J 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Walter Lippmann, Joseph Pulitzer, Commercial Press
2 Jul 2018
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J 201: Newspapers: Their Rise and Fall
History of the Newspaper
● Partisan Press: Politically funded and slanted newspapers
● Commercial Press: business-oriented newspapers
● Penny Press: human interest stories, local news, crimes
● Yellow Journalism: sensationalism and investigation (wanting to expose corruption)
● Objectivity: an effort to maintain neutral attitude and search for competing viewpoints
Partisan Press
● colonial period (early 18th century)
● James Franklin and the Hell-Fire Club
○ Rejects Tedious Conventionalities
○ Publishes satirical critiques of society
● Zenger Trial
○ Journalist who was sued for libel
○ They said you cannot critique the gov—>against the law
○ Went to trial and they ruled it isn’t against the law—>people can critique gov,
became legal
Commercial Press
● Colonial Period
● Led to the business section
Penny Press
● 1830’s
● Advances in technology allowed mass distribution
● Politics, scandal, and sensationalism
● Led to Lifestyle section
Yellow Journalism
● Muckraking, show and sensation
● 1890s-1920s
● Joseph Pulitzer
○The World
○ Expose Corruption
○ Support immigrants
○ Use sensationalism to attract readers
● William Randolph Hearst
○The Examiner
○ Competes with The World
○ Supports corruption
○ Use sensationalism to shock readers (took it to another level)
○ He was the heir of mining company (very rich)
○ Movie clip
■ Hearst Correspondant: “There is no war. Request to be recalled"
■ Hearst: “Please remain. You furnish the pictures; I’ll furnish the war"
■ the things some will do for money and power
● Spanish American War (1898)
○ Pulitzer and Hearst used Yellow Journalism and anti-Spanish propaganda to turn US
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Partisan press: politically funded and slanted newspapers. Penny press: human interest stories, local news, crimes. Yellow journalism: sensationalism and investigation (wanting to expose corruption) Objectivity: an effort to maintain neutral attitude and search for competing viewpoints. They said you cannot critique the gov >against the law. Went to trial and they ruled it isn"t against the law >people can critique gov, became legal. Use sensationalism to shock readers (took it to another level) He was the heir of mining company (very rich) You furnish the pictures; i"ll furnish the war" The things some will do for money and power. Pulitzer and hearst used yellow journalism and anti-spanish propaganda to turn us public opinion against spain. Bring neutral, fair values and integrity to journalism. Public is not intelligent enough to make good decisions. Need to tell people how they should vote/the beliefs and values they should have.
