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Journalism · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Media Yellow Journalism

“If it bleeds, it leads.” This critical analysis course examines the history and mechanics of sensationalism. From the “Yellow Kid” cartoons of the 1890s to modern clickbait and tabloid culture, students will study the economics of outrage. The course aims to inoculate students against manipulation by teaching them to deconstruct exaggerated headlines, scandal-mongering, and the ethics of checking power vs. invading privacy.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Trace the history of Yellow Journalism: Hearst vs. Pulitzer
  2. Analyze the psychology of "Clickbait" and curiosity gaps
  3. Differentiate between Public Interest and Public Curiosity
  4. Critique the ethics of Paparazzi and Checkbook Journalism
  5. Evaluate the impact of sensationalism on political polarization and democracy
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01Origins: The Spanish-American War & The Press
  2. 02The Yellow Kid: Comics & Commerce
  3. 03Tabloids: The Rise of the "Red Tops"
  4. 04Paparazzi Culture: Princess Diana to Britney
  5. 05Checkbook Journalism: Paying for Stories
  6. 06Anatomy of a Clickbait Headline
  7. 07Scandal: The Clinton-Lewinsky Era
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Reality TV: Manufactured Drama
  10. 10The Economics of Outrage (Ad Tech)
  11. 11Privacy vs. Press Freedom: The Hulk Hogan Case
  12. 12Fake News Farms & Disinformation
  13. 13Deepfakes: The Future of Yellow Journalism
  14. 14Fear-Mongering in Broadcast News
  15. 15Rebuilding Trust: Solutions Journalism
  16. 16Final Project: The Critical Media Audit

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Critical Media Audit

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Brass Check by Upton Sinclair
  2. Yellow Journalism: Puncturing the Myths by W. Joseph Campbell
  3. Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday
  4. Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
  5. Merchants of Truth by Jill Abramson
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