Question
The front page of the New York Journal and Advertiser is shown.
The paper is from February 17, 1989 and the headlines are as follows:
Inside the masthead of the paper is the headline “$50,000 Reward. Who Destroyed the Maine? $50,000 Reward.” Under the newspaper masthead, the main headline, “Destruction of the War Ship Maine was the Work of an Enemy,” stretches across the entire paper. Under the main headline, printed on both sides of the paper, is the identical sub-headline “50,000 Reward! For the Detection of the Perpetrator of the Maine Outrage!” Under each of these sub-headlines is an article but the print is so small, the reader cannot make it out. In the middle, under the masthead, and between the two identical sub-headings it the additional subheading, “Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Convinced the Explosion was not as Accident.” This is followed with the information “The Journal offers $50,000 Reward for the Conviction of Criminals Who Sent 258 American Sailors to Their Death. Naval Officers Unanimous that the Ship was Destroyed on Purpose.”
Question
Using the image of the front page and the knowledge you attained from the lesson, identify the headlines that could be described as yellow journalism and explain how these headlines and their stories might have played a major role in U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.
The paper is from February 17, 1989 and the headlines are as follows:
Inside the masthead of the paper is the headline “$50,000 Reward. Who Destroyed the Maine? $50,000 Reward.” Under the newspaper masthead, the main headline, “Destruction of the War Ship Maine was the Work of an Enemy,” stretches across the entire paper. Under the main headline, printed on both sides of the paper, is the identical sub-headline “50,000 Reward! For the Detection of the Perpetrator of the Maine Outrage!” Under each of these sub-headlines is an article but the print is so small, the reader cannot make it out. In the middle, under the masthead, and between the two identical sub-headings it the additional subheading, “Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Convinced the Explosion was not as Accident.” This is followed with the information “The Journal offers $50,000 Reward for the Conviction of Criminals Who Sent 258 American Sailors to Their Death. Naval Officers Unanimous that the Ship was Destroyed on Purpose.”
Question
Using the image of the front page and the knowledge you attained from the lesson, identify the headlines that could be described as yellow journalism and explain how these headlines and their stories might have played a major role in U.S. involvement in the Spanish-American War.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The headlines that can be identified as examples of yellow journalism from the front page of the New York Journal and Advertiser include:
1. **“$50,000 Reward. Who Destroyed the Maine? $50,000 Reward.”**
2. **“Destruction of the War Ship Maine was the Work of an Enemy.”**
3. **“50,000 Reward! For the Detection of the Perpetrator of the Maine Outrage!”**
4. **“Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Convinced the Explosion was not an Accident.”**
5. **“The Journal offers $50,000 Reward for the Conviction of Criminals Who Sent 258 American Sailors to Their Death.”**
**Explanation of Yellow Journalism:**
Yellow journalism is characterized by sensationalism, exaggeration, and a tendency to prioritize emotional appeal over factual accuracy. These headlines play into that by framing the destruction of the USS Maine as an act of terrorism committed by an enemy, stirring public outrage and emotion. The mention of a substantial reward highlights an appeal to justice and action.
**Role in U.S. Involvement in the Spanish-American War:**
These headlines could have significantly influenced public opinion and sentiment leading up to the Spanish-American War in several ways:
1. **Inflaming Public Sentiment:** By portraying the explosion as a malicious act rather than an accident, the newspaper heightened tensions and created a narrative of victimization that tugged at national pride and emotions.
2. **Pressuring Government Actions:** The framing of the ship’s destruction as an attack could have pushed the U.S. government towards a more aggressive stance against Spain, as the press generated public clamoring for accountability and retaliation.
3. **Creating a Sense of Urgency:** The calls for action (such as capturing the perpetrators and offering a reward) added a sense of urgency that made intervention seem not only desirable but necessary for justice.
4. **Manipulating the Narrative:** By sensationalizing the incident, yellow journalism helped establish a simplified enemy narrative, aligning public sentiment with interventionist policies without the complexities of diplomatic relations or the realities of war.
Overall, these strategies in yellow journalism materially influenced how the American public perceived the conflict and ultimately contributed to pushing the country towards war with Spain in 1898.
1. **“$50,000 Reward. Who Destroyed the Maine? $50,000 Reward.”**
2. **“Destruction of the War Ship Maine was the Work of an Enemy.”**
3. **“50,000 Reward! For the Detection of the Perpetrator of the Maine Outrage!”**
4. **“Assistant Secretary Roosevelt Convinced the Explosion was not an Accident.”**
5. **“The Journal offers $50,000 Reward for the Conviction of Criminals Who Sent 258 American Sailors to Their Death.”**
**Explanation of Yellow Journalism:**
Yellow journalism is characterized by sensationalism, exaggeration, and a tendency to prioritize emotional appeal over factual accuracy. These headlines play into that by framing the destruction of the USS Maine as an act of terrorism committed by an enemy, stirring public outrage and emotion. The mention of a substantial reward highlights an appeal to justice and action.
**Role in U.S. Involvement in the Spanish-American War:**
These headlines could have significantly influenced public opinion and sentiment leading up to the Spanish-American War in several ways:
1. **Inflaming Public Sentiment:** By portraying the explosion as a malicious act rather than an accident, the newspaper heightened tensions and created a narrative of victimization that tugged at national pride and emotions.
2. **Pressuring Government Actions:** The framing of the ship’s destruction as an attack could have pushed the U.S. government towards a more aggressive stance against Spain, as the press generated public clamoring for accountability and retaliation.
3. **Creating a Sense of Urgency:** The calls for action (such as capturing the perpetrators and offering a reward) added a sense of urgency that made intervention seem not only desirable but necessary for justice.
4. **Manipulating the Narrative:** By sensationalizing the incident, yellow journalism helped establish a simplified enemy narrative, aligning public sentiment with interventionist policies without the complexities of diplomatic relations or the realities of war.
Overall, these strategies in yellow journalism materially influenced how the American public perceived the conflict and ultimately contributed to pushing the country towards war with Spain in 1898.