Yellow Journalism
Activity
Directions:
• Create your own newspaper cover page using
yellow journalism.
• The cover story and interview should be
about the sinking of the USS Main.
• Follow the rubric to make sure you earn an
A. This will be published in our classroom,
so be sure to do your best!
• Each group member has a job on the
newspaper staff:
– 2 Writers/Journalists
– Photographer
– Editor
Job Descriptions
• 1 Writer/Journalist
– Write a cover story about the sinking of the USS
Maine.
• 1 Writer/Journalist
– Interview a historical figure who may have
witnessed the event. Be sure to establish a clear
viewpoint depending on who that person is. (Ex.
Is he/she Cuban, American, in the Navy, etc.)
• Photographer
– Draw at least two pictures of the event. These
images must be dramatic, to sway public opinion.
• Editor
– Date the newspaper, make the title of the
newspaper, title of the article, title of the
interview, check for spelling/grammar mistakes,
and help the journalists and photographer in any
way you can.
Yellow Journalism Rubric
Excellent
5
Good
3
Poor
1
Title of the newspaper and stories are
creative and are meant to sway public
opinion. Newspaper article is dated shortly
after the sinking of the USS Main.
Title of the newspaper and
stories are creative, but do not
sway public opinion one way or
the other. Newspaper article is
dated shortly after the sinking
of the USS Main.
Title of the newspaper and
stories are not creative or do
not sway public opinion.
Newspaper is not dated or has
the incorrect date.
Both images are creative, neatly colored,
and are meant to sway public opinion or
convey emotion.
At least one image is meant to
sway public opinion.
Photographs are somewhat
colored neatly and somewhat
convey emotion.
Photographs are not meant to
sway public opinion and
photographs are not colored
neatly.
Interview
Interview established who the person
being interviewed is (name, age,
nationality), how the person feels about
the sinking of the USS Main, and sways
public opinion.
Interview consists of at least 10 questions.
Interview established who the
person being interviewed is
(name, age, nationality), how
the person feels about the
sinking of the USS Main, and
sways public opinion.
Interview consists of at least 7
questions.
Interview somewhat
established who the person
being interviewed is (name,
age, nationality), how the
person feels about the sinking
of the USS Main, and sways
public opinion.
Interview consists of less than
7 questions.
Article
Cover story includes at least 5 facts about
the start of the Spanish-American War/the
sinking of the USS Main.
Cover story is biased and is meant to
sway public opinion.
Cover story includes at least 3
facts about the start of the
Spanish-American War/the
sinking of the USS Main.
Cover story is biased and is
meant to sway public opinion.
Cover story includes less than
3 facts about the start of the
Spanish-American War/the
sinking of the USS Main.
Cover story is somewhat
biased and meant to sway
public opinion.
Titles
Photography