Let’s dive into the reasons behind, Why Did Newspapers Use Yellow Journalism. Newspapers used yellow journalism for a variety of reasons, including the desire to attract readers, push a political agenda, and increase profits.
Why Did Newspapers Use Yellow Journalism
The New York World , became a model for the rest of the newspapers of the time and enjoyed great popularity in New York society. One of his flagship publications, The Yellow Kid , gave rise to the term ‘yellowism’, as it represented the cruel mentality shared by tabloid newspapers.
The next step in the tabloid press was taken by William Randoph Hearst in 1890 . Hearst, who was a ‘spoiled’ only child, went to Harvard University, although he was expelled shortly after admission. During his stay at the University, a newspaper there caught his attention and he directed it. For this reason, Hearst decided to be a journalist. In 1895 he acquired the New York Journal and soon afterward made it the city’s largest newspaper.
This newspaper was characterized by a series of elements that defined the concept of sensationalism . The first of them was to complete the newspaper’s staff of the best journalists . Hearst took the staff away from Pulitzer’s newspaper, paying them three times as much.
Hearst also lowered the price of the newspaper , in line with competition with Pulitzer, something he could afford since he was rich. Another point for which the Journal stood out was the use of illustrations on the cover , large headlines and taking the exaggeration of the story to the maximum , which soon led to defamation and invention of stories.
Yellow Journalism was actually born as a form of newspaper identity that developed in America, Boston, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and in other areas. W. Joseph Campbell in his book entitled Yellow Journalism: Puncturing the Myths, Defining the Legacies explains that Yellow Journalism in the late 19th century had the following characteristics:
Explanations of various topics such as political news, war, sports, crime and society are placed on the front page of the newspaper.
- The use of overly busy illustrations, imaginative sketches, and the addition of photographs to pamper readers with the provision of location maps.
- The layout of the articles is different from newspapers in general and the arrangement of illustrations that dominate the front page of the newspaper.
- The headlines that appear on the front page of a newspaper are usually in a row.
- Sources included in news stories are usually made anonymous or “hidden,” especially if the news comes from a prominent journalist.
- The topics raised do not really take into account the content or message contained in the news, especially in investigations into monopolistic and corrupt activities carried out by the state.
Some Other Real Reasons; Why Did Newspapers Use Yellow Journalism
- Economic Pressures: Newspapers faced economic pressures to remain profitable, and yellow journalism was a way to ensure financial viability by appealing to a broader audience.
- Technological Advancements: The expansion of printing technology and distribution networks allowed newspapers to reach a larger audience, increasing the impact of sensational stories.
- Muckraking Journalism: Some yellow journalism also overlapped with muckraking journalism, exposing corruption and social injustices, albeit with a more sensationalized approach.
- Celebrity Culture: Yellow journalism contributed to the rise of celebrity culture by focusing on scandals and personal lives of public figures.
- Reader Engagement: By tapping into emotions like fear, outrage, or curiosity, yellow journalism kept readers engaged and coming back for more, building a loyal readership base.
These factors collectively contributed to the widespread use of yellow journalism during its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Another reason newspapers used yellow journalism was to push a particular political agenda. By sensationalizing news stories and presenting information in a biased manner, newspapers were able to sway public opinion and influence political decisions. Yellow journalism was often used as a tool to promote and support a particular political party or candidate.
The digital era presents convenience in terms of disseminating information in all fields such as technology that supports the digital era, politics, economics, and social fields. Mass media that used to be in print, has now shifted to online journalism which is produced through the World Wide Web and then distributed to the public.
One of the results of the digital era is the presence of websites used by mass media companies to spread news. Media companies will design it so attractively that the audience is attracted to read. It should be noted that in the news published by media companies, one of them is Yellow Journalism .
The news featured in Yellow Journalism aims to make consumers interested in odd topics related to violence, sex, political issues and other unusual topics. The selection of titles to be placed on the news headline is usually long and slightly implies the content of the news or can be clickbait.
In conclusion, newspapers used yellow journalism for a variety of reasons, including the desire to attract readers, push a political agenda, and increase profits. However, the use of sensationalist and biased reporting had a lasting impact on the credibility of the media and continues to shape the way journalism is practiced today.