of William Hearst |
"Through the sensationalism he promoted in his journalistic empire and his own lavish lifestyle, William Randolph Hearst became one of the best-known public figures of his day." (ABC-CLIO)
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| Portrait of Joseph Pulitzer |
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| The Yellow Press illustration (1910 ) illustrates Hearst as jester tossing newspapers with bold headlines |
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| illustrates how popular "yellow journalism" became |
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| Pulitzer and Hearst pushing for the Spanish-American war |
Works Cited:
- About Joseph Pulitzer
- Came from St.Louis
- Moved to New York
- Bought World newspaper
- Drove up circulation (numbers included in paper)
- “ At the time the World’s circulation consisted of 15,000, and was losing 40,000 dollars a year.”
- Pulitzers purchase not seem much of a bargain
- Pulitzer not seem to be much of a bargain himself
- Pulitzer used this time of change and innovation to forever change the world, and the press.
- “It would have taken a perceptive man to recognize Pulitzer for what he was: the best journalist of the century.”
- “he had brought a strong social conscience to a city that lacked one”.
- Pulitzers huge success marked birth of “yellow journalism”.
- “go for your million circulation, and when you have got it, turn the minds, and the votes, of your readers, one way or the other at critical moment” - Pulitzer
- Corroborated all sources on idea of Hearst and Pulitzer having a lot to do with starting the Spanish-American war
- Idea of Pulitzer going to slums and reporting the stories in an exaggerated way
- Corroborated idea that pulitzer helped “shove” Grover Cleveland into presidency
- Term originated from Pulitzer and Hearst
- Both papers accused of sensationalizing news o drive up circulation
- Corroborated textbook, and from “Good Gray to Dirty Yellow:
- Included scandals
- Press: new form of entertainment
- Exaggerated headlines
- Pulitzer went to tenements and wrote about them
- World =highest circulated newspaper after Pulitzer took over
- Facts on Hearst
- Known to exaggerate stories
- Spanish American war
- media= power in society
- Corroborated idea that with freedom comes responsibility and how it relates to yellow journalism
- Defines yellow journalism:
- “...a deliberately sensational, often lurid style of reporting presented in bold graphics, designed to reach a mass audience.”
- Idea of new forms of entertainment
- after civil war: Poetry, books, dramatic stories
- Newspapers started to include these stories to build up circulation
- Corroborated all sources facts and history on Joseph pulitzer
- Hungarian immigrant, civil war veteran, very successful newspaper publisher
- traveled from St.louis to New York
- bought a struggling Newspaper known as the World
- Within year of buying the World circulation soared from 10,000 to over 60,000, and by 1886 it reached 250,000
- Newspaper was no longer losing money, it was making huge profits
- Definition of yellow journalism and how it came about
- “Yellow kid” comic strip where name “yellow journalism” originated
- Newspapers= new form of entertainment
- Political cartoon of boom in journalism
- Corroborated idea:
- that the newspapers included “burgeroring headlines”
- Big exaggerated cartoons
- Stories included facts of current events, but were also exaggerated
- Headlines:
- “HORRORS UPON HORRORS”
- “DRAGGING FOR DEAD BODIES”
- THE SCENE OF DISASTER”
- term yellow journalism originated from the “yellow kid” cartoon/comic strip, in Joseph Pulitzer's paper the World
- Corroborated all sources in idea
- that Pulitzer and Hearst printed lurid often unconfirmed facts of important politicians, business people, and socialites
- Pulitzer and Hearst exaggerated stories in press
- Pulitzer and Hearst stoked resentment of spaniards among americans
- Both pushed for Spanish-American war
- Talked about first amendment and how the freedom of the press is what enabled “yellow journalism” to occur
- Source of political cartoon of Hearst and Pulitzer
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