Yellow Journalism: Puncturing the Myths, Defining the Legacies - Article Example

Yellow Journalism Yellow Journalism actually is the most notorious terminology in the media language. It is regarded as a blot on the of this profession. Yellow journalism is biased opinion camouflaged as objective fact. Yellow journalism is somewhat which has no decency. The practice of yellow journalism consists of distorted stories, sensationalism misleading images. It is done just to increase the sale of the newspaper. While talking about the birth of the yellow journalism David R. Spencer said, “In a stroke of opportunism, the Yellow Press had been born.” [1] According to journalist experts yellow journalism started with the onset of the rapid industrialization and the newspaper industry was greatly affected by the industrial revolution. The actual practice of yellow journalism came into existence during the gilded age that is between 1880 and 1890. It started with the circulation battles between Joseph Pulitzer New York World and William Hearst’s New York Journals. Both of these papers were condemned strongly for their sensational news. Keywords: Yellow journalism, notorious terminology, distorted stories, sensationalism. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Footnote:[1] (Page 1, “The Yellow Journalism: The Press and Americas Emergence as a World Power” By David R. Spencer, Published in 2007, Northwestern University Press) Definition of Yellow Journalism: While talking about yellow journalism many critics and experts have said the different definitions of the yellow journalism. According to John Bogert, a staff columnist, “Yellow journalism (derived from the eye-catching yellow ink used by the New York World in another age) is defined as cheaply sensational or unscrupulous reporting used to attract readers.” [2] While describing the term yellow journalism Hearts has defined the term as “truthful journalism of an aggressive, not a negative character.” While Arthur Briseben, one of the Hearst’s top editor said, “Anything in journalism that is new and successful is Yellow Journalism, no matter what you or I see fit to call it.” [3] History of Yellow Journalism The atrocities General Weyler committed in Cuba were sensationalized in the US newspapers and at that time the Yellow Journalism was emerged. The two persons were recognized as the kings of Yellow Journalism. First are William R. Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Hearst’s publication was known as “New York Journal” and Pulitzer’s publication was known as “New York World.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Footnote: [2] Article “Oh, that good old `yellow journalism by John Bogert Article Launched: 04/06/2008 09:34:10 PM PDT, Dailybreez.com) [3] (Page 6, “Yellow Jounalism: Puncturing the Myths, Defining the Legacies” by W. Joseph Chambell, published in 2001, Greenwood Publishing Group) Pulitzer and Hearst are often blamed for drawing the nation into the Spanish-American War with sensationalist stories or absolute lying. To increase the circulation both these men were ready to go so far as to makeup stories. Hearst sent the artist to paint and draw the atrocities. He wanted these paintings and sketches for the sale of his paper. These pictures later played a very significant role in arousing the people concern for Cuba in US. Thus Hearst increased his publication by producing a new kind of paper which would appeal the mass. Hearst in his newspaper used lots of pictures and illustrations along with large headlines. He also reduced the cost of his newspaper to make it accessible to almost everyone. Thus the entire purpose of the ‘Yellow Journalism’ was to produce the exciting news. The Spanish American war was just the beginning of Hearst’ career in Yellow Journalism, but after that also he continued to grow his media empire for several decades. Though Pulitzer was lacking Hearst’s resources, he kept the story on his front page. The yellow press covered the revolution extensively and often inaccurately on Cuba’s condition. In early 1896 Pulitzer began publishing colour comic sections. Theses included a strip entitled “The Yellow Kid.” The popular strip drawn by R. F. Outcault became the reason between Pulitzer and Hearst in the New York Newspaper Wars. Thus the Spanish-American war is often referred to as the “media war.” When the Yellow Journalism became popular in late 1880’s in America, the industrial revolution was on its highest peak in the west. The term yellow journalism emerged during the period of raging competition and intolerance among newspaper editors in New York City. The media critics and experts claim that it resulted from the rivalry between Hearst and Pulitzer. The term “Yellow Journalism” emerged in early 1897. It was popularized by the new York Press. Later it became popular in many cities of United States. Yellow Journalism has a very negative image all over the world. In Egypt it is similar to aggressive, independent minded reporting. In India also many cases were filed against yellow journalism in the late 1990s. In Pakistan Yellow Journalism is linked with rumour mongering factories while in Kenya the yellow journalism is blamed for “creating chaos, despondency and lies. [4] The Current Situation of Yellow Journalism Allan R. Andrews, in his article writes, “Today’s journalism has a very little to do with the content of the news. They are not at all concerned with the news but the sensationalism in the news is the important. Today’s yellow journalism finds fertile ground in would-be journalists whose motives have little to do with social conscience, discloser of injustice, uncovering wrongdoing or giving voice to the voiceless.” [5] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Footnote: [4] (Kenya News Agency, 7th March 1993, cited in “Kenyan Information Minister Warns’ ‘Gutter Press Against Sedition,” British Broadcasting Corporation Summary of World Broadcast (9th March 1983)) [5] (How yellow is todays journalism? By Allan R. Andrews, Editor, Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan First published December 22, 1996). Contemporary journalists are always rushing to be the first to deliver the news. They even don’t feel it necessary to check the authenticity of the news or the sources of the news. Many news companies have chosen the path of profit. The yellow journalism was emerged out of the desire of Hearst’s and Pulitzer’s desire for gaining more and more profit. The best way of making the profit is to sell the sensational news. Yellow journalism has been attacked by the critics by calling it “an emphasis on sex, violence and crime sprinkled with emotionalism, inaccuracies and exaggerations." [6] There is the cut throat competition in journalism and to survive in this competition and race the modern journalists tend to use the false or semi false sources. Like yesterday’s journalism today’s journalism is also based on decreasing the quality of journalism. In reality the role of the journalist is to inform the community and make positive changes in the society. But the purpose seem to be remaining aside. Anthony Ridder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Knight Ridder, said on the companys web site, "Public service journalism is a very, very important goal of Knight Ridder." [7] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Footnote: [6] (Andrews, Allan R. "How yellow is todays journalism?")[7] (Ridder, Anthony. "Journalism Can Make a Difference.") Knight Ridder has won 83 Pulitzer Prizes, the most prestigious award in journalism. (Ridder, Anthony. "Journalism Can Make a Difference.") The yellow journalism is basically dishonest, unethical or incredibly sloppy. It is the example of careless reporting. The situation in current journalism is very pathetic and most of our electronic as well as print media is adopting the yellow journalism. It has been a daily episode in the newspaper nowadays to put someone or something in black or pink colours and push the readers towards a pre-determined conclusion. In the quest of instant fame and name the newspapers and the channels are following a very unethical path which is really a curse to the field of journalism. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bibliography: 1. “The Yellow Journalism: The Press and Americas Emergence as a World Power” By David R. Spencer, Published in 2007, Northwestern University Press 2. Article “Oh, that good old `yellow journalism by John Bogert Article Launched: 04/06/2008 09:34:10 PM PDT, Dailybreez.com) 3. “Yellow Jounalism: Puncturing the Myths, Defining the Legacies” by W. Joseph Chambell, published in 2001, Greenwood Publishing Group 4. Kenya News Agency, 7th March 1993, cited in “Kenyan Information Minister Warns’ ‘Gutter Press Against Sedition,” British Broadcasting Corporation Summary of World Broadcast (9th March 1983) 5. How yellow is todays journalism? By Allan R. Andrews, Editor, Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan First published December 22, 1996 6. (Ridder, Anthony. "Journalism Can Make a Difference.") Knight Ridder has won 83 Pulitzer Prizes, the most prestigious award in journalism. (Ridder, Anthony. "Journalism Can Make a Difference." Read More