The Circulation Wars: Hearst v. Pulitzer

Committee Profile

In 1883, Joseph Pulitzer bought the New York World and transformed it into a news giant. His writers produced sensational stories that gripped the attention of the American public. In 1896, however, William Randolph Hearst acquired the New York Journal and threatened Pulitzer’s circulation empire. Throughout the 1890s, the World and the Journal were in intense competition, which led to the creation and use of “yellow journalism”. Yellow journalism is a method of news reporting that uses tactics such as sensationalism and appeals to emotion. The catchy headlines and outrageous stories featured in both newspapers gripped the public. As a result, Pulitzer and Hearst were able to influence Americans’ ideologies and motivate political action. 

One of the most notable impacts the World and the Journal had in their heyday was the fallout from their reporting on the 1898 Spanish-American War. The stories published by Hearst and Pulitzer led to public outrage and increased American support for Cuba, a formerly colonized nation fighting for independence from Spain. The papers utilized yellow journalism to specifically emphasize the atrocities and abuse by Spain towards Cuba.

The issues of yellow journalism, corporate competition, and the press’ effect on political action drove the feud between the two major corporations to have a national and international impact. Delegates of this committee, as members of Pulitzer’s staff, will fight for their place in the world of journalism and politics. Each delegate will have to choose if they want to report only the facts or embrace yellow journalism in the name of business or influence. In addition to journalistic integrity, this committee will address the World’s struggle to compete for industry dominance as well as the political fallout of the stories delegates choose to publish. 

Chair Letter

Hi Delegates!

My name is Natalie Pemberton (she/her), and I am thrilled to serve as the chair for The Circulation Wars: Hearst vs. Pulitzer at BruinMUN 32. I am a senior, finishing my double major in English and Political Science with a Methods and Models concentration. I am from the Bay Area, where my parents still live with my pet snake Demitri (my landlord will not let me keep him in my apartment). I am a painter, ceramicist, and musician, and I got my start in MUN completely by chance. 

When I started college at UCLA in 2021, I began debating competitively. I have greatly enjoyed my time as a debater and judge on the national collegiate debate circuit, but when my roommate invited me to join a MUN at UCLA meeting, I discovered my love for Model United Nations and never looked back. I am an active competitor for MUN at UCLA’s travel team, and have staffed both BruinMUN and LAMUN in the past year. I am both a crisis delegate and staffer, and I am beyond excited to chair this committee. 

In the 1890s, the United States watched as Hearst and Pulitzer fought to have the largest market share of the journalism industry. Fact and empiricism were pushed aside and sensationalism was embraced, a practice that would come to be called “yellow journalism.” Delegates of the Circulation Wars committee will battle for market dominance, deal with government regulations, and embrace their sensational side. Get ready to research and debate ethics and business practices, and don’t believe everything you read in the newspaper!

Best,

Natalie Pemberton | Chair, The Circulation Wars | BruinMUN 32

circulation@bruinmun.org

CD Letter

Dear Delegates,

Hello! My name is Hadia Karzai and I am so excited to be your Crisis Director! I am a second year Political Science Major with a Minor in Public Affairs. In addition to Model UN at UCLA, I am super involved in activities ranging from sports to law! I have played intramural soccer, futsal, beach volleyball, and basketball. In addition to playing, I was a referee here on campus and currently I work at a law firm as a Docketing Clerk. Outside of school and work, I am a vinyl addict, avid concert go-er, and creative writer who loves to travel and have fun. Let me know if you need any music recommendations!

Model UN here at UCLA has by far been the most fun and fulfilling experiences I have had. I participated in high school for two years and took a break from it my freshman year of college. Then in my sophomore year at UCLA, I rejoined and found so much pleasure in it! I have made an incredible group of friends and have had many opportunities. In MUN at UCLA, I have attended conferences all over the nation. I have staffed crisis committees at BruinMUN 2023 in the UMG committee and LAMUN 2023 in the Joint Crisis Committee: Dungeons and Dragons.

As someone who loves to write (and does a lot of it in my major/minor) I am so excited to CD for The Circulation Wars: Hearst vs. Pulitzer. I know this will be an exciting committee full of incredible journalism and drama!

I joined Model UN because of my interest in important historical periods in time and using debate as a facet to gain more knowledge. The people I’ve met along this journey are the reason I stayed. I am looking forward to meeting you all at BruinMUN this year and helping you navigate what is going to be an amazing committee and experience!

Best Regards,

Hadia Karzai | Crisis Director, The Circulation Wars | BruinMUN 32

circulation@bruinmun.org