BRING BACK YELLOW JOURNALISM: A CRIE DE COEUR FROM SLATE’S JACK SCHAFER
April 3rd 2009 01:58
High profile US journalist Jack Shafer, writing for Slate, has touched on a point that’s often overlooked in the analysis if why newspapers are declining – they are boring.
Schafer urges a return of yellow journalism, stating that at its best it was terrific and at its worst, well, it wasn’t that bad.
He wrote, “How many times while ploughing through a New York Times or Washington Post news story have you muttered to yourself, ‘I haven't had this much fun since the last time I read a GAO report.’
“That's not to deny the importance of GAO reports or of significant but dull newspaper stories. But every now and again, I wish the newspapers landing on my doorstep contained a little more blood, took a position without being partisan, yelled a tad more, and brushed some yellow from the palette while painting their stories.
“There. I’ve said it. I wish our better newspapers availed themselves of some of the techniques of yellow journalism and a little less of the solemnity we associate with the Committee of Concerned Journalists. Yes, the yellow journalism of William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer’s New York Wold from the 1890s.
“…Being rambunctious to the extreme, yellow journalism is misunderstood. At its best, yellow journalism was terrific, and at its worst, it really wasn't all that bad.”
Schafer’s comments, though obviously designed to be controversial, do touch on a point that’s neglected in the debate surrounding the reasons for the demise of newspapers.
The reality is that by and large most newspapers have become utterly boring. At the more venal and commercial end of the spectrum newspapers have simply become safe and uninspiring surrounds for advertising.
At the quality end of the market the papers have become predictable and turgid, often reading more like sociology reports with individual opinion, not to mention varied opinion, robust writing, and attitude carefully by the serious young insects who now populate subs desks.
There is now a predictable McDonalds-esque blandness to most major quality newspapers ensuring there are no surprises in store for the reader.
Schafer urges a return of yellow journalism, stating that at its best it was terrific and at its worst, well, it wasn’t that bad.
He wrote, “How many times while ploughing through a New York Times or Washington Post news story have you muttered to yourself, ‘I haven't had this much fun since the last time I read a GAO report.’
“That's not to deny the importance of GAO reports or of significant but dull newspaper stories. But every now and again, I wish the newspapers landing on my doorstep contained a little more blood, took a position without being partisan, yelled a tad more, and brushed some yellow from the palette while painting their stories.
“…Being rambunctious to the extreme, yellow journalism is misunderstood. At its best, yellow journalism was terrific, and at its worst, it really wasn't all that bad.”
Schafer’s comments, though obviously designed to be controversial, do touch on a point that’s neglected in the debate surrounding the reasons for the demise of newspapers.
The reality is that by and large most newspapers have become utterly boring. At the more venal and commercial end of the spectrum newspapers have simply become safe and uninspiring surrounds for advertising.
At the quality end of the market the papers have become predictable and turgid, often reading more like sociology reports with individual opinion, not to mention varied opinion, robust writing, and attitude carefully by the serious young insects who now populate subs desks.
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