Page 166 - Historical Dictionary of Political Communication in the United States

Y

YELLOW JOURNALISM is a name for sensational journalism with heavy
emphasis on human interest and relatively little on political, social, or economic
issues. The term was coined to describe the journalism of Joseph Pulitzer and
William Randolph Hearst at the turn of the century, during their heated com-
petition in New York City. The word "yellow" was borrowed from a popular
cartoon character called the "Yellow Kid," which was originated by Putlizer
in the New York World and copied by Hearst. (See also William Randolph
Hearst; Joseph Pulitzer.)
SOURCE: Kathleen Thompson Hill and Gerald N. Hill, Real Life Dictionary of Amer-
ican Politics, 1994.
Guido H. Stempel HI