In 1890s New York City, two larger-than-life publishers went head to head in a battle for newspaper readers. William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer did whatever it took to sell papers. They printed half-truths. They filled their newspapers with stories of crime, corruption, and scandal. Violence, tragedy, and gossip were prized topics. It was the era of yellow journalism. Although it didn't last long, it left a lasting impact on American journalism that continues to this day.