William Randolph Hearst example essay topic

William Randolph Hearst, who lived to the age of 88, was born on April 29th, 1863 in San Francisco California, and died on August 14th, 1951 in Beverly Hills California. Hearst studied at Harvard with his mind set on writing, inspired by Joseph Pulitzer. Hearst strived to become a better writer through out his life. After Harvard, Hearst met Marion Davies and eventually moved in with her, living in a very elaborate mansion nicknamed Hearst's Castle. (web). Hearst and Davies were known for their costume parties and big bashes held at their house, until Davies, who lived through polio, died after the long struggle of cancer. Hearst, who loved the theater, met Millicent Willson there and often escorted her and her sister out at night.

Knowing Willson for years, Hearst and her soon became wedded on April 28th, 1903 at Grace Church in New York City. (William Randolph Hearst, Nancy Frazier p. 62) Not but a year later, George Randolph was born on April 10th, 1904, William's first son. Hearst said to be an amazing father, raced around the city getting fans, and ice buckets to make an air conditioning system for George during his first heat wave. (William Randolph Hearst, Nancy Frazier p. 63) Eventually the Hearst family would consist of five sons. William Randolph Hearst is best known for his ability to not just write, but make his readers believe anything and everything he wrote about. Hearst was 23 when he became Proprietor of the "San Francisco Examiner".

Hearst soon turned the newspaper into a reformist investigative reporting and lurid sensationalism newspaper., then soon got a reputation for employing the best journalists available. (web). Many people believed that Hearst actually initiated the Spanish American War just to encourage sales of the newspaper. Hearst loved war and drama, it gave him something to publish. William Randolph Hearst would take yellow journalism to a new level with his great experience in writing and blow the littlest news facts into big time stories that would pull his readers in to believing just about everything that was published in his newspaper.

Hearst's biggest challenger was Joseph Pulitzer, a fellow writer. The irony was that both Pulitzer and Hearst were considered outsiders when they arrived at New York City. Their papers both appealed to the same situations and what not. The thing was that, these situations were usually ignored by the public but the writings of Pulitzer and Hearst drew readers in.

They wrote about Democrats, immigrants, woman, and leaders. Hearst disliked immigrants greatly, he believed that jobs should not be taken by immigrants, Americans should have the jobs they earn. Hearst frequently wrote about immigration (web). William Randolph Hearst took plan old news and made it into the most interesting material to read about. Hearst was said to have initiated the Spanish American War with this writings in his newspaper and the amount of yellow journalism he used through out it.

Some people think that still to this day. Without William Randolph Hearst's newspaper that the war might not have been to the extent that it was (The Life of William Randolph Hearst, David Nasaw p. 34). William Randolph Hearst will forever be remembered as the yellow journalism king. He could take a regular store robbery and made it into the next world war.

Hearst being a very racist man, helped his sights on most crimes and news that was around. Knowing his position in the economy, Hearst used everything he could to his advantage while writing (The Life of William Randolph Hearst, David Nasaw p. 27). Hearst will forever be remembered without a doubt for "starting the Spanish American War" and being the "Yellow Journalism King". Hearst loved conflict, war to Hearst was a pay check, any drama within the government, or drama within cultures, and races was an open doorway for Hearst. Hearst loved progressive issues, any conflict that Hearst knew would last long or he could extend to a longer period of time made him a very happy man (The Life of William Randolph Hearst, David Nasaw p. 78). William Randolph Hearst can teach everyone today a good lesson or two.

Hearst shows us not to just not believe everything we read but also to not let others influence the way we think. Hearst influenced and changed many peoples minds on many subjects just through his writings. Hearst shows the world today that just because you read it in the newspaper, or see it on the news, does not necessarily mean it is the whole truth. He allows us to realize that publishes will do just about anything to get their reader to want to read more and more of their writings. Living 88 years, Hearst left a big impression on the world, throughout his life showing that what he put his mind to he can accomplish, not just with his writing but being a good father to his five sons.

Without Hearst's accomplishments, life today would not be the same.