Sensationalism and Exaggeration:
* Over-the-top headlines: Uses large, bold headlines that often use exclamation points and dramatic language.
* Emotional appeals: Stories are often written to evoke strong emotions like fear, anger, or patriotism.
* Exaggerated or fabricated stories: Facts are often distorted, embellished, or entirely invented to make stories more exciting.
Eye-Catching Presentation:
* Large pictures and illustrations: Images are often used to grab attention, even if they are unrelated to the story.
* Use of color and bold fonts: This helps to make the newspaper visually appealing and stand out on newsstands.
Focus on Entertainment over Accuracy:
* Emphasis on human interest stories: Stories about crime, scandal, and celebrity gossip are often prioritized.
* Focus on entertainment value: News is often presented in a way that is more entertaining than informative.
Other Characteristics:
* Propaganda: Yellow journalism is often used to promote a particular political agenda.
* Competition: The term "yellow journalism" arose from the fierce competition between newspapers in the late 19th century.
* Lack of objectivity: Yellow journalism is often biased and does not present both sides of a story fairly.
Examples of Yellow Journalism:
* The coverage of the Spanish-American War by newspapers like the New York Journal and the New York World.
* The tabloid press today, with its focus on celebrity gossip and sensationalized stories.
Impact of Yellow Journalism:
* Influencing public opinion: Yellow journalism can have a powerful impact on public opinion, especially when people are not exposed to other sources of information.
* Erosion of trust in the media: The sensationalism and lack of objectivity associated with yellow journalism can erode public trust in the media.
It's important to remember that while some aspects of yellow journalism are still present in media today, professional journalism emphasizes accuracy, objectivity, and ethical reporting practices.