| yellow journalism n. Journalism that exploits, distorts, or exaggerates the news to create sensations and attract readers. [From the use of yellow ink in printing "Yellow Kid," a cartoon strip in the New York World, a newspaper noted for sensationalism.] |
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.