¶ … expelled from Harvard, William Randolph Hearst persuaded his father to give him control of the San Francisco Examiner, where he increased circulation and profit with sensational stories and flashy style (Biography Channel Online). With his millions, he was able to build a publishing empire that included twenty newspapers, fourteen periodicals, five news services, eleven radio stations and a movie production company. He recruited the finest journalists from his competitors with financial inducement.
Hearst perceived himself as self-made and identified politically with the middle and working classes. Despite being born into wealth, he realized that most of his readers were not. His progressive political viewpoint was popular with these readers. Hearst was an advocate for the eight-hour day, women's suffrage, and anti-trust legislation, and he used his empire to espouse ideology. He undercut his competitors by a penny per issue to increase his influence, as well as corporate profits
During the 1930's over 20 million people read or listened to his newspapers and radio programs (Nasaw, 2000). With this huge captive audience, Hearst was able to gain international fame and ultimately, win a seat in the United States House of Representatives (1903 -- 07). However, his record was unremarkable as he seldom voted and only appeared on the floor to promote his own projects.
Hearst's success was based more on increasing circulation and less on journalistic diligence. According to Payne (2000), "Being the first to scoop a news story usually meant going to press before all the facts were checked. To quote another 20 thcentury figure and onetime Hearst columnist, Adolph Hitler, 'The victor will never be asked if he told the truth.'" His ability to manipulate the news in order to achieve his objectives was most likely his greatest political accomplishment.
Bibliography
Nasaw, David (2000). The Chief: The Life of William Randolph Hearst. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Payne, George Henry (1970). The History of Journalism in the United States. Westport CN: Greenwood Press
The Biography Channel Online. (Sept.2000). A&E Network. www.biography.com
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