The Wasp — 1889 — page 45: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* satirizes yellow journalism and sensationalist newspaper practices. The cartoon sequence depicts various dramatic scenarios—accidents, violence, human interest stories—that would have appealed to sensation-hungry readers of the era. The title "The Art of Sensational Reporting" indicates the satire targets how newspapers exaggerated or fabricated dramatic content to boost circulation. The multiple vignettes show different "types" of sensational stories: industrial accidents, crime scenes, domestic disputes, and street incidents. The cartoon mocks both newspapers' willingness to exploit tragedy for profit and the public's appetite for such sensationalism. This reflects genuine Progressive-era criticism of "yellow journalism"—a practice where outlets prioritized shocking headlines over accurate reporting, a major public concern in late 19th/early 20th-century America.