yellow journalism

noun

1. the type of journalism that relies on sensationalism and lurid exaggeration to attract readers

yellow journalism

1. Inflammatory, irresponsible reporting by newspapers. The phrase arose during the 1890s, when some American newspapers, particularly those run by William Randolph Hearst , worked to incite hatred of Spain , thereby contributing to the start of the Spanish-American War . Newspapers that practice yellow journalism are called yellow press.

Word History and Origins

Origin of yellow journalism¹

C19: perhaps shortened from the phrase Yellow Kid journalism, referring to the Yellow Kid, a cartoon (1895) in the New York World, a newspaper having a reputation for sensationalism

Example Sentences

But the vast history of journalism has been about bias and yellow journalism and selling out to the lowest common denominator.

From The Daily Beast

Readers did not exactly side with the Patriot; they sent in heaps of hate mail for what they felt was yellow journalism.

From The Daily Beast

Or is it yellow journalism—a kind of unscrupulous journalism that will stop at nothing?

From The Daily Beast

A century ago, yellow journalism ultimately burned itself out.

From The Daily Beast

The working girl has suffered quite as much at the hands of yellow journalism as the woman of wealth and social position.

From Project Gutenberg

Hallard put down the weapon and talked yellow journalism of the Philippine problem.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, it was the story that gave me my start in yellow journalism, from which I graduated the novelist of your acquaintance.

From Project Gutenberg

The material is played up in the style typical of yellow journalism.

From Project Gutenberg

The merely impudent motion picture will be relegated to the leisure hours with yellow journalism.

From Project Gutenberg