Media and Public Opinion: The 19th Century Examples

Page 3: The Dreyfuss Affair

• The Dreyfuss Affair was a significant example of print media's influence on public opinion.

  • Marked by the publication of Emile Zola's "J'accuse" in L'Aurore newspaper.

  • One of the most poignant examples of print media's influence on public opinion.

Page 5: French press Golden Age

• The French press experienced a Golden Age from 1870 to 1914.

• The Third Republic came to power.

• Press Freedom Act of 29 July 1881 was enacted, removing previous censorship.

Page 6: Social and economic factors

• Legal environment was not the only catalyst for change in readership and influence.

• Technological advances and educational reform played a part as well.

Page 7: Social and economic factors

• Jules Ferry legislation made education more accessible and increased literacy rates.

• Industrialization revolutionized and expedited the publication process.

• Telegraph allowed for speedier information gathering.

• Newspapers became "un produit de consommation" (a consumer product).

Page 8: As a result...

• Public demand for information was growing and technology was able to supply it.

• Overall number of newspapers in circulation nearly doubled from 1870 to 1880.

• Largest number of newspapers in circulation in the history of the French press from 1870 to 1914.

• Newspapers penetrated the lower classes and spread from city centers to provincial areas.

Page 9: French press features

• New form of journalism focused on information over opinion.

• Popular contents targeted the masses.

• Clear and direct language.

• Cheap prices and large printing numbers.

• Business structure with economic solid base from advertising income.

• Concentration tendency (Trust).

Page 13: Pulitzer

• Joseph Pulitzer bought the New York World in 1883.

• Emphasized stories of "human interest" and revealed corruption scandals.

• The World's circulation increased from 15,000 to 600,000 by 1895.

• Pulitzer's complaints prompted authorities to improve living conditions for the poor and immigrants.

Page 15: Pulitzer and the Statue of Liberty

• Pulitzer launched a campaign urging readers to contribute funds for the Statue of Liberty.

• 120,000 people contributed the $100,000 required to build the pedestal.

Page 17: Pulitzer's era: Time for innovation

• The World employed the best journalists in the city.

• Nellie Bly's chronicles of her solo trip around the globe caught the attention of millions of readers.

• The World offered sections of interest to all, including photographic reports denouncing immigrant sufferings.

Page 18: Hearst

• William Randolph Hearst bought the New York Morning Journal in 1895.

• Developed a more aggressive style and engaged in sensationalism.

• Aspired to be elected senator and compete for the White House.

Page 19: Yellow journalism

• The World and the New York Morning Journal engaged in blatant sensationalism.

• Coined the term "yellow journalism" to describe such practices.

Page 21: The Yellow Kid

• The Yellow Kid was a comic strip created by Richard Outcault.

• First published in Pulitzer's The World, but later "bought" by Hearst for the Journal.

• Used to make social criticism.

Page 22: Yellow press features

• Very simple and aggressive with extreme sensationalism.

• No ethics or scruples.

• Frequent use of multicolumn headlines.

• Not defined political line.

• Generous and imaginative use of illustrations.

• Bold and experimental layouts.

• Tendency to rely on anonymous sources.

• Penchant for self-promotion.

Page 23: THE MAINE EXPLOSION SPANISH AMERICAN WAR 1898

• The Maine explosion during the Spanish American War in 1898.

Page 25: HEARST PUSHING TOWARDS THE WAR

• Hearst's involvement in pushing towards the war.

• The Olivette Affair.

• Evangelina Cisneros' role.

Page 26: "ELITE" PRESS: FROM CRISIS TO REACTIVATION

• The "elite" press during the crisis.

• The New York Times and "clean journalism."

• Carr Von Anda's contribution.

Page 29: 1850-1910 NYT

• The New York Times circulation numbers from 1850 to 1910.

• In 1896, there were just 9,000 units.

• In 1898, the price was reduced to 1 cent.

• In 1904, there were 100,000 units.

• In 1910, there were 500,000 units.

Page 30: Modern Journalism features

• Features of modern journalism:

  • Objective, reliable, and neutral information.

  • Political line only in the Editorial space.

  • Use of 3 sources to confirm a fact and inverted pyramid structure.

  • Truth as a beacon.

  • Defined sections.