Another way that the news media has shaped American history was by starting the Spanish American War. The Spanish American war probably would not have started without the help of Yellow Journalism. According to Britannica Dictionary, Yellow Journalism is the use of lurid features and sensationalized news in newspaper publishing to attract readers and increase circulation. In a nutshell, this form of journalism presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Two publishing visionaries, in particular are responsible for the creation of this sensationalized writing style that is one part hype and one part news.
Joseph Pulitzer came to the US from hungary as a mercenary fighting for the North in the Civil War. While still in his teens, he drifted west to St. Louis. There, he wrote for a German newspaper. By working hard, he was able to by a bankrupt newspaper and merge it with another, forming the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In 1878, Pulitzer started a new style of newspaper. Newspapers were once targeted to the upper class, which was only a small percentage of people. According to Pulitzer, newspapers should be cheap, easy to read, and crusade in the community interest. He then vowed, "Accuracy is to a newspaper what virtue is to a woman." By 1883, Pulitzer ran the "peoples paper", New York World. Being committed to being readable and exposing fraud and fighting public evil along with dramatic headlines, catapulted the World into the largest paper in the country. Even though some readers denounced the World as cheap and vulgar, it was able to expand the definition of news to include sports and articles aimed at female readers-the target buyers for the for the department stores that were major advertisers in the World..
William Hearst was a person that worked for Pulitzer at World briefly.After this brief employment, Hearst idolized him. Having a father who was wealthy enabled Hearst to edit a financially failing newspaper. With money at his disposal, Hearst hired the best staff and took part in progressive crusades.In 1895 at age 32, Heast realized that his dream was to compete with Pulitzer. The New York Journal allowed him this. Using his father's money , he dropped the price from 2 to 1 cents, introduced color printing, and got advertisers away from World. Within a year , the Journal became the 2nd largest newspaper in NY, trailing the World.
This bitter rivalry was the most notorious newspaper war in journalism history. Editors filled pages with stories not only to inform, but to shock and entertain. The Hearst-Pulitzer battle for readers led to stories being twisted only to boost sales-journalism without a soul.
By 1895 , Cuban rebels were tired of their colonial status and wanted to break free from Spaniards.At this same time, America was looking to expand its boundaries for territorial and economic reasons. After hearing that the rebels chose a leader, Hearst portrayed them as freedom fighters in the Journal. Contrary to the Journal statements, the insurgents were insignificant because they had no city. Still, Hearst compared them to the American patriots. To champion the Cuban cause, Hearst spoke of extreme Spanish brutality on Cubans.These accounts were not based on first hand accounts, however. Pulitzer did not support the idea of American involvement in Cuba, but soon had a change of heart. Years later he admitted that his ideas changed because he saw an oppurtunity to increase circulation of his newspaper.
On February 15, 1898 the U.S.S. Maine, a battleship anchored in Havana Harbor exploded killing 260 U.S. sailors. The Maine was a coal-powered ship with the coal bunkers close to the ship's magazines. Though it was never proved, this is the most likely explanation.However, the World and the Journal took this moment of public horror and exploited it.This warmongering coverage was the epitome of the news media at their most ruthless and truthless. Misleading headlines, drawings and editorials blamed the spanish government for the disaster and demanded that the U.S. declare war immediately. In reality, it was highly unlikely that Spain would do such a thing. They were aware that America's navy was far more powerful than theirs. This was a huge stepback for Spain.
In addition to newsprnit, Hearst posted signs around the city that read REMEMBER THE MAINE. Headlines stated that Maine was destroyed by enemies, He even drew pictures of ship with cables touching it from an under water mine.
The President at the time was McKinley. He refused to jump in war until the explosion was investigated, but pressure was high for him to retaliate. With both the World and the Journal ridiculing his lack of action he was pressed. The report of the investigation eventually came back inconclusive. The world and Journal however, reported that a mine was to blame.It became to difficult for the President to remain diplomatic. He had to adopt a pro-war stance. On April 19, 1898 the senate voted for war. This allowed for them to rush news from Havana straight to the U.S. Most of which was highly Exaggerated.
As you may conclude, the fourth estate was able to shape history. Yellow Journalism had the power to sway the opinion of the whole country, and eventually even the President. Though these news innovators were only concerned with competion and profit, and not delivering accurate information,k it goes to show that when people believe something is reliable they ten to believe and even adopt the messages.
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