Business Wars Hearst vs Pulitzer - The Headless Torso, Part 1 | 1
Jun 7, 2018
Explore the intense rivalry between Hearst and Pulitzer as they compete for readership in Gilded Age New York, delving into the sensational Headless Torso Murder. Learn about the rise of yellow journalism, the impact of their competition on historical events, and the inspiring journey of Joseph Pulitzer from journalist to newspaper owner. Uncover the twisted plot of a captivating murder case covered extensively by both newspapers.
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Newspapers As Mass Spectacle
- Newspapers were the primary mass medium in 1897 and fueled public fascination with lurid crimes like the Headless Torso case.
- Sensational coverage turned criminal mysteries into citywide spectacles that sold papers and shaped public conversation.
Buying Both Papers For The Scoop
- Newsboys hawked competing editions so loudly that walking the street meant hearing rival headlines for the same crime.
- People often bought multiple papers to get every scoop, sometimes paying two cents to two different newsies.
Scoops As Strategic Weapons
- Hearst and Pulitzer treated scoops as strategic weapons, creating rewards and last-minute editions to outmaneuver each other.
- Ownership-level decisions and spies sometimes determined who 'won' a scoop more than reporting alone.