Dearest reader,

With the assumption that you all read the headline, I’m undoubtedly sure I’ve piqued your interest. Much to my disappointment, I must inform you, however, that the headline proves to be untrue. Though media publications have been sued in the past, we are not being sued. The purpose of this headline was to enlighten my dear readers of the perilous dangers that come with “modern news.” In previous societies, receiving viable information was as simple as playing the piano forte.

“Yellow journalism” as defined by Brittanica is “the use of lurid gestures and sensationalized news in newspaper publishing to attract readers and increase circulation.” All in all, this means that there are some individuals out there who believe they need to lie to tell an exciting story. The beauty of news, however, lies not in spectacle, but in sincerity.

With these dramatized headlines, shock is often prioritized above truth. The consequences brought along with these views can cause much misinformation and misunderstanding to spread like a plague. Rather than searching for truth, readers are not-so patiently waiting for the next scandal to arise. Normalizing such behavior is toxic in a society as it affects political affiliations and relationships among one another.

Take our own society here at Hoover, a student simply cannot go around spreading false information with the sole purpose of grabbing attention. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable under any circumstances. Or is it… Sometimes it can be fun to bend the rules — so long as everyone playing the game agrees to the new direction and the publication is transparent. See the story below, as well as the stories on pages 8 and 9, to read some of our takes on “Yellow Journalism.”

Yours truly,

Lady Larkethorne