Yellow Journalism: Puncturing the Myths, Defining the Legacies by W. Joseph Campbell

From the Publisher

The yellow press period in American journalism history has produced many powerful and enduring myths-almost none of them true. This study explores these legends, presenting extensive evidence that:

• The yellow press did not foment-could not have fomented-the Spanish-American War in 1898, contrary of the arguments of many media historians.

• The famous exchange of telegrams between the artist Frederic Remington and newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst-in which Hearst is said to have vowed to furnish the war with Spain-almost certainly never took place.

• The readership of the yellow press was not confined to immigrants and people having an uncertain command of English, as many media historians maintain. rather yellow journals were most likely read across the social strata of urban America.

• The term yellow journalism emerged and took hold during a period of raging competition and intolerance among newspaper editors in New York City-and did not directly result from the rivalry between Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, as most media historians claim.

The study also presents the results of a detailed content analysis of seven leading U. S. newspapers at 10 year intervals, from 1899 to 1999. The content analysis-which included the Denver Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Raleigh News and Observer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, San Francisco Examiner and Washington Post-reveal that some elements characteristic of yellow journalism have been generally adopted by leading U. S. newspapers. This critical assessment encourages a more precise understanding ofthe history of yellow journalism, appealing to scholars of American journalism, journalism history, and practicing journalists.

Booknews

Revisits and offers fresh perspectives about the prominent mythology of yellow journalism and seeks to correct the record on legends and misunderstandings about the yellow press. Assesses the extent to which defining features of yellow journalism live on in leading American newspapers, offering results of a detailed content analysis of the front pages of seven leading US newspapers at 10-year intervals, from 1899 to 1999. Content analysis indicates that some of the less flamboyant elements of yellow journalism have been generally adopted by leading US newspapers, and by various strains of activist-oriented journalism of the late 20th century. Campbell teaches communication at American University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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