Idioms

yellow journalism

This page is about the idiom yellow journalism

American English

Meaning

Journalism in which sensational stories are used to boost sales, or biased reporting is used to change the reader's views on an issue. Both of these are unethical.

For example

  • Have you noticed how, during a war, normally trustworthy professionals start writing the worst sort of yellow journalism to justify their government's actions?

  • Joe: "Is there any difference between yellow journalism and propaganda?" Kate: "I think yellow journalism can be even more dangerous than propaganda if it's being presented as objective reporting by well-known journalists."

Variety

This idiom is typically used in American English but may be used in other varieties of English too.

Quick Quiz

Jerry gets angry when he sees yellow journalism. He says journalists who write it are

a. misleading their readers

b. informing their readers

c. educating their readers
a) misleading their readers b) informing their readers c) educating their readers

Learn idioms easily with
Common English Idioms PDF ebook!

Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey