Essay on Propoganda, Advocacy and Yellow Journalism

The Martians are coming. American jobs taken by Illegal Immigrants. USDA needs to enforce stricter regulations on cattle feed. Each headline could be found in todays news. When putting together a story, the interpretation of facts depends on how the facts are presented or the assumptions made by the journalist. It would be inaccurate to suggest or imply that the press and the media are always responsible and truthful. After all, stories with sensational headlines or titles that greatly stir our emotions tend to get the most notice. We must learn to recognize the methods by which news is camouflaged so we can discern fact from fiction Every time we turn on a radio or television, open a book, magazine or newspaper someone is trying†¦show more content†¦Industrialization had revolutionized the newspaper industry allowing machines to print thousands of papers in a night, providing publishers with the ability to provide more newspapers (Campbell 2001). Hearst and Pulitzer found attention grabbing, sensational headlines sold more papers.This began the brand of reporting known as yellow journalism. These publishers were credited with starting the Spanish American War due to their exaggeration and inflammatory headlines (Campbell 2001). Although, yellow journalism became the term for this practice of sensationalism and sometimes outright lies, yellow journalism was derived from a cartoon strip called the Yellow Kid (see picture 1). First published in Pulitzers New York World it then moved to Hearsts New York Journal. Critics coined the phrase yellow journalism to describe the special non smear yellow ink and the significance of the comic strip (Yellow Journalism 2005) Yellow journalism was characterized not only by its exaggeration but its layout. Multi column headlines, page one banners, Front page treatment of stories, illustrations, photographs, maps, the tendency to rely on anonymous sources and the eager indulgence of self promotion were other qualities inherent to yellow journalism (Campbell 2001). National Enquirer, The Star and The Globe are familiar tabloids (see picture 2). They are the most flagrant models of yellow journalism and the most recognized