yellow journalism

British  

noun

1. the type of journalism that relies on sensationalism and lurid exaggeration to attract readers

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yellow journalism Cultural  

1. Inflammatory, irresponsible reporting by newspapers. The phrase arose during the 1890s, when some American newspapers, particularly those run by William Randolph Hearst, worked to incite hatred of Spain, thereby contributing to the start of the Spanish-American War. Newspapers that practice yellow journalism are called yellow press.

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Etymology

Origin of yellow journalism

C19: perhaps shortened from the phrase Yellow Kid journalism, referring to the Yellow Kid, a cartoon (1895) in the New York World, a newspaper having a reputation for sensationalism

Example Sentences

And by the way, this is the second important lesson he learned from the U.S.—the power of sensationalism, yellow journalism.

From Slate • Mar. 2, 2026

The video recalls the yellow journalism of William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal — only now, what once took hours to print and eventually reached thousands can be created in seconds and seen by millions.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2025

He accused the Telegraph of yellow journalism and “effectively putting words in one’s mouth.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2023

The slogan, an obvious riff on the Gray Lady’s 19th-century retort to yellow journalism, seems custom-made for Olumide Shokunbi and Spice Kitchen.

From Washington Post • Apr. 4, 2022

It was founded by its proprietor, Mr. Benjamin White, as an antidote to yellow journalism.

From Psmith, Journalist by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)