There was even a phrase coined in the 1890's for such journalism; "Yellow Journalism[1]" From the wikipedia article. Frank Luther Mott (of the same era) on the

There was even a phrase coined in the 1890's for such journalism; "Yellow Journalism[1]" From the wikipedia article. Frank Luther Mott (of the same era) on the five main characteristics of yellow journalism: 1. Scare headlines in huge print, often of minor news 2. Lavish use of pictures, or imaginary drawings 3. Use of faked interviews, misleading headlines, pseudoscience, and a parade of false learning from so-called experts 4. Emphasis on full-color Sunday supplements, usually with comic strips 5. Dramatic sympathy with the "underdog" against the system.