Yellow journalism is a pejorative reference to journalism that features scandal-mongering, sensationalism, or other unethical or unprofessional practices by news media organizations or journalists.

The term originated during the Gilded Age with the circulation battles between Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World and William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal. Both papers were accused by critics of sensationalizing the news in order to drive up circulation, although the newspapers did serious reporting as well.

Personally, I don’t identify with the term in today’s media environment. Of course, we’re going to be sensational today. Anything less runs the risk of being utterly ignored. Instead of calling Lindsay’s arrest “yellow journalism,” we might call it participatory journalism.

[via MobLogic.TV]