Which journalist used yellow journalism in competition with Hearst to sell more newspapers and became a leading figure in the Democratic Party?

• A. Joseph Pulitzer
• B. William Randolph Hearst
• C. Alfred Thayer Mahan
• D. Queen Liliuokalani

Answer: (A)

Yellow journalism is all about selling more papers through sensational, attention-grabbing stories and dramatic headlines. In the fierce newspaper rivalry of the 1890s, Joseph Pulitzer, publisher of the New York World, used these techniques to outpace William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal. His papers pushed bold, lurid coverage, sensational crime reports, and eye-catching illustrations, which drew in large audiences and boosted circulation.

That broad reach gave Pulitzer real political influence, and he became a prominent voice within the Democratic Party, using his platform to advocate reform and shape public opinion. The other options don’t fit this combination of sensational journalism and political leadership: Hearst was the rival known for yellow journalism, Alfred Thayer Mahan was a naval strategist, and Queen Liliuokalani was the Hawaiian monarch, not a journalist.