Does yellow journalism still exist today? Yes, it does; however, it exists in a different, less powerful form. How has the essence of the yellow journalism changed since
the Spanish American War? What are the possible factors responsible for this change? These questions can only be answered after looking back in time and understanding the initial function of the yellow journalism during the Spanish American War.
The article Yellow Journalism[1] defines the term “yellow journalism” as a sensationalistic style of journalism which often relies on the dramatic, scandalous, exaggerated, and even manufactured events to influence the public. Since 1890’s these eye-catching headlines, hyperbolic articles, and shocking news, were used as the powerful force to manipulate with the public opinion. The World; Remember Yellow Journalism by Clifford Krauss is an extremely useful source to examine the historical background of the yellow journalism. At the beginning of the article Krauss highlights the existence of the yellow journalism in the modern era and then discusses its historical timeline and importance. According to Krauss yellow journalism was so immensely popular in 1890’s that it was not only used as the tool to manipulate with people but also as the force to control the inter-national relations. The power of yellow journalism was so huge that it propelled the 
United States into war with Spain. ”You furnish the pictures and I will furnish the war”, – wrote New York Journal owner William Randolph Hearst to Frederic Remington, the great illustrator of the American frontier in Cuba. Hearst’s this phrase can be considered as the illustrious example depicting the essence of the yellow journalism. Manufactured news, false illustrations, and no sense of objectivity – this is what made yellow journalism so immensely popular and profitable during the 1890’s.
So, what is yellow journalism of the modern era? The paparazzi journalism can be considered as the modern form of the initial yellow journalism. Taking photos and writing articles on the famous politicians, athletes, and celebrities, while they are living their normal life routines is a popular form of media nowadays. 
The scandalous headlines, shocking news, and the exaggerated information are often found in paparazzi media. Similar to yellow journalism which greatly interfered with the inter-national relations and politics, paparazzi journalism interferes with individual, private lives of celebrities. Using different methods, paparazzi journalists attack the celebrities and afterwards write superficial, mainly manufactured or greatly exaggerated news about their private lives. What paparazzi journalists are doing in today’s era in the majority of the cases is very similar to the “furnishing” that yellow journalism did in 1890’s. It can be said that the essence of the yellow journalism has not changed; however, the scale has changed. Instead of covering the most important news, today’s yellow journalism mainly covers the minor news and gossips.
It is obvious that after so many years the screaming headlines, scandalous articles, and the hyperbolic news are still popular in the modern era; however, their power is not as immense as before. Due to the existence of many leading news agencies that claim 
objectivity, the yellow journalism of the modern era is not the influential force to control public opinion anymore. Due to the technological advancement, the people in 21st century have access to enormous amount of information. They have an ability to evaluate important events from various perspectives and finally formulate opinions based on their own judgment. It seems almost impossible from today’s perspective how the major inter-national conflicts could have ever been so greatly influenced by the falsified news, manufactured by the yellow journalism.
The term “yellow journalism” had a different meaning during the Spanish-American War and has a totally different meaning in the modern era. It can be said that the change in the essence of the yellow journalism is greatly catalyzed by the modern interconnectedness, emergence of many objective news agencies, and the possibility to access to the vast amount of information. Will yellow journalism still exist after another century? I suppose that it will. Public will always love scandals.
[1] “Yellow Journalism.” PBS. PBS, 1999. Web. 10 Mar. 2015. <http://www.pbs.org/crucible/journalism.html>.
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