Yellow Journalism

Douglas G. Wilson douglas at NB.NET
Thu Aug 1 03:57:00 UTC 2013


On 7/31/2013 7:33 PM, Baker, John wrote:
> It is generally accepted that the term "yellow journalism" came into use in=
>   or around early 1897 and derived its name from the Yellow Kid, a character=
>   in the comic strip Hogan's Alley in the New York World.  What, then, to ma=
> ke of this earlier variant on the phrase?  (Spoiler alert:  I'm going to ar=
> gue that the Yellow Kid's role is overblown.)
>
> The earlier example is from the (Bangor, Maine) Whig & Courier, Oct. 11, 18=
> 83, at 2, col. 1 (19th Century U.S. Newspapers).  The piece is too long to =
> quote in full, so I quote selectively.
>
> <<"YELLOW COVERED" JOURNALISM. ....
--

Seems likely.

On brief search, I see "yellow covered journalism" from Feb. 1898.

Also "yellow back journalism" from March 1898, May 1898, Oct. 1901.

I can give citations if necessary.

-- Doug Wilson

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