Let's talk about William Randolph Hearst... from a purely journalistic standpoint because Hearst was quite the multifaceted individual. For that matter, watch Citizen Kane, which was actually based upon Hearst's life.
Hearst was born on April 29, 1863, in San Francisco, California to wealthy millionaire (and former senator) George Hearst. Hearst was a businessman, newspaper publisher and even a politician who accumulated a net worth of $3.11 billion, which is equivalent to $30.6 billion in 2020 with inflation.
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| Hearst was known for using yellow journalism in his publications by emphasizing sensationalism and human interest stories. Photo retrieved from Wikipedia |
Most notably, Hearst was known for developing the nation's largest newspaper and media company: Hearst Communications. But let's begin with where it started.
Hearst first entered the publishing business in 1887 after taking control of the struggling San Francisco Examiner, which his father bought in 1880 for political reasons. Upon gaining control, Hearst "remade the paper into a blend of reformist investigative reporting and lurid sensationalism, and within two years it was showing a profit," according to Britannica.
In the following years, Hearst entered the New York City newspaper market by purchasing the unsuccessful New York Morning Journal. Hearst made sure to hire only capable journalists like Stephan Crane and Julian Hawthrone to ensure the success of the publication. And with much luck, the New York Journal attained unheard-of circulation.
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| The New York Journal in 1898. Image retrieved from Ephemeral New York |
"The New York Journal soon attained an unprecedented circulation as a result of its use of many illustrations, color magazine sections and glaring headlines; its sensational articles on crime and pseudoscientific topics; it's bellicosity in foreign affairs; and its reduced price of one cent," according to Britannica.
While the New York Journal was reduced to something as cheap as one cent, the stories published in the newspaper were often exaggerated or completely untrue, which later earned the nickname "yellow journalism." Many critics even attribute the New York Journal's success to cheap sensationalism.
"Rather than racing to the bottom, he [Hearst] drove the Journal and the penny press upmarket," said Kenneth Whyte in The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst. "The Journal was a demanding, sophisticated paper by contemporary standards."
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| Kenneth Whyte's The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst can be purchased on Amazon here. |
Upton Sinclair's book The Brass Check: A Study of American Journalism writes: "The reader will understand that I despise these yellows; they are utterly without honor, they are vulgar and cruel; and yet, in spite of all their vices, I count them less dangerous to society than the so-called 'respectable' papers, which pretend to all the cirtues, and set the smug and pious tone for society -- papers like the New York Tribune" (1919).
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| Upton Sinclair's The Brass Check: A Study of American Journalism can be purchased on Amazon here. |
Clearly, Sinclair, nor Whyte was a huge fan of Hearst. Tough crowd.
For more on the history of Hearst and his rise to popularity, watch the following video:
The New York Journal was not the only publication Hearst published. At the peak of Hearst's empire, he acquired nearly 30 papers in major American cities.
In the mid-1930s, Hearst also reached peak circulation with 20 million readers a day. Not even the New York Post or New York Times sees those kinds of numbers. But as previously mentioned, some attribute the high numbers to cheap sensationalism.
Hearst's paper was primarily catered to blue-colored, urban working people. His papers "favored labor unions, progressive taxation and multiple ownership of utilities," according to an Aug. 2018 Times article. "They featured abundant pictures, advice to lovelorn columns and sentimental stories."
But hey, let's not forget to add that Hearst's paper spread fears about the 'yellow peril' of Asian immigration -- another critique against Hearst. Personally, I wonder if Hearst would find himself a victim of cancel culture if he tried pulling that stunt in today's society.
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| Hearst's paper spread fears about Asian immigration; sounds like Hearst was a tad xenophophic. Image retrieved from Wikipedia. |
Hearst later expanded to magazines, thus creating the largest newspaper and magazine business in the world. Hearst controlled the editorial positions and coverage of political news in all of his papers and magazines, and even sometimes published his personal beliefs.
While Hearst experienced much financial success, he suffered financial loss too. Circulation of his major publications declined in the mid-1930s. Instead of taking effective cost-cutting measures, he indulged in his expensive art purchases.
His financial advisors later realized he was tens of millions dollars in debt, and had to sell some of his exotic animals and even accept a $1 million loan from his ex-lover Marion Davies.
Yeah, Hearst's life was catastrophic towards the end of his life. He died in Beverly Hills on August 14, 1951, at the age of 88.
To sum everything together, let's revisit some of Hearst's notable achievements in regard to journalism:
- He built up the largest newspaper chain and media company
- Known for "yellow journalism" in his publications by emphasizing sensationalism and human stories
- He acquired 28 major newspapers, 18 magazines and several radio stations
- At its peak, Hearst's papers reached peak circulation with 20 million readers a day
Hearst will forever be known as a journalism hero.
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