The paper is from February 17, 1989 and the headlines are as follows:
Inside the masthead of the paper is the headline “$50,000 Reward. Who Destroyed the Maine? $50,000 Reward.” Under the newspaper masthead, the main headline, “Destruction of the War Ship Maine was the Work of an Enemy,” stretches across the entire paper. Under the main headline, printed on both sides of the paper, is the identical sub-headline “50,000 Reward! For the Detection of the Perpetrator of the Maine Outrage!” Under each of these sub-headlines is an article but the print is so small, the reader cannot make it out. In the middle, under the masthead, and between the two identical sub-headings it the additional subheading, “Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Convinced the Explosion was not as Accident.” This is followed with the information “The Journal offers $50,000 Reward for the Conviction of Criminals Who Sent 258 American Sailors to Their Death. Naval Officers Unanimous that the Ship was Destroyed on Purpose.”
Question
Using the image of the front page and the knowledge you attained from the lesson, identify the headlines that could be described as yellow journalism and explain how these headlines and their stories might have played a major role in U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.
The headline "Destruction of the War Ship Maine was the Work of an Enemy" and the sub-headline "50,000 Reward! For the Detection of the Perpetrator of the Maine Outrage!" can be described as examples of yellow journalism. These headlines and their accompanying stories likely played a major role in U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.
Yellow journalism refers to sensationalized and exaggerated reporting aimed at capturing public attention and influencing public opinion. In this case, the headlines suggest that the sinking of the USS Maine was a deliberate act of an enemy and not a simple accident. The use of phrases like "Destruction" and "Outrage" evoke strong emotions and create a sense of anger and outrage among readers.
By framing the incident as a deliberate attack, the yellow journalism headlines and stories fuelled anti-Spanish sentiments among the American public. They reinforced the narrative of Spanish aggression and misconduct, ultimately influencing public opinion and setting the stage for U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.
In addition, the offer of a $50,000 reward for the conviction of the perpetrators further intensified public attention and interest in the incident. This created a sense of urgency and desire for justice, amplifying the need for a military response against Spain.
Overall, these yellow journalism headlines contributed to the growing sentiment of American nationalism and the belief that military action against Spain was necessary to avenge the alleged attack on the Maine. It played a significant role in shaping public opinion and providing a justification for U.S. intervention in the Spanish-American War.