Yellow Journalism
Yellow journalism, or the yellow press, is a type of journalism that presents little or no
legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more
newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or
sensationalism. By extension, the term yellow journalism is used today as a pejorative
(defamatory) to decry (criticize) any journalism that treats news in an unprofessional or unethical
fashion.
Campbell (2001) defines yellow press newspapers as having daily multi-column front-page
headlines covering a variety of topics, such as sports and scandal, using bold layouts (with large
illustrations and perhaps color), heavy reliance on unnamed sources, and unabashed selfpromotion. The term was extensively used to describe certain major New York City newspapers
about 1900 as they battled for circulation.
The term originated during the American Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century with the
circulation battles between Joseph Pulitzer's New York World and William Randolph Hearst's
New York Journal. The battle peaked from 1895 to about 1898, and historical usage often refers
specifically to this period. Both papers were accused by critics of sensationalizing the news in
order to drive up circulation, although the newspapers did serious reporting as well.
Frank Luther Mott (1941) defines yellow journalism in terms of five characteristics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
scare headlines in huge print, often of minor
news
lavish use of pictures, or imaginary drawings
use of faked interviews, misleading
headlines, pseudoscience, and a parade of
false learning from so-called experts
emphasis on full-color Sunday supplements,
usually with comic strips
dramatic sympathy with the "underdog"
against the system.
Modified from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism
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Yellow Journalism
Past Example
Past Example
Past Example
Modern Example
Modern Example
What is it?
Modern Example
How does this apply to what I know about primary sources?
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Visual
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What I Think Is the Main Idea of What I am Looking At
Relationships / Connections to the Past or Present
What I Recognize (Symbols / People / Objects / Words)
Title of Visual / What It Should Be Titled
Visual Analysis
Yellow Journalism - Visual A
http://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/File:Spanish-American-War_Propaganda_2.jpg
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http://justahistorygeek.com/
Visual
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What I Think Is the Main Idea of What I am Looking At
Relationships / Connections to the Past or Present
What I Recognize (Symbols / People / Objects / Words)
Title of Visual / What It Should Be Titled
Visual Analysis
Yellow Journalism - Visual B
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Yellow Journalism - Summing it Up
Visual A
Visual B
What it is
saying
What
they are
both
saying
What I
think will
happen
Why I
think this
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