The Newspaper Titans: Joseph Pulitzer vs.
William Randolph Hearst
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two powerful figures dominated the American
newspaper industry: Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. These media moguls
revolutionized journalism and shaped public opinion through their rival newspapers. Pulitzer, a
Hungarian immigrant, purchased the New York World in 1883 and transformed it into a popular
and influential publication. Hearst, inspired by Pulitzer's success, acquired the New York Journal
in 1895 and began a fierce competition that would change the face of American journalism
forever.
Fill in the Blank: Fill in the blank with the correct words.
world
1. Joseph Pulitzer purchased the ______________ newspaper in 1883.
journal
2. William Randolph Hearst acquired the New York ______________ in 1895.
yellow
3. The competition between Pulitzer and Hearst led to the rise of ______________
journalism.
pulitzer
4. Pulitzer established the ______________ Prize, which is still awarded for excellence in
journalism and the arts.
yellow
5. The rivalry between these two newspaper tycoons was known as the ______________
wars.
Word bank: yellow, Pulitzer, World, Journal, newspaper, circulation
Multiple Choice Questions: Choose the correct answer from the choices for each question.
1. What technique did both Pulitzer and Hearst use to increase their newspapers'
popularity?
a) Raising prices
b) Sensationalism
c) Reducing content
d) Limiting distribution
2. Which of these was NOT a characteristic of yellow journalism?
a) Bold headlines
b) Scandalous stories
c) Fact-checking
d) Dramatic illustrations
3. What was the main goal of both Pulitzer and Hearst in their newspaper rivalry?
a) To educate the public
b) To increase circulation
c) To reduce printing costs
d) To support political parties
4. How did Pulitzer and Hearst's competition impact American journalism?
a) It decreased newspaper readership
b) It led to more objective reporting
c) It introduced new printing technologies
d) It caused a decline in newspaper quality
5. What historical event did both Pulitzer and Hearst's newspapers sensationalize?
a) The American Civil War
b) The Spanish-American War
c) World War I
d) The Great Depression
Open Ended Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1. Explain how Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst changed the newspaper
industry in America.
they caused a lot of rules that our in place today and Pulitzer award is still around annually.
2. Describe the positive and negative impacts of yellow journalism on society during that
era. it helped bring journalism to the forefront and helped make news papers popular.
but it also caused a lot of fake news and controversy.
3. How do you think the competition between Pulitzer and Hearst compares to modern
media rivalries? (Think about TV news channels)
cnn and fox news are probably the biggest news sources in modern America and it is very controversial.
