William Randolph Hearst: Americas First Media Mogul

 Few may not know the name William Randolph Hearst, but he is arguably one of America's first media moguls, at one point owning two dozen newspapers. 

Hearst was born in 1863 into an insanely wealthy family, his father being worth over 3 billion dollars at one point. His fathers own empire spanning across the journalistic world. 

While attending Harvard Hearst developed a passion for journalism and when his father acquired the San Francisco Examiner he begged his father to hand the paper over to him.

Using the San Francisco Examiner Hearst was able to start a new wave of journalism; yellow journalism. This style was controversial, sensational, and something not quite seen before. With this new style the publication made an astounding profit. 

In 1895, just two years after acquiring the San Francisco Examiner, Hearst purchased a failing New York Morning Journal. Whose previous owner was his biggest inspiration at the beginning of his career; Joseph Pulitzer. One year later he bought the Evening Journal. 

Using the same techniques that he implemented at the Examiner; hiring the best journalists, focusing on yellow journalism, and under cutting his prices, Hearst was able to have the top two newspapers in New York City. By 1897 his newspapers had a combined circulation of 1.5 million. 

Many just boil this success down to sensationalism, which is an understandable claim considering one of his publications called for the United States to rage war against Spain.

Throughout his life Hearst was outspoken on politics, often times using his papers as a way to broadcast those opinions. Hearst briefly served as a US Senator from 1903-1907. But even after his departure from the Senate champers he was still outspoken on his hatred for the British Empire, League of the Nations, and the World Court. He was also very vocal with his disapproval of the American involvement in World War I. 

In just 30 years Hearst owned 23 newspapers, 18 magazines, a few radio shows, and movie companies. The venture into the motion picture world was mainly a way for him to hire his mistress Marion Davis. But that short tidbit is not the point. The point is that by anyones account Hearst held a monopoly over the journalistic and broadcast world. 

Even with all the money and power Hearst had he still found himself in finical trouble. He cashed out majorly on a 240,000 acre property in San Simeon, California where he built the Hearst Castle. Not only was the property home to the outrageous mansion but also various exotic animals as well as priceless pieces of art work. 

This lavish spending on top of being hit by The Great Depression saw Hearst one million dollars in debt. Hearst had to start to sell some of his under preforming publications as well as some of his expensive art work. By 1940 Hearst had lost controlling shares in his company. 

The once powerful mogul died in virtual seclusion in 1951 at the age of 88. 

Never the less his legacy lives on. The Hearst Corporation, still family owned, continues to be one of the largest media corporations in America with ownership of newspapers, magazines, broadcasting, among other things.