What is "yellow journalism"?

I fail to understand what constitutes "yellow journalism"'? Is it the color of the newsprint that is yellow or some Indepth Analyses that has been carefully printed in yellow color?

My long association in this profession, I have never been told even by those whom I have reprimanded that my write up or for that matter the story compiled by my colleagues that those amounted to "yellow journalism? If a small newspaper like mine could afford to refrain from "yellow journalism" then why the "big-ones" and their certain write-ups were being branded as yellow journalism? This should mean that there is the existence of yellow journalism which so far I haven't seen through my own eyes or been told that it amounted to that.

For comment sake, let's agree that there exist yellow journalism in the Nepali media. But what were the criteria that differentiated between yellow journalism or the otherwise? Can't be it that what amounted to be a case of yellow journalism to a particular person or a group of person might not hold true for others? Certainly, for an affected person who is hard hit by one's critical writing might dub the aforesaid explanation of the paper to be plagued by yellow journalism. Those who are not affected or less affected by the said write-up might hush-hush the matter consoling oneself that the "'quality" of Nepali journalism were yet to take a new height and the men involved in the profession needed extra classes on how to observe ethical standards prior to penning such inflammatory pieces.

While penning matters related with politics, a Nepali newspaper man definitely pushes his views subtly inorder to please his masters seated in the higher echelons of a particular political paraphernalia. This infuriates the other political camp which instantly dubs the said write-up as "malicious", "baseless", "unfounded" and "politically biased" and even goes to the extent to dub that piece as being the result of "yellow journalism". The newspaper man defends his case but lambaste at the journal of the other camp which retorts back with a similar comment of the one which dubbed it as malicious. The process goes on and on.

This means that what for one is yellow journalism might not be the same for the other and vice versa. This means that when one is affected, it is yellow journalism, and when it is not, the case turns different.

It is in this context let's take the case of the sucidal act of famous actress Ms. Shrisha Karki. Friends and relatives of Ms. Karki maintain that her sad demise was the result of yellow journalism. The editor who printed her "nude" photograph opines that all that he did was to expose nefarious acts that have already gripped the Nepali society today.

But then yet, we beg to differ with the editor's explanation. We maintain that a responsible editor of the sort of Mr. Shrestha should have understood the gravity of the adventure he preferred to exhibit to the Nepali readership prior to printing the highly "objectionable" photograph of the late actress. Any act of the media that brings about a disaster in the society and compels some one to commit suicide can't be dismissed simply because one influencial editior dared to do so. It is here that the Nepali media men must remain alert.

Still, the question remains: does yellow journalism exist? 

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