Thursday, February 25, 2010
Yellow Journalism and the Times
The Orange County Register a few years ago ran a story saying modern American news media mimics the days of Yellow Journalism. Simply, the newspaper said today's news media are the same as that produced by Hearst and Pultizer. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Responses for extra credit will be taken until March 16, 2010.
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I do agree that today's journalism is the same, if not very similar, to the days of Yellow Journalism. Journalism in the yellow days produced by Hearst and Pultizer, were days where the media did anything to sell more newspapers. Today's journalism and the days of Yellow Journalism are the same because they both consisted of sensationalism, scandal stories, and exaggerated news.
ReplyDeleteI disagree because I think there are medias that are still committed to painting an accurate picture of the news: New York Times, Newsweek, BBC. When I think of Yellow Journalism in today's media, I think of US Weekly, OK! Magazine and other celebrity nonsense publications. If anything, I see bias more than Yellow Journalism.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do not agree that all of today’s news media follow yellow journalism, it is true that much of today’s news outlets do use some of the practices of yellow journalism. For example, today I was watching CNN when they interviewed a “sex addict” and compared him directly to Tiger Woods. The entire Tiger Woods scandal shows how the media will capitalize a story that is captivating. While Woods story is of interest to the general public, it hardly qualifies as need-to-know news. Many news outlets are also sensationalist. They will take the story that will garner the most interest, such as the aforementioned Wood’s scandal. The tabloids follow these practices much more than traditional media outlets, but the traditional outlets will touch on these subjects on occasion as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree today's media is all about what sells. Its about gossip and unfortunately the real news doesnt make it very far. Since actual news is not as interesting as other news it might be slanted sometimes to attract the reader. With all the different outlets of media journalists might add a little or take away from the actual news inorder to sell and attract readers.
ReplyDeleteI do agree too, unfortunately Yellow Journalism is still being practice in some of our news outlets. However, I must acknowledge that we also have accredited, trustworthy, and respected journalist at New York Times that provide us with true facts of hard news.
ReplyDeleteI believe that through out all types of media variations of "yellow journalism" does exist. The concept of creating news that is very sensationalistic and entertaining has been around since it began in the 1900's. Just like Pultizer and Hearst who were battling for the same crowd's attention, channels like CNN and Fox news are competing for the same audience. Obviously the most outrageous headlines get more attention then the ones that are informative and politically correct. The public is to blame for this type of reporting. We would rather watch a news channel conducting a report on a scandal, then one that is talking about a subject that is relevant but, not as promiscuous. The infamous saying "Sex Sells" has never been more true then when comparing it to the types of news coverage we are exposed to everyday. What is enforcing "yellow journalism" is that the audiences pay attention to it and are content with biased opinions, fluffed coverage, and embellished stories.
ReplyDelete(Comm 425) M/W 2:30-3:45
I believe that this is generally true for most news outlets because the bottom line is that they are all business and they need a large enough audience to survive. So I wouldn't doubt that many of them would do whatever it takes to get your attention, and as for newspapers, subscribe or buy it off the newsstand so they can make money off the advertisements. Otherwise without enough readers or television viewers, many of them would go bankrupt.
ReplyDelete-Benson Luu
(Comm 425) M/W 2:30-3:45
Kay Gilbert said...
ReplyDeleteAs the old saying goes, there is nothing new under the sun! Sure today's journalist may be more reliable, and held more accountable than in the days of yellow journalism. However, it's all about the mighty dollar. Pulitzer and Hearst embellished or invented news to boost the sale of papers, as a marketing strategy, and so in that sense I do think that today's media is similar. Anything to make a buck, especially the tabloids like the Enquirer who put bizarre stories like how aliens have abducted people and brought them back, or even worse how shows like TMZ and magazine focus on the misery of celebrities and others instead of reporting worthy news.
Unfortunately i also agree. Media especially the news, use a mentality of "if it bleeds it leads." The media for the most part shapes what we think about the world in terms of celebrities and violence. The news emphasize on stereotypes and focus on only the big stories, making viewers think that violent crimes are increasing when in fact they are decresing. Then there are the tabloids that will say anything to attract readers. It seems to be that because of these techniques journalism is getting harder and harder to trust.
ReplyDelete-Monse Bolanos
Comm 425 M/W 2:30-3:45
Journalism is definitely carrying on the Pulitzer-Hearst tradition of yellow journalism today. Many forms of news media- newspapers, radio, and even television news are being left in the dust by Internet and mobile device mediums and are forced to cover stories that will attract attention. Human interest stories attract some attention, but not like the fly-to-bug-zapper effect that celebrities have in the news media. So what's the solution? The news media creates psuedo-celebrities out of everyday otherwise retarded people. Take for instance, Octa-mom. This former stripper devises a plan to hatch as many pups as she can to attract attention. Can she care for all those children? Can she provide them a safe and loving home? Who cares! Apparently this baby gum ball machine of a woman is deemed newsworthy of our time. Example #2- any reality tv show ever. Jersey Shore, The Hills, The Simple Life, The Bachelor, for God's sake any show on MTV or the CW-- producers find the most ridiculous and stupid people on earth, stick them in a house together and willingly label them celebrities when the first cocktail gets thrown. The rest of the world sees these shows too you know! No wonder why the rest of the world thinks Americans are idiots-- because we are holding idiots up on a pedestal. And when they aren't interesting enough anymore, we find new idiots. Journalism today and the force-feeding of sensationalism in this country is Mctarded. The sad fact is News is a business and they know what sells and they don't care about much else.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that today’s news media represents the same yellow journalism practiced in the days of Hearst and Pulitzer, but I also believe that traditional forms of media are scrutinized more now for their fact-checking.
ReplyDeleteReviewing the list of characteristics that represent yellow journalism, we can all identify examples in today’s media.
Many of the comments prior to this one have given some great descriptions of how television media networks are sensational and bias in their news coverage. Although, I will not cover that topic again, I will say that I believe most television news organizations do not work hard enough to get information from interviewees (imposture’s). However, I recently watched an interview with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) by CNBC correspondent Erin Burnett and I thought she did a great job of not letting the Senator simply state his talking points. Now I think this interview displays an interviewer working hard to get the information. This is a little bit of an expose (yellow journalism) of Orrin Hatch’s comments about the filibuster, however this is information that the public needs and deserves to know.
Example: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1396365995&play=1 Start Time: 4:05
Larger headlines are used across all forms of news media. The New York Times uses a large picture to convey their headlines (example below), and I think if the production capabilities were available in the late-nineteenth century we would see front-page’s of newspapers having this same layout.
Example: NYT Front-page http://www.nytimes.com/pages/todayspaper/index.html#Front%20Page
Furthermore, the internet displays large headlines and pictures. An example would be CNN’s “yellow bar” headline and the Drudge Report’s use of a sensational headline and a photo that reinforces that headline.
Example: CNN & Drudge Report
http://fresnobeehive.com/assets_c/2009/04/Asston:CNN2-thumb-575x311-20178.jpg
http://minnesotademocratsexposed.com/DrudgeReportFrankenFallsShort1152008.jpg
Newspapers still put great emphasis on their Sunday news publications and in many cases offer subscriptions for those days only.
I believe that most news media do still play to the common man or the underdog and I think this was best represented by the recent coverage of the Tea Party and their convention.
Finally, what I do see as a sliver of hope is that most media organizations, whatever medium, will still pursue a story and do their best at reporting it. For instance, a couple of years ago a newspaper; not a very reputable newspaper received a tip about a possible compromising relationship between a high profile politico and a video documenter. The tip quickly went to the top editor of the paper and was approved to be investigated and resulted in downfall of Senator John Edwards political career and a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism. The newspaper that published the story? The National Enquirer (I think someone mentioned above that they only published sensational and downright fabricated stories).
Example: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/08/business/media/08enquirer.html
Here is another good article about the internet has enabled yellow journalism: http://www.kstatecollegian.com/opinion/yellow-journalism-thriving-on-internet-1.2169660
I will reiterate again my answer to the question: I think today’s news media does practice the yellow journalism of Hearst and Pulitzer’s days but I do believe these reporters (citizen journalists) are smarter now (having learned from mistakes of the past) and they are more accountable to the public’s need for factual information.
I do agree that today's journalism similar to the Yellow Journalism. People still want to know whats going on in their neighborhood and whats happening to celebraties for entertainment. I belive some of this news is worth watching specially when some sort of violence is happenign around our community. However, news has been exaggerating a little bring news that some people might not find as important such as the octa-mom (as it was mentioned). Who cares about that?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the American news media today does mimic the trends of the Yellow Journalism era.
ReplyDeleteYellow Journalism is defined by self advertisement, illustrations, larger and darker headlines, promotion of exclusive features and sympathy with the underdog. Yellow journalism demonstrates how sex, sin and violence sell.
I believe this is a direct representation of American media today. Sex sells: movies, tv, magazines and Hollywood feature scantily clad, half-naked women who promote this image. Sin and violence rule the headlines and the tv networks. Shows like CSI and Law and Order top the ratings charts. Not to mention the court cases that are all over the news stations, rule life court cases about violence and abuse.
These are the events that people want to read about; this is what intrigues readers to tune back in. When they do tune in they see the advertisements and headlines that draw them in day after day, newspaper after newsbroadcast.
I would say yellow journalism does still exist in our modern age, but only certain aspects of the 1940's trend. Sensationalism is a huge part of our media today, with the attention grabbing stories on celebrities and political scandals recieving much more coverage than important wordly news. We have become a society obsessed with celebrities, from crazed paparrazi to stalking internet accounts. And the media sells us this trash gossip because they know it's what we want to hear, ie yellow journalism. Our newspapers are doused with large, colorful pictures that grab our attention because without them we wouldn't even pick up a newspaper. We need media that catches our eye and grabs our attention from far away, causing the mass media to keep producing these large-headlined, big picture publications.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do feel our mass media does not resemeble the dishonesty that is involved in yellow journalism. The written word has become a powerful tool, and with the ever growing number of libel laws journalists are finding more and more reasons for honesty in publication.
-Ashley Loera
I agree that some of today's journalism can be put into the same category as yellow journalism from Pulitzer's and Hearst's time; however, I don't think all of it falls into that category.
ReplyDeleteWhile stories compete to get the "latest and the greatest," they aren't necessarily exaggerated, which is one of the negative aspects of how Hearst came to be so powerful.
Also, some would say that crime and sex are emphasized by the news today, there are other types of news stories that are top priority today, as well. For example, when people do great things, they are featured as human interest stories. It is unfortunate that a majority of today's news is composed of tragedies in life. If there wasn't a huge amount of crime and scandal in the world, papers wouldn't be devoted to is.
I do agree that our media is the same as yellow journalism. It is not uncommon to be watching the news and see some celebrity scandal that immediately gets our attention. As a society, we love the gossip and rather hear gossip instead of important press. There are still many great stories published, but our society rather hear the gossip stories. We need to be more focused on important news that deals with our government and the world.Franklin D. Roosevelt had polio and was in a wheelchair and asked the press to not show him that way. They honored it and he was never shown as anything but a strong man. In this time, that would have never happened. Hundreds of pictures of him would be on newspapers and websites showing him in his wheelchair. The internet has made news quicker and more efficient giving americans more access to it. I think its ridiculous that our celebrities make the news channel when so many more important topics could be discussed. Yellow journalism is a perfect way to explain our media.
ReplyDelete-Savannah Kerrek
805284569
M/W 2:30-3:45
I believe that journalism in contemporary days is very similar to those of Yellow Journalism. it has been proven that people enjoy reading about scandals, sex, gossip, etc. Journalists in the Yellow Journalism era would do anything to sell their newspapers, even if it meant to fill their pages with gossip rather than with informational news. Present newspapers do the same thing. Today's headlines involve stories of cheating stars, or new affairs, stars and drug problems. People in a way read the newspaper to distract their mind, if they are having a bad day or going through a bad situation reading about a person going through a worse scenerio in their life can actually make them feel better. So in conclusion journalism has not changed much just the people involve in it have.
ReplyDeleteDanela Bernal
Comm 333
M/W 2:30- 3:45 p.m.
Majority of Americans enjoy reading and watching sensational news. To most people, the news isn’t just to inform, it is to entertainment as well. Our human nature for this kind of demand will always lure journalism into writing sensational stories; supply and demand. Even though a journalist job is to report news, they are still associated with a form business and at the end of the day, we are still a capitalist society.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question, yes, yellow journalism is still practice today. However, there is a lot more reliable news today than there was back then. A story that comes into mind that is over exaggerated most recently is the tsunami warning in Hawaii. The news scared the heck out of everyone, including my friends that were visiting there at the time. “They evacuate us to higher grounds at the hotel,” he said. Everyone got all hype up preparing for the worst. And of course, it wasn’t as bad as they thought it would be.
I do agree that modern American news media mimics the days of Yellow Journalism. Today we see so many bold captions on the front pages of news about scandal, crime, and celebrities. It is often that these are the main stories because they sell and the public is so interested in these sensationalism stories. It is the time period we are in. People are nosey creatures who want to dive into the world of gossip. Hearst and Pultizer knew what they were doing and knew that people couldn't resist the urge that entertainment story. They knew that people wanted to read about a huge dramatic story. We see that a lot today especially in public figures, for example Tiger Woods. He had his affair plastered all over and blown up in this huge sexual escapade. But all news is not like Hearst and Pultizer's, we have news that is actually worthy and worth reading.
ReplyDeleteJames says-
ReplyDeleteI feel one hundred percent that yelllow journalism is still prevalent today and is just as much a breathing beast as the context itself. Violence, sex, and corruption sells. Its just that simple and will always be. From Martha Stewart, Enron, Exxon Valdez oil spill coverage, and Mr. Ramsey as well as Brittany Spears, are the headliners in our news and what our society seems to want to hear about. Stirring the issues and keeping the public informed and our celebrities accountable is what we do. Yellow Journalism is keeping up with all our slips and falls ever reminding us to keep up with ourselves and be responsible for our actions. Its the culture we live in and really helps our society stay somewhat accountable to what our images portray. Yellow Journalism is here to stay!
James Leonard