Joseph Pulitzer

1
Joseph Pulitzer
2
Pulitzer The Immigrant

• Came to the U.S. from Hungary
• Served for the Union in the Civil War
• Became a reporter for German Language papers
• Purchased St. Louis Post-Dispatch with his
  brother-1872,

3
Pulitzer The Mogul

• St. Louis Post Dispatch became one of the
  countrys leading papers by 1878.
• Pulitzer had a knack for running popular stories.
  He was also generally an advocate for the
  underdog.
• Ran stories heavy with a mix of murder, sin and
  sex.
• Pulitzer purchases New York World in 1883.

4
Stories from the New York WorldMay 10- 1883
the day Pulitzer bought the World

• Dog show prizes awarded
• New commissioners for the city council

5
Stories from the New York WorldMay 11- 1883
the day after Pulitzer bought the World

• DEADLY LIGHTNINGSIX LIVES AND ONE MILLION
  DOLLARS LOST
• 100,000 BARRELS OF OIL IGNITED BY AN EXPLOSION
• PENDING EXECUTION CORNETTIS LAST NIGHT. Shaking
  his cell door and demanding release. He refuses
  to listen to priest or ministershouting from
  under the black cap that his executioners are
  murderers.

6
AND MORE SENSATIONAL STORIES

• WARD MCCOKEY HANGEDSHOUTING FROM UNDER THE BLACK
  CAP THAT HIS EXECUTIONERS ARE MURDERERS
• DYNAMITE IN HAITIREBELS USE IT TO KILL ANDWOUND
  400 PEOPLE

7
The Good Side of Sensationalism

• Pulitzer was reform oriented.
• Exposed gambling dens, insurance swindles,
  monopolies.
• Attacked the St. Louis Gas-Light Company, the
  railroad monopoly, tenement house squalor.

8
William Randolph Hearst1863-1951

• Took over San Francisco Examiner 1887
• 1895 - Bought the New York Journal

9
The Yellow Journalism Wars

• Hearst reduces Journal price to one cent
• Runs wild, sensational stories of crime,
  pseudoscience
• Hearst If there is an element of the ridiculous
  in a story, emphasize the ridiculous part.

10
(No Transcript)
11
The Spanish American War
Remember the main
the Maine enters Havana Harbor January, 1898,
three weeks before an explosion sinks it.
Did the Spanish sink it?
12
As one of the few sources of public information,
newspapers had reached unprecedented influence
and importance. Journalistic giants, such as
Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer of the World,
viciously competed for the reader's attention.
They were determined to reach a daily circulation
of a million people, and they didn't mind
fabricating stories in order to reach their goal.
13
Hearst Hires Top Reporters to Go To Cuba

• The correspondents, including such notables as
  author Stephen Crane and artist Frederick
  Remington, found little to report on when they
  arrived.
• "There is no war," Remington wrote to his boss.
  "Request to be recalled.
• Remington's boss, William Randolph Hearst, sent a
  cable in reply "Please remain. You furnish the
  pictures, I'll furnish the war."

14
Hearst was true to his word. For weeks after the
Maine disaster, the Journal devoted more than
eight pages a day to the story.
15
Hearst Vs. Orson Welles The Power of the Media
Owner
May, 1941 Orson Welles film, Citizen Kane is
released.
Hearst is furious because the film satirizes him
and his lover, Marion Davies moves to have the
film suppressed.
Orson Welles career is ruined. Films
distribution is curtailed thanks to Hearsts
efforts.
16
But in the end

• Citizen Kane, after Hearsts death, attains
  critical acclaim.
• Critics vote Citizen Kane the best film ever
  made.
• Welles dies in 1985 his attempts to revive his
  directorial career never led to success equal to
  Citizen Kane.
• Even Welles admitted Hearst wrecked his career
  for good.

17
No Stamp for Willie