William Randolph Hearst is regarded as one of the most famous newspaper moguls of the twentieth century. However, historians offer varying opinions on his legacy as a journalist and an individual. Between the 1930s and 2000s, various historians have written a number of books about Hearst. Some historians have labeled Hearst as a hedonist and have negatively criticized him for creating yellow journalism and indirectly starting the Spanish-American War. Others consider Hearst to be an influential figure in the world of journalism and a prodigy for his ability to build a media empire.
1895 - 1898: The Peak of Yellow Journalism
Before any books were written about Hearst, his name was synonymous with yellow journalism, a form of sensationalism that became manifested in daily newspapers across the country. Yellow journalism involved exaggerated news stories, eye-catching headlines, and scandalous images. Moreover, yellow journalism offered stories of human interest and included "strong emotional content." [1]
Hearst's New York Evening Journal was one of the first newspapers to publish stories that were regarded as yellow press. However, Hearst was locked in a fierce circulation battle with Joseph Pulitzer and his newspaper, New York World. Both men attempted to outdo each other in delivering sensationalist news content to the average American. |
An 1898 political cartoon depicting the circulation fight between Pulitzer (left) and Hearst (right). Artwork by Leon Barritt.
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[1] Jason Skog, Yellow Journalism (Mankato, Minnesota, 2007), 15.
1898: Spanish-American War
In 1898, the USS Maine was destroyed in Havana Harbor, Cuba. Immediately, Hearst's New York Evening Journal began publishing stories that essentially blamed Spain for the ship's destruction. Although there was little evidence that Spain had anything to do with the incident, Hearst published stories with bold headlines that portrayed Spain as an enemy to the United States. His stories received so much attention, that it prompted the U.S. to declare war against Spain, thus sparking the Spanish-American War. Many historians attribute Hearst's yellow press as the catalyst for pushing the country into an "unnecessary war." [2]
The yellow press made Hearst well-known as a reporter. It was at this point in time when readers began to recognize a reporter's work and follow stories not only for the content, but for the "name and reputation of the reporter." [3] |
An example of Hearst's newspaper blaming Spain for the destruction of USS Maine.
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[2] Mario Castagnaro, Embellishment, Fabrication, and Scandal: Hoaxing and the American Press, Ph.D Diss. (Carnegie Mellon University, 2009), 117. Proquest.
[3] Castagnaro, Embellishment, Fabrication, and Scandal, 120.
[3] Castagnaro, Embellishment, Fabrication, and Scandal, 120.
1933: "Yellow Journalism As a Mode of Urban Behavior"
Carroll Clark examined the rise of yellow journalism and its connection to Hearst in his 1933 article, “Yellow Journalism As a Mode of Urban Behavior.” When it came to writing news articles, Clark states that Hearst’s motive was to “distract and amuse” his audience. [4]
According to Clark, Hearst’s newspapers were designed to appeal to the emotions of his readers. He believed Hearst to be more of a “showman” than a journalist, claiming that his newspapers were designed for people who found their lives “mechanically ordered and dull.” [5] Clark’s article explains that Hearst’s idea of journalism was to entertain the city masses with sensationalist stories. This article examines how Hearst’s newspapers were able to tap into the superstitious emotions of city populations and ultimately create a more heightened form of sensationalism. |
An example of sensationalist headlines synonymous with yellow journalism.
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[4] Carroll Clark, “Yellow Journalism as a Mode of Urban Behavior,” The Southwestern Science Quarterly 14, no. 3
(Dec. 1933): 238-245, 242.
[5] Clark, “Yellow Journalism as a Mode of Urban Behavior,” 243.
(Dec. 1933): 238-245, 242.
[5] Clark, “Yellow Journalism as a Mode of Urban Behavior,” 243.
1942: Mott's American Journalism
In Frank Luther Mott’s 1942 book, American Journalism: A History of Newspapers in the United States through 250 Years, 1690-1940, he remarks on Hearst’s connection to the Spanish-American War. When the U.S.S. Maine blew up in Havana Harbor, Mott explains how Hearst, along with Joseph Pulitzer, engaged in a circulation war, attempting to write stories about the Maine’s destruction.
Mott points out an infamous quote that he states was supposedly said by Hearst. When Frederic Remington, one of Hearst’s writers, was sent to Cuba to investigate the incident, Hearst is said to have sent a telegram to Remington, stating “You furnish the pictures, and I’ll furnish the war. [6] Mott points out that it was unknown if whether or not Hearst actually said this. Regardless, Mott refers to the yellow press of Hearst as “journalistic jingoism” and a “dark chapter” in the history of American journalism. [7] |
[6] Frank Luther Mott, American Journalism: A History of Newspapers in the United States through 250 Years,
1690-1940 (New York, 1942), 529.
[7] Mott, American Journalism: A History of Newspapers in the United States through 250 Years, 532
1690-1940 (New York, 1942), 529.
[7] Mott, American Journalism: A History of Newspapers in the United States through 250 Years, 532
1962: Citizen Hearst
W.A. Swanberg’s Citizen Hearst paints an overall negative image of Hearst. Throughout his book, Swanberg discusses Hearst’s rise to power as a media mogul while simultaneously pointing out his shortcomings. For instance, Swanberg states that Hearst was a “megalomaniac” and maintained an exterior that was “a fraud unintentional” and “deceiving." [8] Swanberg also states that Hearst acted superior over others, claiming him to be a combination of “Caesar, Charlemange, and Napoleon.” [9]
Citizen Hearst addresses Hearst’s infamous telegram quote, but instead of debating its authenticity, Swanberg immediately assumes that Hearst truthfully stated this. Swanberg called Hearst’s reply to Remington as “Napoleonic.” [10] Citizen Hearst heavily criticizes Hearst and portrays him as a superior individual who created an empire built on journalistic power and fraud. |
[8] W.A. Swanberg, Citizen Hearst: A Biography of William Randolph Hearst (New York: 1962), 119.
[9] Swanberg, Citizen Hearst, 119.
[10] Swanberg, Citizen Hearst, 127.
[9] Swanberg, Citizen Hearst, 119.
[10] Swanberg, Citizen Hearst, 127.
2000: The Chief
Around the turn of the twenty-first century, authors like David Nasaw began to write more balanced biographies about Hearst. In his book, The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst, Nasaw analyzes Hearst’s life while providing a narrative that was not one-sided like Swanberg’s book. For instance, he writes about Hearst’s involvement in Progressive politics and how he was a successful “selfmade man." [11]
However, Nasaw does not shy away from discussing Hearst’s shortcomings. Specifically, he explains how Hearst was a dominating figure in journalism and arrogantly believed that his newspapers were the ones that truly “made it,” unlike his competitors. [12] Nasaw’s book was one of the first to deliver a more balanced view of Hearst and unlike previous books written about Hearst, Nasaw’s relied on extensive archival sources and both private and business papers that were previously unavailable during the 1950s and 1960s. [13] |
[11] David Nasaw, The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst (Boston, 2000).
[12] Nasaw, The Chief.
[13] Nasaw, The Chief.
[12] Nasaw, The Chief.
[13] Nasaw, The Chief.
2007: The Later Years, 1911-1951
Ben Procter’s book, William Randolph Hearst: The Later Years, 1911-1951, covers the life of Hearst in the years leading up to his death. The majority of Procter’s book discusses the political life of Hearst. Procter’s book attempts to highlight the significance of Hearst’s political career. For instance, Procter points out that modern Democrats should “understand and appreciate” Hearst’s ability to promote himself in other newspapers. [14]
Based on Procter’s analysis, this practice of self-promotion further solidified Hearst’s overbearing influence on New York politics. Procter writes how even after his death, many politicians and military generals considered Hearst to be “the most powerful individual journalist of his day” and a true, American patriot. [15] Despite the controversies surrounding Hearst and him being labeled “the most hated man in America,” Procter’s book concludes that Hearst was both a significant journalist and political figure in American history. |
[14] Ben Procter, William Randolph Hearst: The Later Years, 1911-1951 (Oxford, 2007), 17.
[15] Procter, William Randolph Hearst: The Later Years, 243.
[15] Procter, William Randolph Hearst: The Later Years, 243.
2009: The Uncrowned King
Kenneth Whyte’s book, The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst, discusses Hearst’s rise to success between 1865 and 1868. One thing that makes Whyte’s book stand out from other books written about Hearst is that his book criticizes other notable Hearst biographies, Citizen Hearst and The Chief. Whyte criticizes these biographers for not crediting Hearst with any journalistic merit. He states that Hearst literature tends to portray the mogul as being "shallow and lurid." [16]
Whyte’s book debunks some of the misconceptions surrounding his rise to success. For instance, Whyte claims that although Pulitzer’s newspaper, New York World, was Hearst’s “primary target” in their circulation war, the reality was that Hearst’s newspaper was competing with forty-eight other daily papers in the city of New York. [17] Whyte’s book essentially presents Hearst as the true king of journalism as he attempts to clarify any misconceptions surrounding his legacy that have been previously stated by other biographers. |
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[16] Kenneth Whyte, The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst (Berkeley, CA, 2009), 77.
[17] Whyte, The Uncrowned King, 77.
[17] Whyte, The Uncrowned King, 77.