Effects of Yellow Journalism

“Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attracts the readers”

With yellow journalism the truth is usually misrepresented or concealed, more often than not, there may be no truth to the story at all. In 1898, newspapers provided the major source of news in America. At this time, it was common practice for a newspaper to report the editor's interpretation of the news rather than objective journalism. With this sort of influence, the newspapers gained much political power. In order to increase circulation, the practice was increased and the term given to this practice was “Yellow journalism”.

The first battle of yellow journalism was fought between William Hearst's New York Morning Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's New York World. Both were rival newspaper groups in the United States. They exaggerated news stories against each other. It consists of cartoons, illustrations, catchy stories, and things that appeal to the reader’s interests and values. Yellow journalism is exaggerated or biased writing or a visual representation that is disguised as fact. It involves taking a factual story and writing or visually presenting it in a sensational or distorted way. It may be used to invoke fear, hatred, uncertainty, or even sympathy in readers.

Techniques may include
1. Exaggerations of news events: It means the representation of something in an excessive manner. Words or expressions associated with exaggeration include: magnification, maximization, overreaction, overstating and stretching the truth.
2. Scandal-making: A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages (or tries to damage) the reputation of an institution, individual or creed. A scandal may be based on true or false allegations or a mixture of both.
3. Sensationalism: To cast and present in a manner intended to arouse strong interest, especially through inclusion of overstated details.

Frank Luther Mott (1941) defines yellow journalism in terms of five characteristics:
1. Scare headlines in huge print, often of minor news
2. Lavish use of pictures, or imaginary drawings
3. Use of faked interviews, misleading headlines, pseudo-science, and a parade of false learning from so-called experts
4. Emphasis on full-color Sunday supplements, usually with comic strips
5. Dramatic sympathy and something against the system

Yellow journalism has been used as a war instrument portraying the opposite side as evil, subhuman, or similarly worth attacking. It has been used for political and social gain. The use of yellow journalism has mostly moved past the greed of newspaper owners, and is now used mostly to alter public opinion.

Some newspapers, magazines, internet sites, and even television news channels may present information with a spin on the facts to support their own views or to increase their number of readers or viewers. Shocking headlines still sell more papers than regular ones do.

It creates a culture of sensationalization. It increases politics and economical competition among different authorities and groups. It encourages gender discrimination. It highlights conflicts in the society e-g Human security issues. It uses Mass Media and Public Interest and changes Norms and Ethics of Media. It enables Media Change and Social Change- Promoting Violent Behaviors.