1. To increase circulation and profits:
* Yellow journalists understood that shocking stories and dramatic headlines would attract readers, leading to increased sales and advertising revenue. They often relied on emotional appeals, lurid descriptions, and eye-catching visuals to grab attention.
* The competition between major newspapers, such as The New York World and The New York Journal, fueled this trend, with each paper striving to outdo the other in sensationalism.
2. To influence public opinion and promote political agendas:
* Yellow journalists often used their platform to support specific political causes or candidates, often using biased reporting and manipulating information to sway public opinion.
* This was particularly evident during the Spanish-American War, where yellow journalists were instrumental in whipping up public sentiment against Spain.
3. To expose corruption and social injustice:
* While often criticized for its sensationalism, yellow journalism also played a role in exposing corruption and social injustices, often using investigative reporting to hold powerful individuals and institutions accountable.
* However, even in these cases, the methods employed were often questionable, sometimes bordering on unethical.
4. To entertain and inform the masses:
* Yellow journalism also aimed to provide entertainment and information to the public, albeit in a highly sensationalized and often exaggerated manner.
* They covered a wide range of topics, from crime and scandal to sports and celebrity news, using a mix of factual reporting, fictionalized accounts, and graphic illustrations.
In summary, yellow journalism was a complex and controversial phenomenon driven by a combination of commercial, political, and social factors. While it contributed to the growth of mass media and the rise of investigative journalism, its emphasis on sensationalism and manipulation also raised concerns about its ethical implications.