In chapter 5 of “Mightier than the Sword”, the author Rodger Streimatter explores the roots of yellow journalism, a time in American history where the truth was obscure and obsolete over sensationalism. Two pioneers set the stage in 1863 for fictional journalism. Today known as infotainment, this type of news publishing strived to warp the reality of truths, which in return extended over to a larger demographic.
Joseph Pulitzer "once a penniless immigrant" respectively pioneered the era of new journalism. William Randolph Hearst son of Senator came from the other end of the social ladder. Pulitzer's "World" and Hearst’s "Examiner" magazine’s "hammered at injustice while highlighting murder and scandal'. Previously print publications, tailored only to the upper classes while ignoring the disgruntled masses. Newspapers were infected with old order jargon and inaccurate, careless rants.
According to Streitmatter both men became readable magazines, serving the new urban laboring class. From revolutionary sports and women’s articles to hard-hitting, controversial exposes on sweatshops and conditions of city hospitals, both men set the roots for investigative reporting.
At the end of the nineteenth century two men with different backgrounds set out to accomplish the same goal of conquering the new frontier. Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst dominated the era of sensationalistic journalism, and catapulted their circulation profits from 250,000 to 1.25 million.
Furthermore, the two men single handily instigated the United States to declare war on Spain during the Cuban revolution. Their shocking headlines, that was originally intended for the greater good of mankind turned into vicious competition for readership and circulation. They over dramatized everything and distorted the truths, from Spanish soldiers harassing and tormenting Cuban civilians to the implication of Spanish involvement in the explosion of the Maine. With their bitter circulation rivalries, they led the way for American imperialism and journalistic dynamism to come together.
President McKinley attempted to be the voice of reason among the chaos, attributing the explosion to other causes, but in the midst of the darkest period in journalism. Not even the president of the United States could shed some light. Ultimately the sensationalized stories led the country to war with Spain, and cost the lives of over 5,000 soldiers. Yellow journalism proved to be stronger that the three branches in government, the systematic manipulation and dissemination of information prevailed over logic and reason.
It’s amazing to me how sensationalized journalism always seems to prevail over grounded truth. This time in history is a frightening reminder of the media circus that surrounded post 9-11’s supposed war on terrorism. Today we still see how mainstream media overdramatizes issues for private interests and manages to coerce the public with lies and half-analyzed truths.
What’s even more amazing is the power of the news medium and how they can propel an entire nation to sympathize with going to war. You would think we have evolved since the nineteenth century; however our status today is not much different from the yellow journalism era. Both wars were pushed for mere profit and gain, but at the end of it all, it is the people who fall victim of these fabricated realities and follow suit. I like to think of this era the beginning of mainstream media today.
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