Titans of American Journalism: Pulitzer and Hearst's Enduring Legacy

Joseph Pulitzer: Pioneer of Popular Press

Born in Hungary in 1847, Joseph Pulitzer, a Jewish immigrant, initially sought to join European armies but was unsuccessful. At 17, he left home for the USA, intending to fight in the American Civil War, but arrived after its conclusion.

His career began at the Westliche Post, a German-language newspaper for immigrants in St. Louis, Missouri. By age 20, he had obtained American citizenship. He then joined the St. Louis Dispatch, where he honed sensationalist techniques. Soon after, he purchased the Dispatch and merged it with the Evening Post, creating the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Shaping Sensationalism and Reform

This newspaper became the platform where he developed the journalistic formula that brought him fame, significantly shaping the sensationalist press. His publication focused on shocking facts, including:

• Deaths and suicides
• Persecutions
• Criticism of authorities
• Vices of the upper classes

However, Pulitzer did not view sensationalism solely for personal gain; he also published high-quality investigative journalism.

The World and Its Impact

The zenith of his career was his tenure at The World, Sunday World, and Evening World. In 1883, at 36 years old, he acquired The World and implemented significant changes, including cutting its price to one penny to boost circulation.

Pulitzer also suffered from an unbalanced state of mind, experiencing nervous breakdowns and neurosis, which hampered his ability to direct his work in his later years. He masterfully combined sensationalism with compelling storytelling and liberal reformism. He advocated for taxation on inheritances, monopolies, and privileged corporations, believing that exposing and ridiculing crime and vice was the key to their eradication.

Features of Pulitzer's Popular Newspapers

Key features of Pulitzer's popular newspapers included:

• Affordable pricing
• Simple language
• Sensationalistic external presentation
• Extensive use of illustrations and photographs
• The conviction that newspapers served as social institutions capable of influencing public thought, safeguarding public morality, and protecting public interest

Pulitzer's Enduring Legacy

Pulitzer's enduring legacy includes significant financial donations to encourage Columbia University in New York to establish a school of journalism. This led to the creation of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and the establishment of the prestigious Pulitzer Prizes, financed by him, to award excellence in journalistic, literary, artistic, and musical achievements.

William Randolph Hearst: Building a Media Empire

William Randolph Hearst stands as the foremost exponent of the third generation of popular press. He meticulously constructed a vast media empire, which by the end of World War I included 36 newspapers, 6 magazines, film interests, and wire services.

Born in 1863, Hearst's father amassed his fortune through gold discoveries in the American West. He attended several schools, including Harvard University, where he founded a student humorous magazine. However, he was expelled due to a lack of discipline and decorum.

Early Career and Expansion

His father purchased the San Francisco Examiner to serve as a spokesman for the Democratic Party. Hearst's initial foray into the journalistic world was working for this newspaper. At 24, he gained managerial authority from his father, eventually acquiring full ownership.

The New York Journal brought him widespread recognition. In 1895, he acquired the Morning Journal and adopted Pulitzer's successful formula: a blend of sensationalism and reform, coupled with a low-price strategy.

The Fierce Rivalry: Pulitzer vs. Hearst

A defining struggle in American journalism unfolded between The World and The Journal from 1895 to 1898. This period was marked by particularly intense rivalry, especially before and during the Spanish-American War of 1898.

Both Hearst and Pulitzer advocated for specific policies and aggressively attacked corporate and governmental abuses, pioneering what would become known as muckraking journalism. Hearst's approach was often demagogic and inflammatory, characterized by oversized rhetoric and headlines. This era saw American journalism become more enterprising, energetic, extravagant, and at times, unscrupulous.