Yellow journalism, sometimes called ‘sensationalist journalism’ is a term that was often used about New York newspapers around 1900. As the papers fought for dominance, they featured huge headlines designed to grab readers’ attention with sensationalized news and scare-tactics. The term is now used to describe similar ‘news’ papers or magazines, and it is often a derogatory term.
When a paper or magazine is accused of yellow journalism, it means they have ignored real news-worthy topics in favor of sensationalized headlines and stories that are strictly designed to sell the magazine or paper. For instance, rather than focusing on the budget deficit, a newspaper runs a front cover story on a celebrity that has been spotted in a rehabilitation facility. Or, rather than focusing on disasters in other countries, a news television show spends its time covering the shocking affairs and allegations against a popular sports star. Yellow journalism is truly considered to be more negative than positive according to today's journalist standards.
Five Criteria to Define Yellow Journalism
Often times, the sensationalism is combined with accusations that are not fact-based, sources that may or may not be credible, and major self-promotion. American historian and journalist, Frank Luther Mott, uses five criteria for defining yellow journalism:
- Massive headlines designed to scare individuals into purchasing the newspaper or magazine – when often the news is in fact, minor.
- Overuse of images or drawings.
- The utilization of false interviews, headlines designed to mislead readers, pseudo science or input from several ‘experts’ which may or may not be valid.
- Emphasis on full-color Sunday supplements, including comic strips.
- Sympathetic angle depicting an ‘underdog’ fighting against the system.
Examples of Yellow Journalism
Some very popular examples of yellow journalism in these times include the tabloids. The majority of people realize that the tabloids can’t be trusted, but it doesn’t stop them from selling out in a hurry – whether they’re claiming to have an inside source telling all about a famous celebrity or pictures of an alien visit from another planet. When otherwise credible news sources are accused of yellow journalism, it may be because they’ve gone with a sensationalized story over a story that is very worthy of telling, and it’s no doubt an insult.
Newspapers and other media outlets that are credible and try to remain fair and balanced, try to report news-worthy events without the sensationalism, but with a focus more on facts and details. Therefore, to be accused of yellow journalism in the industry is often like biting a thumb at someone in a Shakespeare play.
Kristi Carter - Kristi is an experienced journalist, internet marketing consultant and professional copywriter with over 11 years of professional writing ...
