What is yellow journalism? Give at least two examples of how this quote relates directly to yellow journalism and promoting the war to U.S. citizens.
Do NOT just repeat that there were pictures that led to people wanting war. This was not the case.
(5 points)
Yellow journalism is a type of journalism characterized by sensationalistic and exaggerated reporting, often with little regard for the truth, in order to attract readership and achieve specific goals. It emerged in the late 19th century and early 20th century, particularly during the Spanish-American War, and aimed to sell newspapers and sway public opinion.
One example of how this quote relates directly to yellow journalism and promoting the war to U.S. citizens is the case of the sinking of the USS Maine. In 1898, the USS Maine, an American battleship, exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, Cuba. Yellow journalism publications, such as the New York Journal and the New York World, heavily sensationalized the incident and blamed Spain for the explosion without concrete evidence. They created inflammatory headlines, published fabricated stories, and used illustrations to depict the incident as a deliberate Spanish attack. These exaggerated and false reports played a significant role in fueling public anger towards Spain and directly contributed to the U.S. decision to declare war on Spain.
Another example is the coverage of the atrocities in Cuba during the Cuban War of Independence. In an effort to depict the Spanish colonial authorities as cruel and inhumane, yellow journalism publications like the New York Journal and the New York World published exaggerated stories of Spanish brutality. These stories included graphic details and descriptions of alleged Spanish atrocities against innocent Cuban civilians. The publications used sensationalistic language, illustrations, and eye-catching headlines to provoke public outrage and sympathy for the Cuban cause. This kind of reporting influenced public opinion and helped create a climate of support for war with Spain in order to liberate Cuba.
In both of these cases, yellow journalism relied on sensationalism, exaggeration, and manipulation of facts to promote the war to U.S. citizens. The publications involved were more focused on selling newspapers and shaping public opinion than on providing objective and accurate information.