* Profit over Truth: The primary objective was selling newspapers, and maximizing readership often superseded factual accuracy. Sensationalized stories, even if fabricated, were considered valuable if they attracted attention.
* Exploiting Emotion: Appealing to readers' emotions, particularly fear, anger, and patriotism, was paramount. Stories were often written with an inflammatory tone, exaggerating events and playing on public anxieties.
* Moral Relativism: Traditional journalistic ethics were disregarded. "The ends justify the means" approach was prevalent, with reporters employing questionable tactics like interviewing anonymous sources, fabricating quotes, and even manipulating photographs.
* Promoting Nationalism: Yellow Journalism often played into the nationalist sentiment of its time, promoting patriotism and demonizing rival nations. This could manifest through biased coverage of foreign affairs or even the fabrication of events to portray a nation's enemies in a negative light.
* Ignoring Context: Stories were often presented out of context, focusing on sensational elements while neglecting the larger picture. This could lead to misinterpretations and biased narratives.
It's important to note that while these practices were prevalent in Yellow Journalism, they don't encompass all its aspects. Some practitioners did strive for a degree of factual accuracy, and the movement also had some positive contributions like bringing social issues to light. However, the focus on profit, sensationalism, and emotional manipulation ultimately overshadowed any potential for ethical journalism.