"The proprietor of the Journal was as good as his word..."

July 6, 2007 4:03 PM

Frederick Remington was an American artist who in 1898 became a war correspondent and illustrator for the New York Morning Journal during the Spanish-American War. The Journal's editor in chief, William Randolph Hearst I was an American newspaper magnate whose paper had, circa 1895, fought to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule by writing sensational stories of Cuban virtue and Spanish atrocities in an attempt to influence US opinion. In 1898, Hearst sent Remington to Cuba to report on the war which Hearst was certain was about to begin. However when Remington arrived, he telegrammed Hearst saying "Everything is quiet. There is no trouble here. There will be no war. I wish to return." Hearst responded "Please remain. You furnish the pictures, and I'll furnish the war." Not long after, the war began. These telegrams are often cited as one of the most famous (if not the first) examples of yellow journalism (so much so it is mentioned in Citizen Kane) and is meant to speak to the powerful potential effects of the news media. But did The Remington-Hearst "telegrams"actually ever take place, or is this simply another urban legend?
posted by Effigy2000 (8 comments total)

Not to mention that your Remington is .... #8 .... on the most likely to be a fake top 10 list.
Do you or your loved ones own one of these lovely works of art ? (scroll down)
posted by RMD at 4:33 PM on July 6, 2007

Hate to NeoGodwinize, but from day one, I thought the Spanish American war would end up being the best analog to where we are now, especially when you consider the aftermath in the philippines. I mean, the entire media establishment cheerleading for the US to come to the aid of freedom loving peoples and encouraging the overthrow of a despotic leader, mostly by trumped up and unsubstantiated charges. (Remember the Maine!)
posted by absalom at 6:21 PM on July 6, 2007

We even had our own Hearst.
posted by absalom at 6:22 PM on July 6, 2007

One of the most awful examples of Yellow Journalism sprang from the 2nd world war. The Australian general John Monash, one of the two most competent generals of the war (Canadian Arthur Currie being the other). An soon-to-be newspaper proprietor, who had his own agenda, not the competent conduct of the war, nor the safety of the Australian soldiers started a whispering campaign against Monash. It was probably part anti semitism, Monash was a Jew.


That newspaper proprietor? You'd never guess.
posted by mattoxic at 6:57 PM on July 6, 2007

Sorry, that would be 1st world war
posted by mattoxic at 6:57 PM on July 6, 2007

Just in case anyone ever has the (admittedly somewhat questionable) opportunity to spend a day in Ogdensburg, NY, I can heartily recommend the Frederick Remington Museum there to anyone interested in his work.
posted by Kadin2048 at 11:38 PM on July 6, 2007

Hearst was still a giant douche. Or a turd sandwich. Either way you care to look at it.
posted by PostIronyIsNotaMyth at 1:59 AM on July 7, 2007

Interesting debunking—thanks for the post!
posted by languagehat at 5:40 AM on July 7, 2007