The Media 1883 - 1907

1. The Media 1883 - 1907

2. The Media During the Industrial Age, newspapers dominated as the popular form of media. With the rise of urbanization and immigration, journalists were faced with the ever-growing difficulty of creating work that would appeal to a wide variety of readers. Through the freedom of the press, journalists from all walks of life sought to communicate stories of the American peoples along with their struggles and joys as they built the American dream. Some writers, like the yellow journalists, strayed from the facts and used tactics like sensationalism to attract readers and boost circulation. Others, like the muckrakers, focused on investigations of large corporations in hopes that their findings would bring about a positive change in social issues.

3. Yellow Journalism In 1883, a Hungarian immigrant named Joseph Pulitzer purchased The New York World, in hopes of creating a newspaper that would be easily accessible to the immigrant population. Alongside articles, he printed games, contests, and colorful images to capture readers’ attentions and boost sales. After two short years, Pulitzer’s paper became the highest circulation newspaper in New York. His unique style caught the eye of William Randolph Hearst who purchased The New York Journal in 1895 and charged a penny less for his paper than Pulitzer’s. Hearst’s paper Included sensationalist stories and his growing popularity threatened Pulitzer’s business. As the papers competed, their stories became more misleading as they focused on the dramatic and entertaining rather than on truth and facts. Hearst & New York Journal Pulitzer & New York World

4. Yellow Journalism & The Spanish American War In 1896, the Cubans were fighting to win their country back from Spanish domination. Although this affair had little to do with the American people, the yellow journalists saw it as an opportunity to make money. Hearst began printing gruesome stories of Spanish atrocities that sparked readers’ interest, so in retaliation, Pulitzer sent his own reporters to Cuba and told them not to come back unless they had stories that would sell. The yellow papers persuaded the American public that the Spanish were unjustly tormenting the Cubans, and that the only way the Cubans could be rescued was through American intervention. War seemed unlikely, but on February 15th, 1898 the U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana harbor, killing 260 American men. The yellow papers blamed the Spanish for mining the harbor and as a result, there was an overwhelming pressure from the American public for intervention. (lovely Spanish American War link will go here... minus the star)

5. THE MUCKRAKERS Despite the growing trend of sensationalist journalism, there were a group of writers dedicated to exposing the truth. They waged war on popular media and large corporations with their thorough investigations of child labor, unsanitary working conditions, and various subjects that had gone unlooked by the public eye. They used their research as an instrument of social change, and with their words they inspired political acts that would improve the conditions of life for impoverished citizens across America. • In a 1906 speech, President Theodore Roosevelt coined the term “Muckrakers” • to describe these writers, and he commended their work, saying, • "There are, in the body politic, economic and social, many and • grave evils, and there is urgent necessity for the sternest war • upon them. There should be relentless exposure of and attack • upon every evil man whether politician or business man, every • evil practice, whether in politics, in business, or in social life. • I hail as a benefactor every writer or speaker, every man who, • on the platform, or in book, magazine, or newspaper, with • merciless severity makes such attack, provided always that he • in his turn remembers that the attack is of use only if it is • absolutely truthful."

6. Muckraker Ida Tarbell In 1900, Ida Tarbell, a leading female journalist, began focusing her investigative writing on John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, also known as the Standard Oil Trust. She conducted interviews with the magnate, Henry H. Rogers, and from his words, she created articles about the corruption that was taking place inside the corporation. Her History of the Standard Oil Company, published in 1904, exposed Rockefeller's unfair business methods and outraged the public, leading the government to prosecute the company for violations of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. As a result, the Supreme Court upheld the break-up of Standard Oil into smaller component parts in 1911.

7. Upton Sinclair & The Jungle In 1904, a young writer named Upton Sinclair read about a meatpacking strike in Chicago. Intrigued by the story, Sinclair traveled to Illinois and spent two months in meatpacking plants and stockyards alongside the laborers, most of whom where immigrants. He learned firsthand their stories of pain and mistreatment and saw the horrible, unsanitary conditions they were forced to work in. He was deeply moved and upon leaving, set about writing a story to expose their suffering to the public. His book, The Jungle, tells the story of a fictional immigrant from Lithuania, named Jurgis, who is determined to achieve the American dream of a better life. However, Jurgis’ life turns into a nightmare when he begins hauling steer carcasses for the meatpacking industry. Jurgis suffers from the grueling work, and the low wage makes him unable to provide for his ailing family. Although his book inspired laws insuring healthier food, Sinclair was disappointed that his intended purpose had been overlooked. As to the effect of his book, Sinclair somewhat bitterly declared, "I aimed at the public’s heartand by accident I hit it in thestomach." Although Sinclair’s original intention had been to expose the terrible conditions surrounding workers, the general public was more horrified by his descriptions of rotting and condemned meat that was being sold in their markets. Sinclair sent a copy of his book to the president at the time, Theodore Roosevelt. Upon reading it, Roosevelt was outraged, and passed the Pure Food and Drug act in 1906, insuring safer food and medicine.

8. Works Cited • Age of Yellow Journalism . 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://ehub.journalism.ku.edu/history/1900/ppt/movies/age%20of%20yellow%20journalism.mov>. • Blackwell, Jon. "1906: Rumble over 'The Jungle.'" Capital Century . 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.capitalcentury.com/1906.html>. • Ewers, Justin. "Don't Read This Over Dinner ." U.S. News . 7 Aug. 2005. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/050815/15meat.htm>. • Gensheimer, Lisa. "Writer Takes on Big Oil, and Wins." Gather. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977168080>. • "Ida Tarbell." National Womern's Hall of Fame. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.greatwomen.org/women.php?action=viewone&id=156>. • The Impact of The Jungle. Discovery Education Streaming. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://player.discoveryeducation.com/ndex.cfm?guidAssetId=56F565F8-A67F-41B5-B33B-CB03504EDD88&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US>. • Lowrie, L. "Ida M. Tarbell: Investigative Journalist Par Excellence." Allegheny College.12 Jan. 2009 • <http://tarbell.allegheny.edu/biobib.html>. • Muckraking Journalism: Upton Sinclair. 12 Jan.2009 • <http://ehub.journalism.ku.edu/history/1900/multimedia/video/UptonSInclair.mov>. • Musser, Rick. "The History of American Journalism :: 1900s." University of Kansas. 22 Jan. 2004. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://ehub.journalism.ku.edu/history/1900/1900.html>. • "People & Events: Ida Tarbell, 1857-1944 ." PBS. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rockefellers/peopleevents/p_tarbell.html>. • Roosevelt, Theodore. The Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt. 1913. New York: • Charles Scribner's Sons, 1958. 11 Jan. 2009<http://books.google.com/books?id=S9lBAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=The+Autobiography+of+Theodore+Roosevelt>. • "Upton Sinclair." The Literature Network. 12 Jan. 2009 <http://www.online • literature.com/upton_sinclair/>. • "Upton Sinclair Hits His Readers in the Stomach ." History Matters. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5727/>. • "Yellow Journalism." PBS. 1999. 12 Jan. 2009 <http://www.pbs.org/crucible/frames/ • _journalism.html>. • "Yellow Journalism." Thinkquest. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/spanamer/yellow.htm>.

9. Images Cited • Chicago Stockyards. Photograph. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://picasaweb.google.com/tushar.gupta/Wow#5080975781388847026>. • Elektra. Wallpaper Pattern. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/product_info.php?info=p297_Elektra.html>. • Ida Tarbell working at her desk at home. Photograph. 1905. Ida M. Tarbell Collection, Pelletier Library, Allegheny College . 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.gather.com/viewImage.jsp?fileId=3096224744450778&nav=Explore&articleId=281474977168080&memberId=35304&grpId=-1>. • Man with Newspaper in Iowa. Photograph. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://flickr.com/photos/82329524@N00/67978274/>. • The New York Journal reports on Maine explosion. Newspaper scan. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Journal98.gif>. • The New York World reports on Maine explosion . Newspaper scan. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World98.jpg>. • Portrait of Joseph Pulitzer. Photograph. Chicago Reader. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/hottype/080424/>. • Portrait of Theodore Roosevelt. Photograph. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/PHO/AAHD071_16x20~President-Theodore-Roosevelt-Posters.jpg>. • Portrait of Upton Sinclair. Photograph. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://cnparm.home.texas.net/Nat/USA/USA01.htm>. • Portrait of William Randolph Hearst. Photograph. 1890. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://history.sandiego.edu/GEN/media/hearst.html>. • The Reading Room. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://flickr.com/photos/sherlock77/889828119/>. • Slaughterhouse laborers . Photograph. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.laphamsquarterly.org/photos/slaughterhouse_jungle.jpg>. • Standard Oil #1 Refinery. Photograph. 1889. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://flickr.com/photos/businesshistory/2662415926/in/set-72157603831285807/>. • "Standard Oil Octopus ." Cartoon. United States Department of Justice. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/hearings/single_firm/docs/219389.htm>. • The Times Photo Co. Man With a Newspaper. Photograph. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://flickr.com/photos/13108733@N00/1985498446/>. • The U.S.S. Maine explosion. Illustration. 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/spanamer/yellow.htm>. • Wild Flower. Wallpaper pattern. 12 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.wallpaperfromthe70s.com/product_info.php?info=p454_Wild-Flower.html>. • "Yellow Kid War." Cartoon. The National Women's History Museum . 11 Jan. 2009 • <http://www.nwhm.org/womenwithdeadlines/wwd28.htm>.