Which publisher is credited with introducing large headlines and sensational reporting that changed American journalism?

• A. Joseph Pulitzer
• B. William Randolph Hearst
• C. Yellow Journalism
• D. Imperialism

Answer: (B)

In late 19th-century journalism, headlines and story presentation began to be designed to grab readers’ attention with bold, dramatic flows and sensational content. William Randolph Hearst is the publisher most closely associated with introducing and popularizing that approach—large headlines, vivid illustrations, and provocative stories meant to provoke emotion and boost circulation. His New York Journal, used in a fierce newspaper rivalry with Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World, pushed sensationalism to new levels. This shift helped redefine how news was produced and consumed in America, moving away from purely measured reporting toward eye-catching, emotionally charged coverage—the essence of what readers come to think of as yellow journalism. While Pulitzer also contributed to the era's sensational style, Hearst’s aggressive usage and the iconic front-page drama are the hallmark often linked to changing American journalism.