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 headlines that could be described as yellow journalism in this newspaper are the main 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!" These headlines were sensationalized and aimed at stirring up emotions and outrage among the public.
Yellow journalism, characterized by sensationalism and exaggeration, played a major role in influencing public opinion and ultimately leading to U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War. By making bold claims that the destruction of the USS Maine was the work of an enemy and offering a substantial reward for the conviction of the perpetrators, newspapers like this one were able to fuel anti-Spanish sentiments and push for military intervention.
The false and exaggerated reporting of events surrounding the sinking of the USS Maine helped to create a war fever in the American public, who were eager to seek revenge for the deaths of 258 American sailors. This type of sensationalized reporting not only influenced public opinion but also put pressure on politicians and policymakers to take action against Spain.
In conclusion, the yellow journalism headlines in newspapers like this one played a significant role in shaping public perceptions and ultimately contributing to the U.S. decision to go to war with Spain.